Re: Automating a tar -M... Looking for ideas

dfrench_at_mtxia.com
Date: 12/30/04 

Date: 30 Dec 2004 08:38:46 -0800

cyber0ne wrote:
> I've written a number of very small and simple shell scripts to
handle
> my tape archiving needs and now I'm looking to extend the automation
a
> step further. As it stands, I invoke a script which

SNIP

> Does anyone have any ideas for a way of pausing between the tapes in
a
> script (-M includes an option for running a script instead of
> displaying its default message and requesting user input) that
doesn't
> require me being logged in? Ideally, if I could cron the entire
backup
> job and just put in the next tape whenever I notice the previous one
is
> done (I can tail the aforementioned log file for the backup's current
> status) that would be perfect.
>

SNIP

One thought that comes to mind is to output your prompt to the console
/dev/console, and when a tape finishes eject the tape using the 'tctl
-f /dev/rmt0 offline' command (with whatever tape device you are
using). Then in your script, periodically test the tape drive using
'tctl -f /dev/rmt0 status' to see if a new tape has been inserted, if
so, continue with the next backup. All this is untested of course. 

-- 
Dana French

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