I have a RHEL server I use for NetBackup 7.6. I ran a minimal install of RHEL 6.5 and installed NetBackup. This all works fine.

I'm now in a situation where I need to pull data from tapes with origin outside of NetBackup - created using tar and mt.

In order get the data off the tapes, I am going to need the "mt" (magnetic tape) utility.

I found that the "st" utility was already installed on the machine. I don't know whether that happened during the core install or whether the NetBackup install installed "st", either generic or it's own customized version.

Searching the RHEL yum repository, I found "mt-st.x86_64":

[root@lac-back1 ~]# yum search mt tool tape drive

rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.5 kB 00:00

N/S Matched: mt, tool, tape, drive

mt-st.x86_64 : Tool for controlling tape drives

I'm inclined to install this package, but am concerned that ...

(1) the "st" in the package - I'm guessing the "st" in package name implies "st" gets installed - might somehow screw up my existing (and functional) NetBackup installation; and

(2) if things did go south, and I ended up having to remove the "mt-st.x86_64" package, that "yum remove" would remove the "st" package (orginal and new) altogether, and I would be without a functioning NetBackup installation.

In this situation, would it be safe to yum install the "mt-st.x86_64" package?

Anything else helpful I should know.