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setting a tape backup on CentOS 5

I would like to setup a Dell Powervault 114T lto 3 tape backup system on a CentOS 5 machine
Does anyone know of link to a guide / how to that shows how to set up a tape backup system to CentOS/Linux system.

under the scsi info the system correctly identifies the maker of these drives as IBM Ultrium td3

I have never installed a tape backup, so I know nothing.

thanks!! for any help
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enfant_terrible
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enfant_terrible
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DavidPresidentCommented:
The trick is the auto changer.  The commands to control the robotics are vendor/product specific and you need backup software to do that.  (check out open-source product called amanda).

but if you didn't have robotics, then nothing to set up.  You would just enter tar cvf /dev/rmt (then list of directories and wild-cards) to copy to tape.
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enfant_terribleAuthor Commented:
Thanks for the input, there is no auto changer. this is a Dell tape backup unit with 2 drives.

this is a tape backup system that I'm adding on to an existing system. I don't have any directory or file /dev/rmt
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DavidPresidentCommented:
Do cat /proc/scsi/scsi   Does anything show up that looks like a tape?   If not, then it isn't talking so there is no device name, and problem has nothing to do with LINUX.

Also enter ls -l /dev/rm*  

Tape device names vary slightly, and actually there are more than one device names for a tape, depending on whether or not you want to automate a rewind so you can either append more info to the end of a tape, or rewind so you can copy to beginning of tape.
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DavidPresidentCommented:
Biggest mistake people make when attaching tapes is assuming they can just plug it into any SAS / FC, or SCSI connector.  Your controller MAY only support RAID disks.  So if nothing shows up with cat /proc/scsi/scsi that isn't obviously a tape drive -- it will be obvious, trust me ...   then post make/model of controller you have.

The TAPE should also show up when you go to BIOS of the controller card on power-up ...if the  controller can see it.  So one has to make sure the hardware sees the tape before worrying about an operating system.
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enfant_terribleAuthor Commented:
When I do cat /proc/scsi/scsi I get all the scsi devices attached to the computer which includes both tape drives in the Dell Powervault 114t unit .
Drive 1
host: scsi2
channel : 00
id:05
Lun:00
vendor: IBM
Model:ULTRIUM-TD3
Rev: 6b20
Ttype: Sequential-Access

Drive 2:
host: scsi2
channel : 00
id:05
Lun:00
vendor: IBM
Model:ULTRIUM-TD3
Rev: 5480

It's an Adaptec 39160 card and the drives do get detected at boot time. And as the info above seems to suggest the OS also see them.

Thanks!!
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