Setting up an iSeries tape drive for use by Linux

This topic describes the tasks you need to perform to set up an iSeries™ tape drive for use by an integrated Linux^® server.

The iSeries supports a wide range of tape drives. If you have multiple tape drives on your iSeries, each one can be allocated separately to either i5/OS™ or Linux.

A number of iSeries tape drives have been tested for use with integrated Linux servers, but some models cannot be used. The latest information about which tape devices have been tested for use by Linux running on the Integrated xSeries^® Adapter or Integrated xSeries Server can be found at the following Web site:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/integratedxseries/linux/tape_support.html Link outside information center

To allocate a native iSeries tape drive for use by an integrated Linux server, the iSeries tape drive must be logically detached (varied off) from i5/OS. Then it must be logically attached (locked) to the integrated Linux server so that Linux thinks it has a physical tape drive directly attached. When this has been done, the integrated Linux server can use the iSeries tape drive as if it were a directly attached tape drive.

Tip: The Linux integration support software supports the use of Automatic Cartridge Loaders (ACLs) in manual and automatic modes. This means that if the ACL is in automatic mode when a Linux backup application ejects a full tape, the media is unloaded and the ACL automatically loads the next tape. However, the first tape must always be loaded manually by the user.

To enable an iSeries tape drive for use by Linux backup utilities and applications, complete the following steps:

Format tape media for use by Linux.
Transfer control of a tape drive from i5/OS to Linux.
Transfer control of a tape drive from Linux to i5/OS.