How to verify an ignite tape

[Mike Keys]

How do I verify that an ignite tape is good if I created with make_tape_recovery?

[Steven E. Protter]

The only 100% bullet proof method is to actually boot off the tape and use the thing.

This can be done on a similar or test server.

In practice, I have found that if you check the log files and make sure there are no errors, then the Ignite tape has always worked for me when it was needed.

SEP

[Pete Randall]

Use the mt command to skip by the boot header: mt -t /dev/rmt/_mn fsf 1

then use tar to check the contents

tar -t

But the absolutely definitive way, as Steve said, is to boot off it and restore.


Pete

[Jean-Luc Oudart]

Mike

When we apply changes we ususally take 2 copies.
We also have 2 copies offsite.

Never trust the one tape !


Regards
Jean-Luc

[Mike Keys]

Thanks. I did some more searching and found similar answers to these.
I am doing a tar tvf /dev/rmt/0mn now to verify tar.


You are right. Only way to know for sure is to restore!