TAR problems with large files (ex. 80 MB)

[Mauro_8]

Hi,

I made a full backup with "tar cvf /dev/st0 /" but when it try to backup the first large file with 80MB it gives me the message: tar:/dev/st0: wrote only 0 of 10240 bytes. What should it be ? I'm using a non empty tape, before the begining of backup I made a "mt -f /dev/st0 load". After the error the backup is aborted. With small files I do not have problems.

Cheers,
Mauro

[Steven E. Protter]

tar cvf nameoftarfile.tar *

back up all files (*) to a tar file called nameoftarfile.tar

I think this is a usage issue.

If you want to go directly to tape

tar cf *

This will go to the default tape device.

SEP

[Elena Leontieva]

Mauro,

Try to cd / and tar cvf /dev/st0 .

[Jeff Schussele]

Hi Mauro,

I think the mt command is part of the problem.
I don't see "load" as an mt command.
Try
mt -f /dev/st0 eod
That's End Of Data & should seek to the beginning of the free space on the tape.

Also just how much free space do you think you have on that tape? Could the tape be almost full & that's why large files are rejected?

HTH,
Jeff

[Mauro_8]

Hi,

I have no space im my disk to create this tar file in hard disk. I have to put it on the tape and I think the problem is with big files that are backup of Lotus Notes, users that move there emails to the unix machine and probably are shared directories with samba. I would try to backup my full system ("/") but do not backup all files from Lotus Notes (*.nsf). Can you know how to make a tar of all the system avoiding all files from Notes (*.nsf). It should resolve. My backup is scheduled at 2AM and there are no users sharing files with Samba this time...

Cheers,
Mauro

[Elena Leontieva]

Mauro,

The version of my tar on HP-UX does not have the -I and -X options that would allow to include/exclude files from the archive by creating a file that lists these include or exclude items first ( using find command).
If you can find a version of tar that has these features ( I know there is one for SUN, - it could solve your problem.

Elena.

[Jeff Schussele]

You can use gtar (GNU tar) it has exclude functionality as well as a lot of other desirable features that HP tar doesn't have. You can get it here:

http://hpux.cs.utah.edu/hppd/hpux/Gnu/tar-1.13.25/

Note the dependencies - gettext & libiconv as you'll need those as well.

HTH,
Jeff