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8.8.1.22: MTLOAD

C code
struct mtop op = { MTLOAD, 0 };
result = ioctl(tapefd, MTIOCTOP, &op);

Description

Loads the tape cartridge if this is supported by the hardware.


Limitations

Only supported by Iomega Ditto Max tape drive.


Notes

This command reverses the MTOFFL command. In contrast to the MTRESET command which also undoes a previous MTOFFL command the tape drive hardware isn't reset, which causes MTLOAD to be faster than the MTRESET command, in case there is already a cartridge inserted and the tape drive has been put `offline' by a previously issued MTOFFL command.

However, for the Ditto Max drive this isn't true, as the MTOFFL command really ejects the cartridge, and the tape drive will execute a seek load point sequence once the cartridge has been loaded by this command.

In either case, when this command is issued while a cartridge is present and the drive hasn't been put `offline' then this command is a no-op, i.e. it does nothing.

This is different to the behaviour of the MTRESET command which resets the driver soft- and hardware regardless off the presence or absence of a cartridge and the internal `offline' state of the ftape driver.


Example

Put the drive offline, then re-load the cartridge.

mt -f /dev/nqft0 offline
mt -f /dev/nqft0 load

Skip to past the first file mark

mt -f /dev/nqft0 fsf

and load again.

mt -f /dev/nqft0 load

This was a no-op but resetting would have been quite an effect. But

mt -f /dev/nqft0 offline
mt -f /dev/nqft0 reset

is equivalent to the first offline/load commands.


References
MTOFFL
MTRESET
MTUNLOAD

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