Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!emory!stiatl!rsiatl!jgd From: jgd@rsiatl.UUCP (John G. De Armond) Newsgroups: comp.unix.i386 Subject: Re: Tape retensioning Message-ID: <1083@rsiatl.UUCP> Date: 8 Jan 90 09:52:05 GMT References: <1990Jan6.063506.8670@actrix.co.nz> <1990Jan8.034014.3445@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us> Reply-To: jgd@rsiatl.UUCP (John G. De Armond) Organization: Radiation Systems, Inc. (a thinktank, motorcycle, car and gun works facility) Lines: 33 In article <1990Jan8.034014.3445@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us> johnl@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes: >In article <1990Jan6.063506.8670@actrix.co.nz> paul@actrix.co.nz (Paul Gillingwater) writes: >>But what happens to new users who haven't got a C compiler? >>How do *they* retension their tapes? And yes, I tried RTFM... > >A quick look at the permuted index in the FM reveals the existence of the >"tapecntl" command, and its -t for retension option. > >Better luck with the FM next time. Yes, the FM does mention tapecntl but the existance of this utility and the /dev/rmt/... devices apparently depend on the tape driver in use. If a SCSI-based tape is used and accessed through the hpdd driver, then I assume in this case that the driver is AT&T's and/or part of the hpdd driver. If, on the other hand, one is using a Wantek drive and the wt device driver supplied by interactive (as am I), then a whole 'nuther set of constraints exist. One should look in wt(7) instead of tape(7). When this driver is used, one has 2 devices to work with - /dev/tape which rewinds and /dev/ntape which does not. 2 ioctl(2) calls are supported - ERASE and RETTENS - both with obvious meanings. NO utility is mentioned or exists to my knowledge. I did the same thing Paul did and wrote a small utility to make the ioctl(2) calls. Otherwise, one is SOL. Sure wish Interactive would support the Wantek drive as well as it does the SCSI-based drives. John -- John De Armond, WD4OQC | The Fano Factor - Radiation Systems, Inc. Atlanta, GA | Where Theory meets Reality. emory!rsiatl!jgd **I am the NRA** |