Linux Tape Backup With mt And tar Command

Linux Tape Backup With mt And tar Command

Working with "mt" Commands: reading and writing to tape.

The following assumes the tape device is "/dev/st0"
Display status information about the tape unit:

Install MT command on Linux 

Download the rmp files

http://rpmfind.net/linux/rpm2html/se...hp?query=mt-st

Then install as below

log in to server as root

copy downloaded  mt rpm file to Linux server using  wincp  or related software

[root@localhost ~]# rpm -ivh mt-st-0.5-1.i386.rpm

I have tested with oracle Linux 5.4

Done!

Now you will be able to access mt command as bellows

# mt -f /dev/st0 status

Unload the tape:
# mt -f /dev/st0 offline

Rewind tape drive:
# mt -f /dev/nst0 rewind

Find out what block you are at with mt command:
# mt -f /dev/nst0 tell

Backup directory /www and /home with tar command (z - compressed):

# tar -czf /dev/nst0 /www /home

Display list of files on tape drive:

# tar -tzf /dev/nst0

Restore /www directory:
# cd /
# mt -f /dev/nst0 rewind
# tar -xzf /dev/nst0 www

Erase the tape:
# mt -f /dev/nst0 erase

You can go FORWARD or BACKWARD on tape with mt command itself:
(a) Forward record:
# mt -f /dev/nst0 fsf 1

(b) Goto previous record:
# mt -f /dev/nst0 bsfm 1

(c) Go to end of data:
# mt -f /dev/nst0 eod