Although TIMTOWTDI, I suspect you'll find that using a shell script of some sort would be easier than using Perl for this purpose. Here is an example of a cshell script which could be scheduled to run as a cron job:

#! /usr/bin/csh
echo -n "** New Backup Job" >> /home/root/tape.log
echo -n "** Rewinding tape . . . " >> /home/root/tape.log
mt -f /dev/rmt/0 rew

echo "**" >> /home/root/tape.log
echo "** TAPE #1 Backup begins   ("`date '+%Y/%m/%d %H:%M'`") **" >> /
+home/root/tape.log
echo " " >> /home/root/tape.log

echo "   Backing up -> /root" >> /home/root/tape.log

ufsdump 0uf /dev/rmt/0n /dev/md/dsk/d20 >> & /home/root/tape.log
echo "   Root finished backing up  ("`date '+%Y/%m/%d %H:%M'`")" >> /h
+ome/root/tape.log

echo -n "** Rewinding/Unloading tape . . . " >> /home/root/tape.log
mt -f /dev/rmt/0 rewoffl
[download]

Please be sure to note that this is a very simple example with absolutely no error checking. You should also check out the man pages for additional requirements when using ufsdump (file systems should be inactive, run in single user mode, etc.). A more robust solution using cshell script and Perl (with error checking) can be found here. HTH.

--Jim