SG_REP_DENSITY(8)                  SG3_UTILS                 SG_REP_DENSITY(8)

NAME
       sg_rep_density - send SCSI REPORT DENSITY SUPPORT command

SYNOPSIS
       sg_rep_density [--help] [--hex] [--inhex=FN] [--maxlen=LEN] [--media]
       [--raw] [--readonly] [--typem] [--verbose] [--version] DEVICE

DESCRIPTION
       Sends a SCSI REPORT DENSITY command to DEVICE and outputs the data
       returned. This command is tape drive specific. This command is found in
       the SSC-5 draft standard, revision 6 (ssc5r06.pdf). This command was
       present in the SSC-2 standard (ANSI INCITS 380-2003).

       By default this utility requests the density code descriptors supported
       by the DEVICE (e.g. a tape drive) and decodes the response. If the
       --typem option is given it fetches the medium type descriptors
       supported by the DEVICE and decodes the response. When the --media
       option is given the density code or medium type descriptors supported
       by the media inside the DEVICE (e.g. a tape cartridge) are fetched.

OPTIONS
       Arguments to long options are mandatory for short options as well.

       -h, --help
              output the usage message then exit.

       -H, --hex
              output the response in hexadecimal to stdout. When used once the
              whole response is output in ASCII hexadecimal, prefixed by an
              address (starting at 0) on each line. When used twice the whole
              response is output in hexadecimal with no leading address (on
              each line).
              Using this option three times will produce output that can be
              redirected to a file and later given to another invocation using
              the --inhex=FN option.

       -i, --inhex=FN
              where FN is a file name whose contents are assumed to be ASCII
              hexadecimal. If DEVICE is also given then DEVICE is ignored, a
              warning is issued and the utility continues, decoding the file
              named FN. See the "HEX, BINARY AND JSON FORMATS" section in the
              sg3_utils manpage for more information. If the --raw option is
              also given then the contents of FN are treated as binary.

       -m, --maxlen=LEN
              where LEN is the (maximum) response length in bytes. It is
              placed in the cdb's "allocation length" field. If not given (or
              LEN is zero) then 8192 is used. The maximum allowed value of LEN
              is 65535.

       -M, --media
              sets the MEDIA bit in the cdb which causes the density codes (or
              medium types) supported by the tape cartridge in the drive to be
              placed in the response. The default is to request the density
              codes (or medium types) supported by the tape drive itself.
              If there is no "medium" (e.g. tape cartridge) present in the
              drive the SCSI command will fail with a "not ready" sense key.

       -r, --raw
              output the SCSI response (i.e. the data-out buffer) in binary
              (to stdout) unless the --inhex=FN option is given.
              When used together with the --inhex=FN option then the contents
              of FN are treated as binary (rather than hexadecimal).

       -R, --readonly
              open the DEVICE read-only (e.g. in Unix with the O_RDONLY flag).
              The default is to open it read-write.

       -t, --typem
              sets the MEDIUM TYPE bit in the cdb which causes the medium
              types supported by the tape drive (or tape cartridge) to be
              placed in the response. The default is to request the density
              codes.

       -v, --verbose
              increase the level of verbosity, (i.e. debug output).

       -V, --version
              print the version string and then exit.

EXIT STATUS
       The exit status of sg_rep_density is 0 when it is successful. Otherwise
       see the sg3_utils(8) man page.

AUTHORS
       Written by Douglas Gilbert.

REPORTING BUGS
       Report bugs to <dgilbert at interlog dot com>.

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (C) 2022-2023 Douglas Gilbert
       This software is distributed under a BSD-2-Clause license. There is NO
       warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
       PURPOSE.

SEE ALSO
       sg3_utils(sg3_utils)

sg3_utils-1.48                     June 2023                 SG_REP_DENSITY(8)