Configuring virtual tape 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.