New features in SCO ARCserve/Open Release 2.2.0

How bar code reading works

When bar code reading is enabled through the SCO ARCserve/Open Device Manager, the autochanger scans for labels on each loaded cartridge tape. When a new bar code label is encountered, the corresponding tape is inserted in the tape drive and the label and the tape's volume header are read.

This information is then stored in files in the bar code tape database directory, /usr/lib/ARCserve/tapedb. A separate file is created for each unique tape label that is read.


NOTE: This bar code tape database is completely separate from the other SCO ARCserve/Open databases. The SCO ARCserve/Open database server process does not access any part of the bar code tape database.

If the changer scans a tape label that has already been encountered, the tape information is extracted from the database, saving the need to insert the tape into the tape drive.


NOTE: When using the bar code reading feature, all formatting and erasing of tapes must be accomplished using the options on the changer-specific Device Management menu, as opposed to the standard Device Management menu. (Note that, depending on whether you select a single drive or a changer in the list of available devices, the Device Management menu and the toolbar toggle between the standard and changer-specific options.)

It you do not use the changer-specific Device Management menu in this case, the tape database is not updated to reflect the new state of the tape.

In addition, it is recommended that you only remove tapes from the changer using the changer-specific Device Management menu, so that the tapes' information is properly removed from the tape database.



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