Hello all and many thanks for taking the time to read my post!

I have a Dell PE2900 SCSI'd out to a Quantum SL3. I'm attempting to read/display the contents of the tapes or maybe dump the displayed contents or table of contents to a file.

I can see and access the library:
]# mtx status
Storage Changer /dev/changer:1 Drives, 16 Slots ( 0 Import/Export )
Data Transfer Element 0:Full (Storage Element 1 Loaded):VolumeTag = NGL930L3
Storage Element 1:Empty
Storage Element 2:Full :VolumeTag=NGL985L3
Storage Element 3:Full :VolumeTag=NGL932L3
Storage Element 4:Full :VolumeTag=000001L3
Storage Element 5:Full :VolumeTag=000004L3
Storage Element 6:Full :VolumeTag=NGL980L3
Storage Element 7:Full :VolumeTag=CLN783L1
Storage Element 8:Full :VolumeTag=NGL982L3
Storage Element 9:Full :VolumeTag=NMX140L2
Storage Element 10:Full :VolumeTag=NGL998L3
Storage Element 11:Full :VolumeTag=000003L3
Storage Element 12:Full :VolumeTag=NGL910L3
Storage Element 13:Full :VolumeTag=000002L3
Storage Element 14:Empty
Storage Element 15:Full :VolumeTag=NGL984L3
Storage Element 16:Full :VolumeTag=NGL902L3


But when I try running tar -tzf /dev/changer or tar -tvf /dev/changer I just get a flashing cursor and the drive sits at IDLE.

Any input would be great!

Many thanks!

Check to see if you can status the tapedrive itself:
# mt -t /dev/st/xxx status
or
# mt -t /dev/rmt/xxx status

...need to know the device file for the tape drive for the mt command....

# cat /proc/scsi/scsi

# lsscsi -g