Using Data ONTAP 5.1's "cloned_tapes" for Unsupported Tape Drives

You can attach an "unsupported" tape drive to a filer and use it successfully with the cloned_tapes feature, new in Data ONTAP 5.1. To use an "unsupported" tape backup device, the ASCII file /etc/cloned_tapes in the root volume must contain a list of unsupported tape backup devices connected to the filer. To enable this option, do the following: 1.Halt the filer and install the tape adapter (if necessary).

2.Attach the tape drive to the filer and power up the drive.

3.Power up the filer. At boot, there will be an error message telling you the tape drive is unsupported.

4.At the filer console, type mt -f rst0a status. This command will create the file /etc/cloned_tapes.

5.Edit the /etc/cloned_tapes file to map the product ID of the unsupported drive to one that is supported. For example, you can add to this file the following line:

QUANTUM DLT8000 EMULATES QUANTUM DLT7000

6.At the filer console, type mt -f rst0a status again.

7.Type sysconfig -t to verify that the drive appears, along with all your previously installed devices.

8.Reboot the filer.

Note: At boot, you will still receive an error message about an unsupported tape drive, but the officially "unsupported" tape drive will work successfully.

For more information, see the "New features in Data ONTAP 5.1" section of the Data ONTAP 5.1 Release Notes.

Thank you,

Chris

-----Original Message----- From: Mike Horwath [mailto:drechsau@tiny.net] Sent: Friday, December 15, 2000 6:08 PM To: toasters@mathworks.com Subject: DLT8000

I have a NetApp F760 and I want to use a DLT8000 on it.

So, I have this nice differential F/W tape drive.

All plugged in.

(5.3.6R2 is the OS revision)

Anything special I should do since I can't see it on the system, not even at boot?

(tape drive was tested on another system before moving it onto the F760)