@database tape-handler.guide @$VER: tape-handler.guide 1.00 @1997 Arne Meyer @author Arne Meyer @width 80 ## This Document has been designed to be read with Multiview @node main "Welcome to the Docs" @{b}tape-handler V1.0 (13.09.1997)@{ub} Copyright ©1997 by Arne Meyer e-mail: arne@uni-paderborn.de tape-handler is SHAREWARE Kickstart V3.x required Welcome to the tape-handler Documentation Guide File @{"Disclaimer " LINK disclaimer } @{"Copyright " LINK copyright } Legal stuff @{"About " LINK about } What's this ? @{"Features " LINK features } Why should I use it ? @{"Requirements " LINK requirements } What do I need ? @{"Install " LINK install } how to install tape-handler @{"Sample Mountlist entry" LINK mountlist } Mountlist @{"The MT Command " LINK mt } How to use the MT Command @{"Known Bugs " LINK bugs } Bugs @{"History " LINK history } Version History @{"Author " LINK author } Who did it ? @{"Shareware " LINK shareware } How to register this Software @{"How to Pay " LINK money } How to pay the registration fee @endnode @node disclaimer Disclaimer: ----------- THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS". NO WARRANTIES ARE MADE, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO RELIABILITY, QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, OR OPERATION OF THIS SOFTWARE. THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE @{"AUTHOR" LINK AUTHOR } ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR LOSSES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE OR LOSS. @endnode @node copyright "Copyright" The tape-handler, support files and its documentation are (C) 1997 by Arne Meyer. All rights reserved. The right of using this program is granted to you by paying the SHAREWARE-fee of 10 U$ ( 15 DEM ) or equivalent to the @{"author" LINK author }. Some of the mentioned names or products within this or other documents may be copyrighted by companies or trademarks of companies or persons. You are NOT ALLOWED to ship this software ( not even this SHAREWARE version ), full or single parts of it, with your commercial product without prior written permission by the @{"author" LINK author }. This SHAREWARE release of the tape-handler may only be put on shareware compilations such as the Aminet CD-Rom or equivalent. @endnode @node about "What is this ?" tape-handler is an AmigaDos handler for SCSI Sequential Access Devices ( Streamer ). @endnode @node features "Features" Features: --------- -double-buffered-asynchronous I/O for maximum streaming performance -controllable with an external program called mt ( blocksize, density, rewind, skip filemarks, ... ) @endnode @node requirements "Requirements" Requirements: ------------- Software: OS 3.0 or better Setpatch 40.16 or better ( Don't ask me for a 2.x or 1.x Version. These Versions of AmigaDos are outdated for years now !!! ) Hardware: SCSI Controller with SCSI-direct Interface SCSI Streamer (DAT/8mm/QIC/...) SCSI Host Adapter Testing Environment: The tape-handler and all support programs were developed and tested on an Amiga 2000 with an A2060 CPU Board from Phase5. It was also tested on a standard A4000 with an Oktagon 2008 SCSI-Controller. The following Devices were used for testing: Exabyte EXB8500, Exabyte EXB8500c, Exabyte EXB8505, Tandberg TDC3660 @endnode @node install "Installation" Installation: ------------- There is currently no Installer script supplied with tape-handler, but installation is very easy. (1) Copy tape-handler to your l: directory. (2) Copy mt to your c: directory. (3) Create @{"Mountlist" LINK mountlist} entry @endnode @node usage "How to use this thing" Usage: ------ Store Data on the Tape using tar : ---------------------------------- tar -fcv eg. if you want to store the contents of your SYS: Partition to your tape drive named TAPE: you will type tar -fcv TAPE: SYS: or if you don't want console output tar -fc TAPE: SYS: Restore Data from Tape using tar : ---------------------------------- tar -fxv change to the directory where you want to restore the data and then type tar -fxv TAPE: or tar -fx TAPE: for more information on tar read the documentation supplied by the many tar ports from aminet/util/arc @endnode @node mountlist "Sample Mountlist entry" Sample devs/dosdrivers entry: ----------------------------- ;==================================================== Handler = l:tape-handler Stacksize = 4096 Priority = 5 GlobVec = -1 Mount = 1 /* device/unit/lun/blksize/blocks/buffers */ Startup = scsi.device/4/0/10240/10/120 ;==================================================== The only thing you have to configure is the Startup line of the supplied Mountfile. The sections are described below. Separate the entrys with a '/' and no spaces as shown in the above example. device = scsi device name ( e.g. 2060scsi.device ) unit = scsi unit of your tape device lun = must be 0 ( other values not supported at the moment of writing this Guide ) blksize = default blocksize ( if your streamer supports only one blocksize you must set the blocksize to that value ) blocks = the number of blocks to be stored in one queue entry buffers = the maximum number of queue entrys that are used. maximum memory usage for data is calculated as follows: blksize*blocks*buffers ( if you have less memory the handler tries to use as much memory as it can get. ) @endnode @node mt "Tape Control Program" 'mt' is used to change parameters during runtime DEVICE - The name of your Mountlist entry for the tape drive. The environment Variable 'tape-handler/TAPE' is scanned if omitted REW=REWIND/S - Position the Tape in front of the first file OFFL=EJECT/S - Eject the Tape EOM=EOD/S - Skip to the end of the last backup on the tape. The next write command will create a new file on the tape SFM=SKIPFILEMARK/K - SFM will skip Filemarks, where num can be positive or negative This will skip Filemarks, not Files, so if you skip one Filemark back ( SFM -1 ) and the Tape was positioned after the Filemark it will be positioned in front of the same Filemark ! The only value supported in the Shareware version is 1 SETDENSITY/K - Change the Density of the Streamer. This will NOT save anything to the Streamers nonvolatile RAM. Most Streamer only Support this at the beginning of a Tape. SETBLK/K - Change the Blocksize that is used to read/write Data ( UNIX default is 10240 ) STAT=STATUS/S - Print staus information for this Device LOCATE/K - not tested, use at your own risk !! SLF=SKIPTOLASTFILE/S - Skip to last File on Tape os you can easily Restore the last Backup you wrote to the Tape SD=SHOWDENSITIES/S - Show all known Density Codes @endnode @node bugs "Known Bugs" Known Bugs: ----------- V1.0 - none If you think you found a bug in tape-handler or mt, first check if the problem also occures on a standard System ( no MCP, MCX, or other patches to the System. ). Check out if the bug is reproduceable. If possible, send an Enforcer output, a list of hardware/software installed in your computer and your mount entry for the tape device. @endnode @node history "Version History" History: -------- 13.9.1997 V1.0 Initial Release @endnode @node author "Who wrote it" Author: ------- snail mail: Arne Meyer Scherfeder Strasse 60 33100 Paderborn Germany e-mail: arne@uni-paderborn.de @endnode @node shareware "How to Register" This software is SHAREWARE. You may use it for an unlimited period of time, but if you want to get rid of the annoying SHAREWARE-Requesters and want to use the full power of mt you will have to @{"pay" LINK money} the SHAREWARE-fee of 10 U$ ( 15 DEM ) or equivalent to the @{"author" LINK author}. You will then receive a unique version of the tape-handler without limitations. The fastest way to receive your version of the tape-handler is via e-mail. Following limitations are in this Shareware Version - nerv requesters during read/write operations - mt can only skip one filemark every time - density change is not supported After paying the SHAREWARE-fee you will receive your personal copy of the tape-handler via e-mail. This is currently the only method for you to receive this software. If you send me your pgp public key I will send the program encrypted with that keyfile, so you can be sure only you will receive the tape-handler. @endnode @node money "How to Pay" You may send cash money, euro-cheques, or transfer the 10 U$ ( 15 DM (German) ) @{ "shareware" LINK shareware } fee to the following account Make sure you also send your e-mail address. Sparkasse Paderborn, BLZ 47250101 Ktnr. 29115201 If Cheques, then only DM-Cheques or Euro-Cheques please . If you have questions, send an e-mail to @{"me" LINK author}. @endnode