mt(1)                            DG/UX R4.11                           mt(1)


NAME
       mt - magnetic tape control

SYNOPSIS
       mt [ -f tapename ] command [ count ]

DESCRIPTION
       mt sends commands to a magnetic tape drive.  If tapename is not
       specified, the environment variable TAPE is used.  If TAPE does not
       exist, mt prints an error message.  Note that tapename must refer to
       a raw (not block) tape device.  For tape-positioning operations, the
       tape device should be a non-rewinding device; otherwise, the tape
       rewinds at the end of the operation regardless of any position
       request.  For example, specify /dev/rmt/0n instead of /dev/rmt/0.

       By default, mt performs the requested operation once;  count
       specifies multiple operations.

       The available commands are listed below.  Only as many characters as
       are required to uniquely identify a command need be specified.  Not
       all commands are supported by all devices.

       eof, weof    Write count EOF marks at the current position on the
                    tape.

       fsf          Forward space count files.

       fsr          Forward space count records.

       bsf          Back space count files.

       bsr          Back space count records.

       rewind       Rewind the tape. The count argument is ignored with this
                    command.

       offline, rewoffl
                    Rewind and unload.

       status       Print status information about the tape unit. The count
                    argument is ignored with this command.   If the device
                    is a CLARiiON tape array, the status information
                    reported will include: the tapeset id, the number of
                    tapes in the tapeset, the write-protect status, and
                    whether the tapeset was written using parity.  Note the
                    status command will change the tape position based on
                    the raw tape device specified.

       retension    Retension the tape.  The count argument is ignored with
                    this command.

       eom          Position to the end of the medium.  The count argument
                    is ignored with this command.

       load         Load the tape.  The count argument is ignored with this
                    command.

       posload      Position the autoloader (magazine) to count slot number
                    and load the tape.  If count is negative then eject the
                    magazine.

       unload       Unload, or eject, the tape.  The count argument is
                    ignored with this command.

       trespass     Trespass, or unconditionally take control of the tape.
                    This command is used in failover configurations to free
                    up a tape drive that was in use on a system that failed.
                    This command takes a specified tapename or the keyword
                    all. To automate this during a failover, you should add
                    the following command to your failovermon(1M) lost-pulse
                    script:

                         mt -f all tresspass

                    The count argument is ignored with this command.

       The exit status values are:


       0      The operation succeeded.

       1      mt does not recognize command, or cannot open the specified
              tape drive.

       2      The operation failed.

FILES
       /dev/rmt/*          raw magnetic tape interface

SEE ALSO
       dd(1), failovermon(1M), ioctl(2), environ(5), rmt(7).


Licensed material--property of copyright holder(s)