MT(1)                                BSD                                 MT(1)



NAME
     mt - magnetic tape manipulating program

SYNOPSIS
     mt [ -f tapename ] command [ count ]

DESCRIPTION
     mt gives commands to a magnetic tape drive.  If you do not specify a tape
     name, mt uses the environment variable TAPE;  if TAPE does not exist, it
     uses the device /dev/rmt12.  Note that tapename must reference a raw (not
     block) tape device.  By default mt performs the requested operation once.
     Specify count if you want to perform operations more than once.

COMMANDS
     The available commands are listed below.  You need to specify only as
     many characters as are required to uniquely identify a command.

     eof, weof  Write count end-of-file marks at the current position on the
                tape.

     fsf        Forward space count files.

     fsr        Forward space count records.  This command cannot be used with
                cartridge tapes.

     bsf        Backspace count files.  This command cannot be used with
                cartridge tapes.

     bsr        Backspace count records.  This command cannot be used with
                cartridge tapes.

     reten      Retension cartridge tapes.

     rewind     Rewind the tape. Ignore count.

     offline, rewoffl
                Rewind the tape and place the tape unit offline.  Ignore
                count.

     status     Print status information about the tape unit.

DIAGNOSTICS
     mt returns a 0 exit status when the operation(s) are successful; 1 if the
     command is unrecognized; and 2 if an operation fails.

FILES
     /dev/rct*           Raw cartridge tape interface

     /dev/rmt*           Raw magnetic tape interface

SEE ALSO
     ctio(4), mtio(4), dd(1), ioctl(2), environ(7)