Special file names for tape devices

A special file name for a tape device is required for the IBM Spectrum Protect server to work with tape, medium changer, or removable media devices.

AIX operating systems
When a device is configured successfully, a logical file name is returned. Table 1 specifies the name of the device, also called a special file name, that corresponds to the drive or library. You can use the SMIT operating system command to get the device special file name. In the examples, x specifies an integer, 0 or greater.
Table 1. Device examples
Device Device example Logical file name
Tape drives that can be used by the IBM Spectrum Protect device driver ⁄dev⁄mtx mtx
Tape drives that can be used by the IBM tape device driver ⁄dev⁄rmtx rmtx
Tape drives that can be used by the IBM AIX® generic tape device driver ⁄dev⁄rmtx rmtx
Library devices that can be used by the IBM Spectrum Protect device driver ⁄dev⁄lbx lbx
Library devices that can be used by the IBM tape device driver ⁄dev⁄smcx smcx
Linux operating systems
When a device is configured successfully, a logical file name is returned. Table 2 specifies the name of the device, also called the special file name, that corresponds to the drive or library. In the examples, x specifies an integer, 0 or greater.
Table 2. Device examples
Device Device example Logical file name
Tape drives that can be used by the IBM Spectrum Protect passthru device driver ⁄dev⁄tsmscsi/mtx mtx
Tape drives that can be used by the IBM lin_tape device driver ⁄dev⁄IBMtapex IBMtapex
Library devices that can be used by the IBM Spectrum Protect passthru device driver ⁄dev⁄tsmscsi/lbx lbx
Library devices that can be used by the IBM lin_tape device driver ⁄dev⁄IBMchangerx IBMchangerx
Windows operating systems
When a device is configured successfully, a logical file name is returned. Table 3 specifies the name of the device, also called the special file name, that corresponds to the drive or library. In the examples, a, b, c, d, and x specify an integer, 0 or greater, where:
  • a specifies the target ID.
  • b specifies the LUN.
  • c specifies the SCSI bus ID.
  • d specifies the port ID.
Table 3. Device examples
Device Device example Converted device name
Tape drives that are supported by the IBM Spectrum Protect device driver mta.b.c.d mta.b.c.d
Tape drives that are supported by the IBM Spectrum Protect passthru device driver mta.b.c.d mta.b.c.d
Tape drives that are supported by the IBM device driver Tapex mta.b.c.d
Library devices that are supported by the IBM Spectrum Protect device driver lb.a.b.c.d lba.b.c.d
Library devices that are supported by the IBM Spectrum Protect passthru device driver lba.b.c.d lba.b.c.d
Library devices that are supported by the IBM device driver Changerx lba.b.c.d