Appending files to tape

[mscim]

I wish to write a script to append different sets of files to a DDS tape. I want to ensure that the data will be appended after existing data on that particular tape even after the tape have been unloaded and reloaded on the drive.
I don't want the tape to rewind when it is loaded. I want it to continue from where it has writen from other sessions.
What do I need to set?

 

[KenCunningham]

mt -f /dev/rmt/0cn eom

will position your tape at the end of recorded media, to allow further data to be written. Check out the other mt options with man mt. HTH.

 

[julianbarnett]

As Ken says that will do the trick. Appending 'n' to the end of the tape device name causes the no-rewind device to be selected which leaves the tape positioned wherever it was when the command completed.

 

[mscim]

Hi, thanks for responding to my question. I'm a new Unix user.

I'm confused by the 'eom' argument. I don't seen it in the man files. The closest argument I get is 'eof'

what does 'eom' do ?

 

[julianbarnett]

eof takes you to the end of the current tape file, eom takes you to the end of media - i.e. the end of the last file on the tape so you can append more data.

 

[mscim]

I'm considering using ufsdump because I might want to backup folders. What are the parameters that I need to set?
Can multiple ufsdump session be appended to tape?

 

[mikeclark]

As the others said if you use the no-rewind option on your
tape device it won't rewind the tape and your next backup will follow on without overwriting the existing files.