tar -xvf on AIX 4.3.3.0

[TurtleOp]

I am on a old AIX 4.3.3.0 trying to restore a backup on tape.
The device /dev/rmt1 exist end I succeed to execute the following command with correct result:
tar -tvf /dev/rmt1
I obtained the containt of the tape backup. It take approx. 2 hours.
But when I try to make any restore, nothing happened, no message, nothing.
Ex. of commmand I've tried:
tar -xvf /dev/rmt1 ./oradata01/DBNAME/dbf/prodtai.dbf
tar -xvf /dev/rmt1 './oradata01/DBNAME/dbf/prodtai.dbf'
tar -xvf /dev/rmt1
tar - xvvf ./oradata01/DBNAME/dbf/prodtai.dbf

No way.. and I do not know if tar generate some log somewhere ...
Any ideas Welcome!

TurtleOp

 

[khalidaaa]

Who knows! Tapes can go bad at any time!

I had once a problem with a new tape of a month old! later on i discovered that the operator forgot it in his car for a week!

Sometimes, it is not from the tape itself but the time the backup was taken! like if you go again and try to backup and then restore from the same tape it would work!

Regards,
Khalid

 

[TurtleOp]

That's a funny one!

On this good one, I will go take some fresh air I need to change my mind a little bit, ideas will maybe come.

Thank you for your help and very much appreciated support Khalidaaa!
TurtleOp

 

[khalidaaa]

I hope you solve this and update us with the solution TurtleOp.

Regards,
Khalid

 

[KenCunningham]

Have you consideres dd to test the tape?

I want to be good, is that not enough?

 

[TurtleOp]

Hi Ken!
Not yet, I will give a try.
Thank you,
TurtleOp,

 

[p5wizard]

My guess is, the dbf file you want to restore isn't named
[tt]"./oradata01/DBNAME/dbf/prodtai.dbf"[/tt]
like you see in the [tt]tar -tv[/tt] listing but rather
[tt]"./oradata01/DBNAME/dbf/prodtai.dbf "[/tt]
one or more spaces at the end of the file name

To find out, run the [tt]tar -tv[/tt] again but redirect the output to a file. Then vi that file and check the name of the file you want: find the file (type [tt]/prodtai.dbf[/tt]), then go to the end of the line with [tt]$[/tt] and see where you're at.


HTH,

p5wizard

 

[khalidaaa]

Nice reasoning p5wizard

 

[TurtleOp]

Hi P5wizard! Hello Khalidaaa!
NO, I didn't put any space char at the end. I will check.
But I have another stupid problem now: the tape is not inside the tape reader and my contact is out of the office. I am working remotely for a customer.
Pffff...

 

[khalidaaa]

TurtleOp! I'm afraid I can't help you with this Its just too far

Regards,
Khalid

 

[psi07004]

Given what is already written, I assume the following. You have verified that data was written on the tape since you indicate you have indexed it (tar -tvf) successfully. You indicate "nothing" (no errors etc) was displayed when the tar -xvf command you issued was completed. Given that, the following are the possibilities.

1. You don't indicate the type of tape drive (8mm ?) but in some cases if the block size has been changed from the time the tape was made to the restore, it won't read the tape, but should return an error in this case. This should not be your problem.
2. If the tape was made with the block size set to variable (0), then you will not be able to read it back with the tar command. This should also not be your problem.
3. If their is no error return when you attempt to restore a file, you typically have the path or name incorrect. By default, this must be your problem.

I suggest you try the following. If you saved a copy of the tape index (tar -tvf /dev/rmt1 > index.out). Then use vi to find the file in the index. Cut and paste the name into the tar -xvf command, and try it again. Or, if you have room then restore the entire tape somewhere else on the system, and then see if the file is there.

 

[TurtleOp]

I will give a try ASAP and I come back to you.
Thank you very much,
TurtleOp,

 

[TurtleOp]

Hi everybody!
With the new tape, I already succeed to restore one datafile using the following commands:
tar xvf /dev/rmt1 './oradata/DBNAME/dbf/prodtcl01.dbf'
and changing the destination:
tar xvf /dev/rmt1 '../oradata/DBNAME/dbf/prodtcl01.dbf'
But now, I would like to restore from a restore.list liewise:
tar xvf /dev/rmt1 'cat /tmp/resore.list' I am testing...

Thank you to all of us for your support!
TurtleOp,

 

[khalidaaa]

So it was a tape problem as usual

Good Luck

Regards,
Khalid