[NTLUG:Discuss] Tape Backup info needed - Help?

[Stephen Davidson]

gorky:~ # modprobe ftape
gorky:~ # mt -f /dev/qft0 status
mt: /dev/qft0: No such device or address
gorky:~ # mt status
mt: /dev/tape: No such file or directory
gorky:~ # mt -f /dev/ftape
Usage: mt [-V] [-f device] [--file=device] [--rsh-command=command]
        [--help] [--version] operation [count]
gorky:~ # mt -f /dev/ftape status
mt: /dev/ftape: No such device or address
gorky:~ #

from dmesg;
bootsplash: status on console 0 changed to on
subfs 0.9
ftape: module not supported by Novell, setting U taint flag.
ftape v3.04d 25/11/97
(c) 1993-1996 Bas Laarhoven (bas at vimec.nl)
(c) 1995-1996 Kai Harrekilde-Petersen (khp at dolphinics.no)
(c) 1996-1997 Claus-Justus Heine (claus at momo.math.rwth-aachen.de)
QIC-117 driver for QIC-40/80/3010/3020 floppy tape drives
[000] drivers/char/ftape/lowlevel/ftape-init.c (ftape_init) - installing
QIC-117 floppy tape hardware drive ... .
[001] drivers/char/ftape/lowlevel/ftape-init.c (ftape_init) - ftape_init
@ 0xf8eaf000.
[002]   drivers/char/ftape/lowlevel/ftape-buffer.c (add_one_buffer) -
buffer nr #1 @ f69a4e80, dma area @ c0090000.
[003]   drivers/char/ftape/lowlevel/ftape-buffer.c (add_one_buffer) -
buffer nr #2 @ f6607d80, dma area @ c0008000.
[004]   drivers/char/ftape/lowlevel/ftape-buffer.c (add_one_buffer) -
buffer nr #3 @ f6607080, dma area @ c0410000.
[005]   drivers/char/ftape/lowlevel/ftape-calibr.c (time_inb) - inb()
duration: 376 nsec.
[006]  drivers/char/ftape/lowlevel/ftape-calibr.c (ftape_calibrate) - TC
for `ftape_udelay()' = 167 nsec (at 5119 counts).
[007]  drivers/char/ftape/lowlevel/ftape-calibr.c (ftape_calibrate) - TC
for `fdc_wait()' = 2184 nsec (at 319 counts).
SFW2-INext-DROP-DEFLT IN=eth1 OUT=
MAC=00:02:2d:7c:d3:bc:00:09:5b:ab:74:b8:08:00 SRC=192.168.0.194
DST=192.168.4.50 LEN=72 TOS=0x00 PREC=0x00 TTL=127 ID=3563 PROTO=UDP
SPT=1026 DPT=53 LEN=52
g

Stuart Johnston wrote:
> how about:
>
> mt -f /dev/ftape status
>
> I don't really know much about ftape or SUSE.  Maybe you need to
> install  a newer version of ftape?
> http://www.instmath.rwth-aachen.de/~heine/ftape/
>
> or try:
>
> modprobe ftape
>
> and/or check 'dmesg' for relevent info.
>
> I'm really just guessing here.
>
>
> Stephen Davidson wrote:
>> Hi Stuart.
>>
>> gorky:~ # mt -f /dev/qft0 status
>> mt: /dev/qft0: No such device or address
>> gorky:~ #
>>
>> Next suggestion?
>>
>>
>> Stuart Johnston wrote:
>>
>>> Try:
>>>
>>> mt -f /dev/qft0 status
>>>
>>>
>>> Stephen Davidson wrote:
>>>
>>>> Greetings.
>>>>
>>>> I have an IOMega Ditto 2GB Tape Drive.  Works fine on Microsoft.  
>>>> Ever
>>>> since I switched to SuSE 9.2/9.3, I have been unable to do a network
>>>> backup (or anything else that requires a large load on the CPU) in
>>>> anything resembling a reasonable amount of time.
>>>>
>>>> So, I want to backup my email and work files, and see what happens
>>>> when
>>>> I throw SuSE 10 on this machine.
>>>>
>>>> I have spent the last couple of hours pouring through man pages and
>>>> Google searches looking for how to backup linux onto a Ditto Tape
>>>> drive
>>>> that I have had for some time.  Plugs into the machine's parallel
>>>> port.
>>>> All the documentation I have seen says this is supported.  (See
>>>> parport,
>>>> a module which is currently loaded btw).  But I have not found
>>>> anywhere
>>>> that tells me how to work this.
>>>>
>>>> gorky:~ # mt status
>>>> mt: /dev/tape: No such file or directory
>>>> gorky:~ #
>>>>
>>>> Ok, well, hooked up to parallel port.
>>>>
>>>> gorky:~ # mt -f /dev/lp0 status
>>>> mt: /dev/lp0: Invalid argument
>>>> gorky:~ #
>>>>
>>>> Since I got "slammed" with work a few months back (the last time I
>>>> tried
>>>> to upgrade this machine, and get it working), I have been stuck on
>>>> using
>>>> M$ for all development work.  This is a situation I would like to
>>>> rectify.  Before I upgrade this machine again, I want some kind of
>>>> backups in place.  Yes, M$ is not the greatest, but right now, it
>>>> is the
>>>> thing that works.
>>>>
>>>> I do have other machines I can backup to, except for the fact that
>>>> network based backups are currently taking in excess of 1 week (on a
>>>> 10/100 LAN, I might add).  Oh, and TAR seems to have trouble with
>>>> archives over 1GB?  (Won't unpack them).  So, bottom line is, I am
>>>> looking for something/anything that will work as a backup strategy.
>>>> (Last alternative, burn my data to CD/RWs, which have lower capacity
>>>> than tape).
>>>>
>>>> Help?
>>>>
>>>> -Steve
>>>>
-- 
Java/J2EE Developer/Integrator
Stephen Davidson and Associates, Inc.
Vice President, DFW JavaMUG (http://javamug.org)
Past Chair, Dallas/FortWorth J2EE Sig (http://j2eesig.org)
214-724-7741