Tape drive service aids details

Edit online

The following service aid utilities are installed with the device driver:
  • Force Microcode Dump
  • Read Dump
  • Microcode Load
  • Error Log Analysis
  • Reset Drive
  • Create an FMR Tape

Force Microcode Dump

This utility forces a dump operation on the tape drive. After the dump operation is completed, the dump data can be transferred from the tape drive by using the Read Dump utility.

To access this utility -
  1. Open the Service Aids window.
  2. Select Force Microcode Dump from the IBM® Tape Drive Service Aids window, then press Enter.
  3. Select the device from the IBM Tape Drive Selection window, then press Enter.

    The Force Microcode Dump operation starts, and a window opens when the operation is completed.

Read Dump

This utility transfers the dump data from the device to a file, a diskette, or a tape cartridge.

To access this utility -
  1. Open the Service Aids window.
  2. Select Read Dump from the IBM Tape Drive Service Aids window, then press Enter.
  3. Select the device from the IBM Tape Drive Selection window, then press Enter.
  4. Enter the destination file name or device in the Prompting for Destination window. The default destination is the /dev/rfd0 diskette drive. To transfer the dump data to a tape cartridge, enter the device name of the tape drive (for example, /dev/rmt0). To transfer the dump data to a file, enter the file name. Press F7 to commit.
    Note: On certain terminal types, it might be necessary to press Esc and the number 7 instead of F7.

    The Read Dump operation starts, and a window opens when the operation is completed.

Microcode Load

This utility downloads microcode to the device from a file or a diskette (AIX® format only).
Note: To download the microcode from a DOS diskette, you must first use the AIX dosread command to transfer the file from the DOS diskette to the AIX file. Then, you can use the Microcode Load utility to download the AIX file to the tape drive.
To access this utility -
  1. Open the Service Aids window.
  2. Select Microcode Load from the IBM Tape Drive Service Aids window, then press Enter.
  3. Select the device from the IBM IBMTape Drive Selection window, then press Enter.
  4. Enter the source file name or device on the Prompting for Source File window. The default source is the /dev/rfd0 diskette drive. To load from a file, enter the file name. Press F7 to commit.
    Note: On certain terminal types, it might be necessary to press Esc and the number 7 instead of F7.
  5. If the current microcode on a tape drive is Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, then a window opens and displays the following message.
    Warning: The drive is currently using FIPS code. Press Enter to 
continue with downloading new drive code.
    If you do not want to download the new code, press either F3 to cancel or F10 to exit without downloading new code. Otherwise, press Enter to continue with the download code procedure.

The Microcode Load operation starts, and a window opens when the operation is completed.

Error Log Analysis

This utility displays and analyzes the system error log entries for a specific tape drive and can be used for problem determination. The type of error, the SCSI command, and the sense data (if applicable) are displayed for each entry in the error log (one screen at a time).

To access this utility -
  1. Open the Service Aids window.
  2. Select Error Log Analysis from the IBM Tape Drive Service Aids window, then press Enter.
  3. Select the device from the IBM Tape Drive Selection window, then press Enter.
  4. If entries are listed in the error log for the selected device, then the first entry is displayed. Press Enter to display the next entry.
  5. After all entries are displayed, a window opens, and the operation is completed.

Reset Drive

This utility resets the tape drive.

To access this utility -
  1. Open the Service Aids window.
  2. Select Reset Drive from the IBM Tape Drive Service Aids window, then press Enter.
  3. Select the device from the IBM IBMTape Drive Selection window, then press Enter.

    The Reset Drive operation starts, and a window opens when the operation is completed.

Create an FMR Tape

This utility creates a field microcode replacement (FMR) cartridge tape by using the loaded functional microcode in the tape drive.

To access this utility -
  1. Open the Service Aids window.
  2. Select Create an FMR Tape from the IBM Tape Drive Service Aids window, then press Enter.
  3. Select the device from the IBMTape Drive Selection window, then press Enter.

    The Create an FMR Tape operation starts, and a window opens when the operation is completed.