How to use the IBM device driver

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How to use an optional IBM® tape device driver with IBM Storage Archive.

Before you begin

Note: The installation of a tape device driver for HBA-connected drives on a Linux® system is optional. The default tape device driver is sg, which is the low-level driver for all SCSI devices on Linux systems.
Before the tape device driver is installed, ensure that the following tasks are completed:
  • The host bus adapter (HBA) and its device driver are installed.
  • The tape drive and HBA are connected.
  • The tape drive is powered on.
  • The tape drives in the library are powered on.
  • The server is powered on.
Use one of the following procedures, Find product or Select product, to access the IBM Fix Central portal and download the most recent version of the tape device driver. Then, see Installing the IBM tape device driver for instructions on how to access the IBM Tape Device Drivers Installation and User's Guide.
Note: If multiple tape libraries are connected to the system, a library device name such as /dev/IBMchanger0 could be changed after the cable is disconnected. To avoid this situation, refer to the information about persistent naming support in the IBM Tape Device Driver Installation and User's Guide (GC27-2130). For more information, see Installing the IBM tape device driver

IBM maintains the most current levels of product software and documentation on the IBM Fix Central website. IBM Fix Central is the preferred location for IBM tape device driver downloads and replaces any FTP sites that are used for the same purpose.

Find product

Open the following IBM Fix Central URL in your web browser: https://www-945.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/.
  1. Click the Find product option.
  2. In the Product selector field, type Tape device drivers.
  3. From the Platform menu, select your operating system.
  4. Click Continue to go to the Select fixes page, view the list of available downloads.
  5. Select a download from the options presented, and click Continue.
  6. Follow the instructions on the IBM Fix Central download page to download the new version.

Select product

Open the following IBM Fix Central URL in your web browser: https://www-945.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/.
  1. Click the Select product option.
  2. From the Product Group menu, select System Storage.
  3. From the Select from System Storage menu, select Tape systems.
  4. From the Select from Tape systems menu, select Tape drivers and software.
  5. From the Select from Tape drivers and software menu, select Tape device drivers.
  6. From the Platform menu, select your operating system.
  7. Click Continue to go to the Select fixes page. View the list of available downloads.
  8. Select a download from the options presented, and click Continue.
  9. Follow the instructions on the IBM Fix Central download page to download the new version.

Installing the IBM tape device driver

Installation and usage information about IBM tape device drivers is available in the PDF document IBM Tape Device Drivers Installation and User's Guide. Click the following link to access the PDF in a new browser window: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=577&uid=ssg1S7002972.
Note: Instead of setting permission to the library device on every boot, the permission to the tape library devices and the tape drives can be persistently set to 666 by adding the following lines in the file /etc/udev/rules.d/98-lin_tape.rules:
KERNEL=="IBMchanger*",  NAME="%k", MODE="0666" 
KERNEL=="IBMtape*[!n]",  NAME="%k", MODE="0666" 
KERNEL=="IBMtape*n",  NAME="%k", MODE="0666"

Changing the default backends to the IBM Tape Device Driver

For version 2.4.0.3 and subsequent versions, IBM Storage Archive has introduced an experimental feature that enables users to use the IBM Tape Device Driver. To enable the IBM Tape Device Driver, add the following line in the /opt/ibm/ltfsle/etc/ltfs.conf.local file. The new setting becomes effective after you restart IBM Storage Archive.

It's important to note that this feature is not fully tested and, therefore, is not supported. Exercise caution when using this experimental feature since it may lead to unexpected behaviors or errors. 
default tape lin_tape