mtp-help

mtp - Magnetic Tape Partitioning utility v0.9

Usage: mtp [-?|-h|--help|-v|--version]
                 [device [cmd [partnum|psize0 [psize1 [psize2 [psize3]]]]]]
    device  - generic SCSI device related to tape drive (e.g. /dev/sg1)
    cmd     - a number from 1 to 9
              1, 2, 3, 4 create one, two, three or four equally
                sized partition
              5, 6, 7 create two, three or four partition with
                size: psize0, psize1, etc.
              8 create a predefined partition scheme, usually one minimal
                 sized partition (around 107G) and a big partition from
                 the remaining space. LTFS uses this partition scheme.
              9 on Linux mtp can toggle ST driver 'can-partitions' flag
                if this flag is set 'mt' utility can st=et tape current
                and can make maximum two partition on a tape.
                mtp does not need to this flag set for partition tapes.
              10 get or set current partition number (set - position tape to
                 partnum)
    partnum - desired partition number for command 10 (0-3 set, any other get)
    psizeX  - partition size in current partitioning unit
                the partitioning unit can be byte, kilobyte, megabyte or
                10^X byte, where X is settable.
                The default partition size unit is 10^8 in a HP LTO-7 drive.
                With 'sdparm' utility you can check or set:
                  sdparm -p mpa <device> and to set
                  sdparm -p mpa --set PSUM=nn,PART_U=X <device>
                    nn: 0 - byte, 1 - KB, 2 - MB, 3 - 10^X byte
                sizeX can be a number from -1 to 65535:
                  -1 or 65535 - all remaining space 0-65534 size in
                  partitioning unit.
    -?|-h   - this short help
    --help  - long help
    -v|--version  - version

  Without args mtp show an interactive menu.

  With only a device - mtp show the partition information.

Examples:
    mtp /dev/sg3    - show partitions
    mtp /dev/sg3 1  - create one partition on tape: reset to the original
                       'unpartitioned' state of tape
    mtp /dev/sg3 3  - create three equally sized partition
    mtp /dev/sg3 6 12000 -1 16000
                    - create three partition: first size is 12000 unit,
                      third size is 16000 unit and the second partition
                      consumes all available space.
    mtp /dev/sg3 9  - toggle st driver 'can-partitions' option
    mtp /dev/sg3 10 ? - print current active partition number
    mtp /dev/sg3 10 3 - position tape at partition 3 BOP

Notes:
  Between the partitions, there are some 'guarding' area, so the usable
  space on a partitioned tape is smaller than on an unpartitioned one.
  The drive may slightly change ('round') the given partition sizes, so
  the final sizes of partitions may differ from the desired.

EXAMPLES

mtp
mtp $TAPE