tar

[Prathap_1]

Hi
I am trying to read the contents of the tape with tar -tvf /dev/rmt/1m. I am getting the error called Tar: blocksize=1. Can anyone help me in this issue.

Thanks
Prathap.

[Patrick Wallek]

Was the tape created with tar originally?

[Darrell Allen]

Hi Prathap,

Perhaps you need to rewind the tape:
mt -t /dev/rmt/1m rewind

If you post the complete command line you used to create the tape, it will be easier to find the solution for you.

Darrell

[Prathap_1]

Hi
I don't know whether the backup was performed with tar or not. I have tried all the options like tar,pax,frecover. I have rewinded the tape, still getting the error with tar,pax and frecover.

Thanks
Prathap.

[Mark Greene_1]

rewind then forward the tape:

mt -f /dev/rmt/1m fsf

it may be you need to get past a header to get to the tar file

HTH
mark

[Darrell Allen]

Can you contact the person who wrote the tape and find out how it was made?

Can you get another tape sent to you with instructions on how the tape was written and how you should read it?

You may be fighting a losing battle. There are a number of ways to make a backup including:

fbackup
cpio
tar
dump
vxdump
dd
ftio
OmniBack
other vendors' backup products

There are also options for these commands which change the options you need to use to read the tape.

Good luck,
Darrell

[Prathap_1]

Hi
I have rewinded and forwarded the tape, still getting the same error.

Thanks
Prathap.

[Patrick Wallek]

Try some of the hints from one of your other posts in which you had problem reading a tape with tar.

To read the tapes effectively, you really HAVE TO KNOW HOW THEY WERE CREATED.

http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x1c7ffadeba2bd6118ffd0090279cd0f9,00.html

[Sanjay_6]

Hi Pratap,

Is there a possibility that there is no data on the media. First veruify if there was any data copied on the media and then find the backup utility used (tar/cpio/fbackup). Then use the corresponding command to read the tape. To check id the media is okay, try the dd command,

dd if=/dev/rmt/1m of=/dev/null

Hope this helps.

Regds

[H.Merijn Brand (procura]

Prathap,

You've started three threads with almost the same question, and qot loads of IMHO useful answers, hits, tricks and opinions.

The forum does not get any useful feedback of you: what worked, what helped etc. Neither do you asign any points to any of the helpful answers.

If you continue like this, it is to be expected that the honourable members won't answer any of your questions again.

1. Read documentation
2. Use the dd command
3. Use the file command
4. Use the GNU versions of tar and cpio
5. FEEDBACK the forum with what you *GOT*, not with what doesn't work!
6. Asign points