IOSCSITape

IOSCSITape is a free and open-source program designed for Mac OS X. It gives you a Unix-like tape driver, which means you can use standard tools like tar to read and write directly to tape. Pretty cool, right?

Why You Need IOSCSITape

Even though Mac OS X feels like a Unix-like system, it's been missing a proper Unix-like tape driver since it launched in 2001. Instead of providing one, Apple has encouraged developers to rely on their own proprietary API for using devices like tape drives.

The Problem with Apple's Approach

This setup makes things tricky for developers because they have to start from scratch instead of using existing solutions that work well. Plus, adapting to Apple's API can limit the flexibility that comes with using popular tools and methods for handling tape drives.

How IOSCSITape Can Help

IOSCSITape steps in by offering a typical Unix-like character device file (like /dev/rst0) along with a handy tool (mt) to manage your tape drives on Mac OS X. With IOSCSITape, you can run standard commands like tar and dd, plus use popular backup tools like Amanda and Bacula seamlessly!

A Quick Note!

Please keep in mind: IOSCSITape isn't quite ready for full production just yet. It's still in early development and has only been tested on a limited range of hardware. So, be cautious when using it!

Getting Started with IOSCSITape

If you're eager to give it a try, you can check out detailed instructions on installing and using the IOSCSITape utility on your Mac HERE.