Tape backup on Fedora Core 5
 

I'm running FC5, kernel 2.6.15. I've installed an IDE Exabyte VXA2 single tape drive in the system. The drive in recognized in /var/log/dmesg as an exabyte VXA2 tape drive, device /dev/hdd. However, I am unable to mount anything in the tape drive. Is SCSI emulation required? Something else I'm missing? thanks.

Tape drives can not be mounted. Yes, use SCSI emulation and then the tape device will be /dev/st0. Make sure all of the SCSI subsystem modules and the st (tape module) are loaded.

so add to /etc/grub.conf

hdd=ide-scsi

How do I verify that the scsi subsystem modules are loaded? thanks.

Yes add to the line.
kernel /boot/..... hdd=ide-scsi (replace hdd with the location of the tape drive)

To see load moudles use the console command lsmod

okay, system is able to recognize the tape drive, but it's showing up as /dev/sg1. when i try, mt -f /dev/sg1 status, i get the following error: /dev/sg1=operation not permitted.

No /dev/st0 device?

it seems to recognize the command, mt -f /dev/st0 status but in /var/log/messages, it shows up as /dev/sg1.