tctl

PURPOSE

     Gives commands to streaming tape.

SYNOPSIS
     tctl [ -f tapename ] command [ count ]


DESCRIPTION

     The tctl  command gives  subcommands to a  streaming tape
     device.  If you do not specify the -f flag with tapename,
     the environment  variable TAPE is used.   If the environ-
     ment  variable  does  not  exist, tctl  uses  the  device
     /dev/rmt4.   The tapename  parameter must  be a  raw (not
     block) tape device.  You can specify more than one opera-
     tion with count.

SUBCOMMANDS

     eof
     weof       Writes  count   end-of-file  markers   at  the
                current position on the tape.
     fsf        Moves the tape forward count files.
     fsr        Moves the tape forward count records.
     rewind     Rewinds  the  tape.   The count  parameter  is
                ignored.

                Note:  It  is sometimes  necessary to  issue a
                reset before issuing a rewind subcommand.
     offline
     rewoffl
     reset      Places  the tape  drive  off-line.  The  count
                parameter is ignored.
     erase      Erases all  contents on  the tape  and rewinds
                it.
     retension  Moves the tape to  the beginning, the end, and
                back  to the  beginning of  the tape.   If you
                have  excessive read  errors during  a restore
                operation, you  should run the  retension sub-
                command.   If the  tape  has  been exposed  to
                environmental  extremes,  you should  run  the
                retension  subcommand before  the save  opera-
                tion.
     ras1       Performs a checksum on the tape drive.
     ras2       Checks the  capstan speed, verifies  the oper-
                ations of the BOT,  EOT, and SAFE sensors, and
                writes a  worst case  pattern on the  tape and
                attempts to verify the pattern.

FILES

     /dev/rmt??     The raw streaming tape interface.

RELATED INFORMATION

     The following command:  "dd."

     The ioctl system  call and the tape and  environ files in
     AIX Operating System Technical Reference.