Virtual Tape Configuration in VIOS

Step by Step Virtual Tape Drive Configuration

Environment

Virtual Tape supported at VIOS 2.1 with added fixes at VIOS v2.1.0.10-
FP20.1

Resolving the problem

Requirements

VIOS v2.1.0.0 or higher (v2.1.0.10-FP20.1 is the minimum recommended)
Supports SAS-attached tape drives only
New configuration allows physical tape devices to be virtualized

Supported client OS

AIX 5.3 TL 09 or higher
AIX 6.1 TL 03 or higher
LINUX
i5/OS (IBM i)

VIOS partition with NON-target tape (Not a SAS tape drive )

$ lsdev -type tape

name status description
rmt0 Available SCSI 4mm Tape Drive

VIOS Partition with a target SAS tape drive

Step 1:

$ lsdev -type tape

name status description
rmt0 Available SAS 4mm Tape Drive

To list all devices of type "tape" that can be used as backing devices, type

$ lsdev -type tape4vtd

name status description
rmt0 Available SAS 4mm Tape Drive

To export a physical tape drive to a client as a virtual tape drive.

Step 2:

$ mkvdev -vdev rmt0 -vadapter vhost0

vttape0 Available

To list all virtual target tape devices

Step 3:

$ lsdev -type tape -virtual

vttape0 Available Virtual Target Device - Tape

Step 4:

$ lsmap -all -type tape

SVSA Physloc Client Partition ID

-------------- ------------------------- -------------------

vhost0 U8203.E4A.10D4431-V2-C11 0x00000004

VTD vttape0

Status Available

LUN 0x8100000000000000

Backing device rmt0

Physloc U789C.001.DQD2684-P1-C4-T1-L900-L0

Step 5:

Run cfgmgr on client partition to configure the virtual tape drive

Note: If the physical tape drive is currently used as a backing device and you want to use it locally on the VIOS (i.e to create a  backupios), the Virtual Target Device (VTD) must be removed or set in

a Defined state first, or you can also choose to remove the backing device

Example:

To remove VTD, vttape0, type

$ rmvdev -vtd vttape0

To put VTD, vttape0, in a Defined state, type

$ rmdev -dev vttape0 -ucfg

To remove the backing device

$ rmvdev -vdev rmt0

Note: The VIO Server cannot use Atape drive when attempting to Virtualize a SAS tape drive such as the 3580 to AIX client lpar. The Atape driver can be used on the running AIX client lpar.