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8.1.4.1: Table of devices

Since ftape-4.04 there are only two device nodes per floppy tape left. The `q' stands for QIC, and the `n' is a shortcut for Non-rewinding (see Rewinding and non-rewinding devices). Example for drive selection method A, see Drive selection):

device name bits of minor device number `lsb-msb' compr. support file marks rewind on close can read v2.x raw access ioctls
/dev/qft0 0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0 no yes yes yes yes
/dev/nqft0 0|0|1|0|0|0|0|0 no yes no yes yes

The headers of the different columns have the following meaning:

`bits of minor device number'

The minor device number in bitwise representation. The lsb(1) comes first. See zftape devices overview.


`compression support'

Whether you can use compression with this devices. BIG FAT NOTE: ftape-4.04 no longer supports compression. See Compression. However, decompression of compressed archives produced with ftape-3.04d is still possible in order not to break existing backup software where a user-level decompression filter would not suffice to guarantee compatibility.


`file marks'

Whether this device supports file marks (see File marks, see MTFSF, see MTBSF, see MTFSFM, see MTBSFM, see MTWEOF).


`rewind on close'

Whether the tape is rewound when this device is closed. Note the `n' in front of all the device names that rewind when closing them (see Rewinding devices, see MTREW, see MTOFFL).


`can read v2.x'

Whether you can read tapes produces by the pre-3.04 sftape driver or by the old ftape-2.x driver. See Compatibility with ftape-2.x.


`raw access ioctls'

Whether this device supports raw access ioctls (see MTIOCRDFTSEG and MTIOCWRFTSEG). Please note that since there is a new ioctl which switches raw mode on and off. See MTIOCFTMODE.

Please refer to the respective subsections for more remarks about the different devices (see /dev/qft, see /dev/rft, see /dev/rawft).

There is a script [/usr/src/ftape-4.04/]scripts/MAKEDEV.ftape that can produce these devices for you. See Installing ftape. You find it under `[/usr/src/ftape-4.04/]scripts/'. The devices which I called `/dev/qft*' and `/dev/nqft*' were also used by the original ftape driver. In the latest versions of the original ftape-2.x driver they were called `/dev/rft*' and `/dev/nrft*', older versions of ftape called them `/dev/ftape' and `/dev/nftape'. See Installing ftape.


(1) least significant bit


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