tape(7)
tape --
tape devices
Description
Tape drives
A tape drive (whether for cartridge, 9-track,
8-millimeter, or DAT tape)
is a character device and uses device names in the
/dev/rmt directory.
The following tape device aliases are supported
(the names reference the first tape device in the system):
ctape1-
non-retensioning rewinding device
ntape1-
non-retensioning non-rewinding device
rtape1-
retensioning rewinding device
nrtape1-
retensioning non-rewinding device
utape1-
unload on close device
Cartridge, 8-Millimeter, and DAT tape devices
On the first operation of the tape, a retensioning device
seeks first to the beginning of the tape, then to the end of the tape,
and finally, to the beginning of the tape again.
Use a retensioning device for streamer cartridges
that have not been accessed for some time
or have been transported between accesses.
The retension operation is time-consuming, but
it ensures that the cartridge streamer tape is tensioned properly.
A nonretensioning device does not cause retension of the tape
before the first operation on the tape.
A rewinding device will seek the beginning of the tape (rewind the tape)
when the cartridge streamer is closed.
A nonrewinding device does not rewind the tape on close
and thus enables an application to write more
than one archive to the streamer tape.
References
st01(7)
© 2004 The SCO Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
UnixWare 7 Release 7.1.4 - 25 April 2004