How to recover data from a Windows 2003 Server HP StorageWorks Ultrium 448 Backup via Linux?

I have a scenario where I have to recover a backup from an Ultirum 448 tape medium that was made on Windows 2003 server. The only system that I have available for recovery is a Linux server with comparable hardware.

Is there a way to use tape accessibility software available on Linux to recover tape data in such a scenario?


  1. First you have to make contact with your tape drive. Ultrium448 is a scsi one, but it has a linux driver, thus it can't be an issue. Probably you have to reach the tape disk on a char device. HP provides linux drivers for the task, if you have trouble, I suggest to ask detailed in a new question.

  2. The backups are coming with a .bkf extension. If this is the case, then your problem is very simple to solve, because there is a tool named mtftar for the task:

mtftar is a filter to translate MTF/BKF backup streams from another operating system to the TAR archives used by the rest of the world.