tar command on Suse LINUX 8.0

[CamDal]

Hi

I am using the tar command to backup. I have used the following command.

tar cvf /dev/st0 /

The backup goes through on the screen OK with the list of files etc.

To verify the backup I use tar tvf /dev/st0

Some files come up on the screen (1.5 pages) then I get several messages
tar: This does not look like a tar archive
tar: skipping to next header
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

Thus far I have tried using the no rewind device, different tapes, which gets the same result.

The machine is new as is the tape drive.

I have checked the Suse web page for help without any joy

anyone got any pointers?

Thanks

 

[StarTAC]

did u specify a tar.gz destination... try the command...

tar cvsf /dev/st0/back-up.tar.gz

good luck..

 

[chrishaw]

The f option to tar means file, but you're sending it to a tape device. I don't think you want f in there.

 

[danielhozac]

That would be files as in the files to create an archive of.

I see nothing wrong with the commands... But I have never used a tape drive either so I'm not sure how to work those things. //Daniel

 

[chrishaw]

RTFM (to both myself and daniel)

-f means file *or* device to output to (not output to a file not a device, not files to create the archive from).

So really, you're going to want to disregard the stuff above this, as it's all wrong (you don't use a filename on a tape device either).

 

[danielhozac]

Hehe, being completely selftaught and hating manuals does have it downsides sometimes //Daniel