how do I backup files to tape and read the contents of the tape?

[Guest_imported]

tar -tvf /dev/rmt0 ... gave me an i/o error
/usr/bin/tar -xvf /dev/rmt0 /source_dir_name ...???

 

[alexhu]

to create - 'tar -cvf /dev/rmt0'
to read - 'tar tvf /dev/rmt0'
to extract - 'tar -xvf /dev/rmt0'

When you got the i/o error was the tape blank ?

Alex

 

[alexhu]

to create - 'tar -cvf /dev/rmt0'
to read - 'tar -tvf /dev/rmt0'
to extract - 'tar -xvf /dev/rmt0'

When you got the i/o error was the tape blank ?

Alex

 

[vickersdc]

The I/O error can be due to a number of things - but can you check something... are you trying to view a mksysb tape?

Dave V.

 

[Guest_imported]

The tape may have been blank. I really don't know because I have been previously unable to read the contents on the tape. I just submitted 'tar -tvf /dev/rmt0' and it appears to be reading the tape. My screen has been frozen on ">" for about 30 minutes now.

When my screen comes back I want to backup a 6 database dump file to tape. I'll try this command ...

/usr/bin/tar -cvf /dev/rmt0 /ARCHIVE00/KHKTBS*.Z

 

[oqurum]

I/O errors using tar -tvf can sometimes be due to mismatched device blocksizes - try setting the blocksize of the rmt device to 0.

 

[dblair]

Tyr using the pax command (see the man pages). This can overcome certain issues with tar (and cpio). However, not if it is actually a hard I/O error.

 

[AIX5L]

Check the Blocksize of the rmt0
lsattr -El rmt0

Change the Blocksize to Zero. Variable