To use a tape device, you must install the appropriate device driver.
About this task
Windows device drivers are recommended for all devices. IBM® device drivers are available for most IBM labeled devices. If a Windows device driver is not available for your device, and the device is supported by the Tivoli® Storage Manager device driver, you can use the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver for your device.
Starting with Tivoli Storage Manager Version 6.2, support for native drivers through SCSI Passthru is available. You can choose to use a Windows Hardware Qualification Lab certified native device driver instead of the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver to control devices. Devices that are already controlled by the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver can be switched to a native driver without updating drive or device class definitions.
Drivers for IBM devices
Tivoli Storage Manager supports IBM device drivers for some IBM devices.- Drivers for non IBM devices
Use the Windows device driver for tape drives and libraries if one is supplied with Windows. If the Windows device driver is not available and the device is supported, you can use the IBM Tivoli Storage Manager device driver to control the device. - Installing device drivers for IBM 3494 libraries
You can install device drivers to use IBM 3494 tape libraries. The IBM tape library driver consists of the ibmatl (a service) and other components. - Installing the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver
The Tivoli Storage Manager device driver is installed into the driver store through the Device Driver Installation Wizard. The wizard is displayed during the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver package installation. - Uninstalling the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver
Uninstall the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver any time you are planning on upgrading to a more current version. - Using Windows device drivers with the GENERICTAPE format
When a tape drive is controlled by the Windows device driver, in addition to the Tivoli Storage Manager tape formats, you might be able to use the drive with the GENERICTAPE format. - Creating a file to list devices and their attributes
A device can be used with the GENERICTAPE device class if it is supported by the Windows device driver and has specific capabilities. - Controlling devices with the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver
On Windows systems, devices are automatically controlled by the default Windows device driver, even if you install the Tivoli Storage Manager driver (tsmscsi).