Adding a Tape Drive

Adding a Tape Drive

To install a tape drive on an IRIX system, follow the hardware installation instructions that is furnished with your tape drive. Make sure you carefully follow any instructions regarding drive terminators.

If you are adding a tape drive to a system that does not have one, the software configuration is taken care of automatically when the system boots. When the system boots, if hinv indicates that a tape drive is installed, but there is no link to it through the /dev/tape file, the MAKEDEV program is automatically invoked to add the proper device nodes.

If you are installing a tape drive after your initial system installation, perform the following steps:

Install the hardware.
Log in as the superuser and enter these commands:
cd /dev
./MAKEDEV tape

The MAKEDEV program creates the appropriate device nodes.

If you have removed a tape drive and are installing one of a different type, follow these steps:

Install the hardware.
Log in as the superuser and enter these commands:
cd /dev
rm *tape
./MAKEDEV tape tapelinks

The MAKEDEV program creates the appropriate device nodes and links the correct node for the drive to /dev/tape.

MAKEDEV Commands for Tape Drives
Tape Capacities
Making Tape Drive Links