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8.8.1.17: MTSEEK

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

Description

Seek to the specified block.


Notes
  • ftape-4.03 emulates blocks of a constant length. That is, `MTSEEK' don't skip floppy tape segments but blocks of a virtual size between 1 kb and 62 kb depending on what was specified with `MTSETBLK' (see MTSETBLK).
  • One needs to use the non-rewinding devices when using this with the mt program. See Rewinding devices and tape motion commands.
  • MTSEEK just modifies a variable and does not result in tape motion.

Compatibility
  • When using ftape-3.04d and later versions up to ftape-4.02 (inclusively) seeking always stays within the same volume, and the block address is relative to the start of the current volume. This was incompatible with the way SCSI drives implement this command where the block address is relative to the beginning of the tape and has been fixed in ftape-4.03.
  • In variable block size mode the argument is interpreted as the desired position measured in bytes. Maybe this is a bug.
  • ftape-2.x resp. sftape didn't implement this command.

Example

seek to the 10th block, measured from the start of the current volume

mt -f /dev/nqft0 seek 10

References
Tape blocks
MTFSR
MTBSR
MTSETBLK

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