Linux shell and perl scripts to read and write IBM tape cartridges on DEC TKZ61/62 Tape Drive Libraries
Linux Korn Shell and Perl scripts to read and write IBM 3480, 3480, 3490E tapes. Designed to access tapes on DEC TKZ61/62 Tape Drive Libraries (or clones/compatibles like Overland L490), for 10 slot libraries.
This was written in 2008 for a Unix server, before I was familiar with Linux and BASH, so much of this could be more elegant.
The following features are fairly accurate!
- Can read and write EBDCIC or ASCII data
- Handles reading and writing VOLSER tape labels
- Allows running tape cleaner cartridge in slot 11
- Keeps history of tapes processed
- For input files being written, for large files that won't fit on a certain tape cartridge, it will automatically create up to 10 tapes with appropriate VOLSER labels.
- Sends an email when tape(s) are finished being written or read. Email states the VOLSER numbers to label for written data
- Creates/updates a status web page showing
- the tape slots and information on the tapes in each slot
- Shows how many tapes have been accessed since the last time the cleaner tape was run
- Will compress data on cartridges that support compression
- Scripts handle most common errors automatically by skipping/rewinding