On squid or thunder (locally):

basic tape operations:

    mt -f /dev/nst0 rewind

                    status

                    fsf n

...

to list content on the tape:

    tar tf /dev/nst0

to read tape:

    tar xfv /dev/nst0

to write tape with files or directories:

    tar cfv /dev/nst0 files (or directories)

(/dev/st0 is for auto-rewind; /dev/nst0 is for non-rewind)

Work from remote hosts:

    rsh squid mt -t /dev/nst0 ... (rewind, status, etc.)

    rsh squid tar ... (-tf, -xfv, etc)

or (for tape driver on thunder.caps.ou.edu)

    ssh thunder mt -t /dev/nst0 ... (rewind, status, etc.)

    ssh thunder tar ... (-tf, -xfv, etc)

(password may be required)

Work on DEC Alpha(s) [transfer data between squid and DEC Alpha machines]:

    gtar tf squid:/dev/nst0

    gtar cfv squid:/dev/nst0 <files or dirs on DEC Alpha>