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MEDIA                               Aegis                                MEDIA



NAME
     media - removable media information

DESCRIPTION
     CARTRIDGE -- Cartridge Tape Usage Information
     ---------------------------------------------

     A  Domain  network  may read and write  data residing on cartridge tapes
     on a DN550. Cartridges may be either  ansi labeled  or  unlabeled,  with
     files of ascii,  ebcdic,  or  raw characters.   Cartridge tape supports
     only  512 byte blocks (although smaller may be specified)  and  fixed
     length  record format only.  System bootable cartridge tapes are also
     supported.

     The following general restrictions apply:

       o  You must perform the tape operations on the node to which the
          cartridge drive is attached.

       o  Only one drive may be attached to any particular node.

     The following commands are supplied for use with cartridge tapes:

       o  wbak  (write_backup)  writes  one  or more object trees to a
          cartridge for backup, or to interchange files with other Domain
          installations.  Certain  wbak  options are valid only for cartridge
          tapes  (-reten, -no_eot, -sysboot).

       o  rbak  (read_backup)  indexes  or  restores to disk the contents of a
          backup file written with the wbak command.

       o  rwmt (read_write_magtape) transfers files between disk and
          cartridge.  Use  this  command  to  interchange  files  with  other,
          non-Domain installations.

       o  edmtdesc (edit_magtape_descriptor_file) creates and modifies
          cartridge descriptor files for use with streams.

     Help is available for all of these commands.   Type  'help'  followed  by
     the relevant command name for more information.

     magtape -- Magnetic Tape Usage Information
     ------------------------------------------


     A Domain network may read and write data residing on 9-track magnetic
     tapes formatted to a density of 1600 bits per inch.  Tapes may be either
     ansi labeled or unlabeled, with files of ascii, ebcdic, or raw
     characters.  The following general restrictions apply:

       -  You must perform the tape operations on the node to which the tape
          drive is attached.

       -  Only one tape drive may be attached to any particular node.
          @end(itemize)

     The following commands are supplied for use with magnetic tapes:

       -  wbak (write_backup) writes one or more object trees to a magtape for
          backup, or to interchange files with other Domain installations.

       -  rbak (read_backup) indexes or restores to disk the contents of a
          backup file written with the wbak command.

       -  rwmt (read_write_magtape) transfers files between disk and magtape.
          Use this command to interchange files with other, non-Domain
          installations.

       -  edmtdesc (edit_magtape_descriptor_file) creates and modifies magtape
          descriptor files.

     Help is available for all of these commands.  Type 'help' followed by the
     relevant command name for more information.

     volid -- Automatic volume id generation for labeled tapes
     ---------------------------------------------------------


     The rwmt (read_write_magtape) and wbak (write_backup) commands provide
     three ways to generate the volume id for labeled tapes:

       1. The id may be supplied explicitly with the -vid option.

       2. It may be generated automatically, as described below.

       3. If no id is supplied, and if automatic volume id generation has not
          been enabled, then the default volume id of spaces is used.

     To enable automatic volume id generation, make sure the directory
     `node_data/system_logs exists. In `node_data/system_logs, use the DM
     editing capabilities to create a file called next_volume_id. Place a 1-6
     character alphanumeric text string in this file.  This is the string
     which will be used as the volume id the next time a tape is to be
     labeled.  When a labeling operation occurs, the string is automatically
     updated by adding 1 to the right-most non-space character of the string,
     and carrying to the left if the character was "9" or "Z".

     At software release 9.7 the above method of automatic labeling is
     suggested. However, for backwards compatiblity if
     `node_data/system_logs/next_volume_id is not found the volume id will be
     taken from /sys/tape/next_volume_id if it exists.


Typewritten Software • bear@typewritten.org • Edmonds, WA 98026