Linux Red Hat 64 just installed and trying to read exabyte tape

[J Birkett-Hodson]

Does anyone know how I can overcome the following problem.


When mounting the tape I know have to type

$/bin/mt -f /dev/st2

which appears to work as I also tested the status

when I then try to

$tar -tvf /dev/st2

get the following error

tar: /dev/st2:Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: At beginning of tape: quitting now
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

I have tried to change the blocksize to 1024 using

$/bin/mt -f /dev/st2 setblk 1024

but no luck

I am a novice when it comes to this so please can anyone help

Thnx

J

[melvyn burnard]

as this has nothing to do with HP-UX, moved to more appropriate forum

[J Birkett-Hodson]

Perhaps you would be kind enough to suggest the correct forum?

[skt_skt]

did u try rewinding the tape and try the tar again?

[J Birkett-Hodson]

Yes a rewound the tape checked its status and that was OK.

I have been told this is the incorrect forum so thanks for replying with some help.

I have gone to the Linux forum but still waiting to get a reply. So any help welcome.

[Fredrik.eriksson]

you could try something like this:

$~> /bin/mt -f /dev/st2 rewind
$~> /bin/mt -f /dev/st2 fsf 1
$~> tar -tf /dev/st2

(fsf is forward x files so
I think this method of listing content requires you to actually have data on your tape.

You can try to put data to it by using
$~> tar -xf /dev/st2

Then list them by, as i wrote above
$~> tar -tf /dev/st2

Google has alot of information about how to use tape drives with mt and tar if you don't succeed :)

Best regards
Fredrik Eriksson