"tape assignment software"

[MK_MENON at PR1MEA.PRIME.COM]

SOFTWARE FOR ASSIGNING (OWNING) TAPE DEVICES
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Does anyone have any information on tape "assigning" software?
Specifically, what I am looking for is the capability for anyone
(even with limited access to the machine) to "assign" a tape device to
themselves when they want to do backups and restores
such that nobody else can use the tape drive to read or
write the tape until the tape device is "unassign"ed by the same person
who "assigned" it in the first place. Is such a facility
available within IRIX?  Otherwise, is there software available or can
someone give me pointers on how I might go about writing some software
to do this?  All this needs to be done without the interference of root.

Any help will be appreciated.

Mohan K. Menon
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MK_MENON at PR1MEA.Prime.COM
(Note: The "PR1MEA" has a digit "1" and "Prime" has no digits in the
       address above)

    M. K. Menon
    Eagle Technology Group Limited
    2 Manukau Road, Epsom,
    P. O. Box 37-060 Parnell
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Phone: 5244076
    Fax: 5240467
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