Linux Tape Drive Backup Error
 

I have just started working with unix a few weeks ago. I am now doing bakcups on my servers but while on the server after the tape is inserted into the tape drive I get this error after inputing the following command:

# mt status
/dev/rmt/0n: No such device or address

If anyone knows what steps I am to take in order to correct this error please let me know.

Thank you

This problem could be either that the device /dev/rmt does not exist or that its corresponding driver does not exist or is not loaded. Look for the device with:

ls -l /dev | less

I think that the driver name starts with st. Check to see if the driver is part of the kernel:

find /lib -name "*st*"

See if the driver is loaded with:
lsmod

Check /etc/modprobe.conf to see if the module-device correspondence is known to the kernel.

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Steve Stites

/dev/rmt/0n is typically used by Solaris for tape drives (or /dev/rmt/1n if you've added an external one).

/dev/nst0 is more likely for linux.

You could just try that (`mt -f /dev/nst0 status`). If it works, then you've gotten off easy without a lot of investigation. ;)