Exabyte Reader

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Note

These instuctions are old since none of the workstations has the Exabyte Reader attached. Keeping the documentation in case it is ever hooked up again.

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Instructions

  • Put the tape in the machine and wait at least 30 seconds of real time.
  • Make sure you are working on Gallifrey (SSH to Gallifrey if you are not)
  • Enter IRAF and move to the directory where you want to put the tape's data.
  • Epar rfits and set "oldiraf" to "yes". This is to keep the names of the files so that you know what is in them.
  • Make sure the tape block size is set to zero by typing "mt -f /dev/st1 status" (If you are in IRAF, put the ! at the front of the command; also that is the number one, not the letter l). The result will be something like: 
SCSI 2 tape drive: File number=0, block number=0, partition=0. Tape block size 0 bytes. 
Density code 0x14 (EXB-8200 (RLL 43245 bpi)). 
Soft error count since last status=0 General status bits on (45010000): BOT WR_PROT ONLINE IM_REP_EN

Look for the line "Tape block size 0 bytes." If there is any number other than 0, then type mt -f /dev/st1 setblk 0, and then recheck the tape block size.

  • Allocate the drive by typing allocate mtb in IRAF.
  • Wait about 10 seconds.
  • Make sure the device is allocated by rewinding the tape: rewind mtb
  • Begin reading by typing: rfits mtb 1-999 anything_you_want_here > run.txt The anything_you_want_here is the name of the .imh file that will be overwritten anyways because you set oldiraf = yes; run.txt is a simple text file that will contain a list of what is on your tape. 1-999 tells it to read everything on the tape.
  • Wait about 3 hours.
  • rfits will give you .imh files, so if you want to process the data you are done. If you want to store the data on CD's (and why don't you????) then move on to step 12.
  • wfits the data to get .fits files. You will need to wfits the data by object, darks, zeros, and flats so that the names of the .fits files will be correct.
  • Rewind the tape when finished by typing rewind mtb.
  • Wait another 20 minutes or so.
  • Deallocate the tape drive by typing deallocate mtb.
  • Store the data by using gtoaster and burning the data to a CD.
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