SCSI Commands: 54BWRITE FILEMARKS
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224
3.42
WRITE FILEMARKS
The WRITE FILEMARKS command causes the specified number of filemarks to be
written to tape.
This command can be used to force all remaining buffered data blocks to be written
to tape without appending filemarks by specifying zero filemarks. When zero
filemarks are specified, the command does not return Good Status to the Initiator
until all buffered data blocks and filemarks are written correctly on the tape.
Otherwise, status is returned immediately.
3.42.1
WRITE FILEMARKS Command Descriptor Block
Byte
Bits
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
0
Operation Code (10h)
1
Reserved IMMED
2
(MSB)
3
4
Count
(LSB)
5
Control
3.42.1.1
WRITE FILEMARKS Command Field Descriptions
Field
Name
Bytes Bits Description
Operation
Code
0
The Operation Code for Write Filemarks is 10h.
IMMED
1
0
0 = Status is not returned until the tape is positioned.
1 = Status is returned as soon as the operation is initiated.
Count
2-4
The number of filemarks to write.
Reserved
All Reserved bits must be 0.
Control 5
See
SCSI Command Control Byte Format on page 25.
The WRITE FILEMARKS command causes a sequence of file marks to be written at
the current logical position. The number of file marks to be written is indicated in the
Count field.
If the IMMED bit is one, status is returned immediately, before the file marks are
written to tape. If the IMMED bit is zero, the file marks and any buffered data is
written to tape before status is returned. If the IMMED bit is zero and the Count field
is 0, then all buffered data is flushed to tape before the command is reported.
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