raw tape device support???

raw tape device support???

[Mark Hounschell]

 Sorry if this isn't the correct place for this question. Is there or
will there
ever be raw tape device access. I'm trying to port an app from Dec unix
and at
least there the app requires /dev/rmt** (raw device). I've read in the
archives
about how to bind a block device to a raw device using the raw command
but the
tape dev (/dev/st*) is a char device and the command doesn't work on
char devices.
So I'm trying to figure out to get the same effect as /dev/rmt* does on
the dec
box in a linux environment. 
 I'm not a member of this list (sorry) so if anyone can respond to this
please
cc to it markh@compro.net.

Thank you very much in advance

Mark Hounschell
markh@compro.net

Re: raw tape device support???

[Kai Makisara]

On Thu, 3 May 2001, Mark Hounschell wrote:

>  Sorry if this isn't the correct place for this question. Is there or
> will there
> ever be raw tape device access. I'm trying to port an app from Dec unix
> and at
> least there the app requires /dev/rmt** (raw device). I've read in the
> archives
> about how to bind a block device to a raw device using the raw command
> but the
> tape dev (/dev/st*) is a char device and the command doesn't work on
> char devices.
> So I'm trying to figure out to get the same effect as /dev/rmt* does on
> the dec
> box in a linux environment.

You can just use the device /dev/st* (or /dev/nst*). They are raw
(character) devices. If your app needs to find the devices with names
/dev/rmt*, you can make new device nodes or use links.

	Kai