tldr/pages/linux/mt.md

mt

Control magnetic tape drive operation (commonly LTO tape). More information: https://manned.org/mt.

• Check the status of a tape drive:

mt -f {{/dev/nstX}} status

• Rewind the tape to beginning:

mt -f {{/dev/nstX}} rewind

• Move forward a given files, then position the tape on first block of next file:

mt -f {{/dev/nstX}} fsf {{count}}

• Rewind the tape, then position the tape at beginning of the given file:

mt -f {{/dev/nstX}} asf {{count}}

• Position the tape at the end of valid data:

mt -f {{/dev/nstX}} eod

• Rewind the tape and unload/eject it:

mt -f {{/dev/nstX}} eject

• Write EOF (End-of-file) mark at the current position:

mt -f {{/dev/nstX} eof