UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Can you post the output for the directory list on both computers making it clear which computer is which:

Code:

echo "AIX"
ls -liad /dev/rmt2*

echo "RHEL5"
ls -liad /dev/rmt2*

How is this tape library wired up? We can see that the control functions are on an Ethernet connection. Is there a SCSI cable to either one or both of these computers?

Do you have the "mt" command on both computers?

Please find attached the directory listings on both AIX and RHEL5 as requested.

I also observed that if I load a new tape into the drive and enter the command:
"tar tvf /dev/rmt2" on both AIX and RHEL to view the contents which i expect to be empty naturally. I receive the following on AIX and RHEL5 respectively.

AIX: It displays the last backup done on the last tape before loading the new one even though the tape has been changed.

RHEL5: It says cannot open file. No such file or directory exists.

mt command is found on AIX and not on RHEL5.

The tape Library is built/connected to the AIX RAC.

No SCSI cable is attached to the RHEL5 Server.

On the AIX server /dev/rmt2 is a device special file with permissions starting "crw" . This is what we would expect for a tape device.

One the RHEL5 server /dev/rmt2 is a flat file with permissions starting "rw". You have not been writing to the tape device on this server, you have been writing to a file. (Hence my question earlier about whether the tape moved).

As far as I can see the tape drive is not attached to the RHEL5 server at all - either physically or logically.

Probably time to talk to the tape drive supplier about what to do next.

I related an issue about two weeks ago on reading/writing my tape backup on RHEL5. I was clarified by Methyl that there was no connection between the tape library(residing on AIX RAC Server) and the RHEL5.

Further research on the tape library shows that the "share library option" has been grayed out.(the screen shot displays that).

I would want to know what actions/steps to be taken towards sharing the tape library on the network such that the RHEL5 server will be able to communicate with the tape library and read tape contents from the library

Attached is the tape library status

We seem to have got through 20 posts without mentioning the make and model of the tape library device. I could be wrong.

The fact that you can remote administer the device on a LAN connection does not mean that you can definitely use the device as a standalone LAN storage device. The fact that it has a SCSI connection to an IBM computer is ominous.

Strongly advise that you prepare a clear and concise set of questions and contact the vendor (or perhaps manufacturer) of the device and take their advice.