Hi,

I have this line in a script:

if mt -f /dev/nst0 rewind > /tmp/status_nst0.log 2>&1 ; then [more code]


What does the 2>&1 mean? I think the line is saying that after rewinding the device if the log file does not exist then execute the code but I do not understand the contribution of the 2>&1.

Thanks!

It will redirect Std-Error to Std-Output

In other words, it will send any error messages to whatever you have currently defined for output. Normal output would be your screen, but you can set this so output is going to a file.

will send your file listing to file1, error mesages will come to the screen

will send the file listing and errors to file2

1 is std output
2 is std error

2 >&1 means redirect std error to std output wihich is /tmp/status_nst0.log in the exemple you posted. Its in no way in relation with your device.