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tapex(8)
NAME
tapex - Tape exerciser program
SYNOPSIS
/usr/field/tapex [option(s)] [parameter(s)]
OPTIONS
Some tapex options cause specific tests to be performed, for example, an
end-of-media test. Other options modify the tests, for example, enabling
caching. The tapex options are as follows:
-a Performance measurement test that calculates the tape transfer
bandwidth for writes and reads to the tape by timing data transfers.
-b Continuously runs the write/read tests until the process is killed.
This option can be used in conjunction with the -r or -g option.
-c Enables caching on the device, where supported. This does not
specifically test caching, but it enables the use of caching on a tape
device while running the other tests.
-C Disables caching on TMSCP tape devices. If the tape device is a TMSCP
unit, then caching is the default mode of test operation. This option
causes the tests to be run in noncaching mode.
-d Tests the ability to append to the media. First, the test writes
records to the tape. Then, it repositions back one record and appends
additional records. Finally, the test does a read verification. This
test simulates the behavior of the tar r switch.
-e End-of-media test. This test first writes data to fill up a tape,
which may take a long time for long tapes. It then does reads and
writes past the end of media, which should fail. Next it enables
writing past end of media, writes to the tape, and reads back the
records for validation.
-E Runs an extensive series of tests in sequential order. Due to the large
number of tests, this option takes a long time to complete. Depending
on tape type and cpu type, this series of tests can take up to 10 hours
to complete.
-f /dev/tape/tape?_d?
Specifies the name of the device special file that corresponds to the
tape unit being tested. Refer to the System Administration guide for
information on device special files. The default tape device is
/dev/tape/tape0_d0.
-F File-positioning tests. First, files are written to the tape and
verified. Next, every other file on the tape is read. Then, the
previously unread files are read by traversing the tape backwards.
Finally, random numbers are generated; the tape is positioned to those
locations, and the data is verified. Each file uses a different record
size.
-G File-positioning tests on already-written tape. This option can be
used in conjunction with the -F option to run the file position tests
on a tape that has already been written to by a previous version of the
-F test. For this to work, the same test parameters, for example
record size and number of files, must be used as when the tape was
written. No other data should have been written to the tape since the
previous -F test.
-g Random record-size tests. This test writes records of random sizes. It
reads in the tape, specifying a large read size; however, only the
amount of data in the randomly-sized record should be returned. This
test only checks return values and does not validate record contents.
-h Displays a help message describing the tape exerciser.
-i Interactive mode. Under this mode, the user is prompted for various
test parameters. Typical parameters include the record size and the
number of records to write. The following scaling factors are allowed:
k or K for kilobyte (1024 * n)
b or B for block (512 * n)
m or M for megabyte (1024 * 1024 * n)
For example, 10k would specify 10240 bytes.
-j Write phase of the tape-transportability tests. This test writes a
number of files to the tape, and then verifies the tape. After a
successful verification, the tape is brought offline to be moved to
another tape unit and read in with the -k option. The purpose of this
test is to prove that a tape can be written on one drive and read by
another drive. Note that the test parameters for the -k phase of the
transportability test must match the parameters of the -j test. Any
changes of test parameters from the defaults should also be changed
during the -k test.
-k Read phase of the tape-transportability tests. This test reads a tape
that was written by the -j test and verifies that the expected data is
read from the tape. Success of this test proves that a tape can be
written on one drive and read on another. As stated in the description
of the -j option, any parameters changed in the -j test must also be
changed in the -k test.
-L Media loader test. The number of cartridges should be specified with
-num_ct. For sequential stack loaders, the media is loaded, written to,
and verified. Then the media is unloaded, and the test repeats on the
next piece of media. This verifies that all the media in the input
deck is writable. To run this test in read-only mode, also specify the
-w option.
-l End-of-file test. This test verifies that a zero byte count is returned
when a tape mark is read and that another read will fetch the first
record of the next tape file.
-m Displays tape contents. This is not a test; it reads the tape
sequentially and prints out the number of files on the tape, the number
of records in each file, and the size of the records within the file.
The contents of the tape records are not examined.
-o filename
Sends output to the specified filename. The default is to not create
an output file and send output to the terminal.
-p Runs both the record and file positioning tests. (See the -R and -F
options.)
-q Command timeout test. This test verifies that the driver allows enough
time for completion of long operations. The test consists of writing
files to fill up the tape. Next a rewind is performed followed by a
forward skip out to the last file. The test is successful if the
forward skip operation completes without error.
-r Record-size test. A number of records are written to the tape and then
verified. This process is repeated over a range of record sizes.
-R Record-positioning test. First, records are written to the tape and
verified. Next, every other record on the tape is read. Then, the
other records are read by traversing the tape backwards. Finally,
random numbers are generated; the tape is positioned to those
locations, and the data is verified.
-s Record-size behavior test. Verifies that a record read will return at
most one record or the read size, whichever is less.
-S Single record size test. This option modifies the record-size test (-r
option).
-T Copies output to standard output. This option is useful if you want to
log output to a file with the -o option and also have the output
displayed on standard output. This option must be specified after the
-o option in the command line.
-v Verbose mode. This option causes more detailed terminal output of what
the tape exerciser is doing. For example, it lists operations the
exerciser is performing, such as record counts, and more detailed error
information.
-V Very verbose mode. This option causes more output to be generated than
either the default mode or the -v option. The output consists of
additional status information on exerciser operation.
-w Opens the tape as read-only. This mode is only useful for tests that
do not write to the media. For example, it allows the -m test to be
run on a write-protected media.
-Z Initializes read buffer to the nonzero value 0130. This may be useful
for debugging purposes. If the -Z option is not specified, all
elements of the read buffer will be initialized to 0. Many of the tests
first initialize their read buffer and then perform the read operation.
After reading a record from the tape, some tests validate that the
unused portions of the read buffer remain at the value to which they
were initialized. As a debugging tool, it may in some cases be useful
to have this initialized value set to be nonzero. In those cases, the
arbitrary character 0130 can be used.
The following parameters modify the actions of the options.
You can change the default test parameters either by using the -i option
described previously or by specifying the parameters in the command line.
This section describes the parameters you can set in the command line,
listed with the associated test.
To specify a value, type the parameter name followed by a space and then
the number. For example -min_rs 512 specifies a minimum record size of 512
blocks. The following scaling factors are allowed:
k or K for kilobyte (1024 * n)
b or B for block (512 * n)
m or M for megabyte (1024 * 1024 * n)
For example, 10K would specify 10240 bytes.
These parameters are associated with the option -a:
-perf_num
The number of records to write and read.
-perf_rs
The size of records.
These parameters are associated with the option -d:
-no_overwrite
Prevents the append to media test from being performed on tape devices
that do not support this test. Usually, you use this parameter with the
-E option.
-tar_num
The number of additional and appended records.
-tar_size
The record size for all records written in this test.
These parameters are associated with the option -e.
Note that specifying too much data to be written past EOM could cause a
reel-to-reel tape to go off the end.
-end_num
The number or records written past EOM.
-end_rs The record size.
These parameters are associated with the option -F:
-num_fi The number of files.
-pos_ra The number of random repositions.
-pos_rs The record size.
-rec_fi The number of records per file.
This parameter is associated with the option -g:
-rand_num
The number of records to write and read.
These parameters are associated with the options -j and -k:
-tran_file
The number of files to write or read.
-tran_rec
The number of records contained in each file.
-tran_rs
The size of each record.
These parameters are associated with the option -L:
-num_ct
The number of cartridges the tape loader magazine can hold.
-timeout
The maximum number of minutes to wait for a media load to succeed. The
default is 3 minutes. Increase this time if the loader requires it.
These parameters are associated with the option -R:
-pos_num
The number of records.
-pos_ra The number of random repositions.
-pos_rs The record size.
These parameters are associated with the options -r and -S:
-inc The record increment factor.
-max_rs The maximum record size.
-min_rs The minimum record size.
-num_rec
The number of records.
-t Sets a time limit in minutes on how long to run the record-size
test (-r option). The default is to run the test to completion.
These parameters are associated with the option -s:
-num_rec
The number of records.
-size_rec
The record size.
These parameters are associated with all tests:
-err_lines
The threshold on error printouts.
-fixed bs
Specifies a fixed block device. Record sizes for most devices will
default to multiples of the blocking factor of the fixed block
device as specified by the bs argument.
DESCRIPTION
The tapex program tests tape driver functionality. Functions that are
tested include:
· Writing records onto a tape and verifying the records
· Using records in a range of sizes
· Record-length testing
· Random record-size testing
· Positioning tests for records and files
· Writing and reading past the end of media
· End-of-file testing
· Tape-transportability testing
· Bandwidth performance analysis
· Media loader testing
· Reporting of tape contents
When tapex is run, a writable tape must be loaded in the drive being
tested, and the drive must be online.
EXAMPLES
1. This example runs a series of tests on tape device /dev/tape/tape1_d0
and sends all output to a file called tapex.out.
tapex -f /dev/tape/tape1_d0 -E -o tapex.out
2. This example runs the end-of-media test on tape device tape1_d0.
Verbose mode is specified, which causes additional output. By
default, output is directed to the terminal.
tapex -f /dev/tape/tape1_d0 -v -e
3. This example performs read/write record testing. By default, this test
runs on the default tape device /dev/tape/tape0_d0 and output is sent
to the terminal.
tapex -r
4. This example performs read/write record testing using record sizes in
the range 10k to a maximum record size of 20k. By default, this test
runs on the default tape device /dev/tape/tape0_d0 and output is sent
to the terminal.
tapex -r -min_rs 10k -max_rs 20k
5. This example performs a series of tests on tape device
/dev/tape/tape1_d2, which is treated as fixed block device in which
record sizes for tests are multiples of the blocking factor 512
kilobytes. The append to media test is not performed.
tapex -f /dev/tape/tape1_d2 -fixed 512 -no_overwrite
SEE ALSO
Commands: cmx(8), fsx(8), shmx(8), memx(8), diskx(8)
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Index for
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Alphabetical
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