The first time that you try to read or write a new, completely blank tape, the operation will fail. The console messages should be similar to:
st0(ncr1:4:0): NOT READY asc:4,1
st0(ncr1:4:0): Logical unit is in process of becoming ready
The tape does not contain an Identifier Block (block number 0). All QIC tape drives since the adoption of QIC-525 standard write an Identifier Block to the tape. There are two solutions:
mt fsf 1 causes the tape drive to write an
Identifier Block to the tape.
Use the front panel button to eject the tape.
Re-insert the tape and dump(8) data to the
tape.
dump(8) will report DUMP: End of tape
detected and the console will show: HARDWARE FAILURE
info:280 asc:80,96
rewind the tape using: mt rewind
Subsequent tape operations are successful.