Cannot read Ignite TAR archive contents

[EU-Admins-UNIX]

Hello

We are having trouble reading the contents of our make_tape_recovery tapes using

mt -t /dev/rmt/1mn fsf 1

tar tvf /dev/rmt/1m

We are getting

TAR: blocksize = 2

directory checksum errors

Is there any other way to read the contents of the IGNITE tape, as opposed to recovering from it?  Could we use CPIO? PAX?

Thanks

Tariq

[Patrick Wallek]

What type of server was the tape created on? 

For a PA-RISC based system the 'fsf 1' is correct.

However, for an Itanium based system you must do:  mt -f /dev/rmt/1mn fsf 22

[EU-Admins-UNIX]

Sorry, yes a PA-RISC system

[Patrick Wallek]

What was the exact make_tape_recovery command that was used to createthe tape?  Are you positive that the tape was created successfully?

[Dennis Handly]

>Could we use cpio? pax?

Yes, you can use pax(1) to read pax, tar or cpio archives.

>yes a PA-RISC system

Then that mt(1) should have worked.  Did you rewind the tape before doing the fsf?

>mt -t /dev/rmt/1mn fsf 1

>tar tvf /dev/rmt/1m

Ah, you should use the same device for mt(1) and tar: /dev/rmt/1mn

[EU-Admins-UNIX]

The script we are using is:

SYSTEM=`hostname`
TAPEDEVICE=/dev/rmt/1m

# Hashed out while working out how to cope with frecover interactive mode if no header...
# /usr/local/scripts/check_tape.sh $TAPEDEVICE

rm /tmp/recovery_tape.txt

/opt/ignite/bin/make_tape_recovery -I -a ${TAPEDEVICE}n -x inc_entire=vg00 -v | tee /tmp/recovery_tape.txt

# Eject the tape!
/usr/bin/mt -f $TAPEDEVICE offl

/usr/local/scripts/sendunix.sh "$SYSTEM Make Tape Recover `date`" /tmp/recovery_tape.txt

exit

We have had issues whereby the logs say the backup has completed successfully, but when it comes to testing the tape, trying to fsf 1 and tar tvf the archive, we are unable to, also, unable to read the header.

Hope this helps.

Tariq

[Dennis Handly]

>when it comes to testing the tape, trying to fsf 1 and tar tvf the archive, we are unable to

As I mentioned, have you used a no rewind device for both steps?

TAPEDEVICE=/dev/rmt/1mn

mt -f $TAPEDEVICE fsf 1

tar tvf $TAPEDEVICE