Copying tapes on Unix using
the 8mm tape stacker
M. Daoudi, 31-Jan-94
This note describes a set of scripts designed to copy data tapes on Unix in
a fast and automatic fashion using the 8mm tape stacker at SLAC.
tape2tape:
This script is used to make a copy of a single tape.
- Usage:
$E143_COM/tape2tape inTape outTape>
- Example:
$E143_COM/tape2tape /dev/rmt0 /dev/rmt3
stack2tape:
This script is used to copy several (up to 10) tapes into a single output
tape.
- Usage:
$E143_COM/stack2tape inStack inTapes outTape
- Example:
$E143_COM/stack2tape 0 4 /dev/rmt3
will copy 4 tapes from stacker 0 into 1 tape on /dev/rmt3
stack2stack:
This script is used to copy several (up to 10) tapes into several output
tapes. The number of output tapes can be identical to the number of input
tapes, or it can be lower provided that it is a divider of the number of
input tapes (see examples).
- Usage:
$E143_COM/stack2stack inStack inTapes outStack outTapes
- Example1:
$E143_COM/stack2stack 0 7 1 7
will copy 7 tapes from stacker 0 into 7 tapes from stacker 1
- Example2:
$E143_COM/stack2stack 0 5 1 1
will copy 5 tapes from stacker 0 into 1 tape from stacker 1
- Example3:
$E143_COM/stack2stack 0 8 1 2
will copy the first 4 tapes from stacker 0 into the first tape of
stacker 1, and the last 4 tapes from stacker 0 into the second tape
of stacker 1.
- Example4:
$E143_COM/stack2stack 0 9 1 3
similar to previous example, 9 tapes (3 at a time) are compressed
into 3 output tapes.
I have omitted the case where the number of input tapes is not a multiple of
the number of output tapes, for I don't see any interest for it, if you do
please let me know.
Comments:
- You can omit $E143_COM from the above 3 commands. This directory is now
automatically added to your path at login.
- In tape2tape (input and output) and stack2tape (output only), make sure
the tapes are mounted and the green light on the drive(s) is on before
issuing the copy command.
- In stack2tape and stack2stack, make sure the tapes are prepared on the
stacker(s). The stacker(s) must be filled starting from the bottom. The
corresponding tape drive(s) must be empty and with the door open.
Happy copying ...!