Tar command queries "tape read error"

[Henry Chua]

Hi Guys,

I got this while running "tar -tvf /dev/rmt/0m"
"
tar: blocksize = 2
drwxrwxrwx 0/3 0 Mar 21 12:04 2005 HOST3/
dr-xr-xr-x 0/3 0 Dec 18 10:27 1997 HOST3/LOG/
tar: tape read error
"

Anyone knows what wrong?

Henry

[Nguyen Anh Tien]

Hi Henry.
I think your tape driver is so dirty. You should unplug it and clean. then plug again, issue command and it works.
tienna
HTH
tienna

[Noel Miranda]

Hi Henry,

You get this error when you use different blocking factors. Maybe a backup was taken with a different bl. factor. Check the tar man page. Give a large enough blocking factor and try out the operation.

tar tvf /dev/rmt/0m 30

[Adisuria Wangsadinata_1]

Hi Henry,

Good day to you !

The problem can be on your tape or your tape drive and below is the way to troubleshoot the issue :

You can clean the tape drive first by using cleaning tape several times. Try also to read the tape with other tape drive (to make sure the DDS tape still readable).

You can try also to backup a small directory into the tape and list it out using tar command.

If the problem still persist ... call HP to replace your tape drive 8-).

Cheers,
Adisuria Wangsadinata