LinuxSA Mailing list archives

  From: Allan <choska@bold.net.au>
  To  : Robert Wuttke" <robert.wuttke@disc.com.au>, "Andrew Whyte" <andrew.whyte@netregistry.au.com>, <robert.wuttke@disc.com.au>
  Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 23:03:17 +1030

Re: Tape operation question

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Wuttke <robert.wuttke@disc.com.au>
To: Andrew Whyte <andrew.whyte@netregistry.au.com>; linuxsa@linuxsa.org.au
<linuxsa@linuxsa.org.au>
Date: Friday, 5 November 1999 22:07
Subject: Re: Tape operation question


>As a rule I always use the non-rewinding version and manually tell the tape
>to rewind itself when all required ops have been finished.
>
>I have seen the fsf 1 and the rewinding device, fast forward then rewind
>before continuing with the next command.
>
>Just my 5c worth.
>
>Rob.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Andrew Whyte <andrew.whyte@netregistry.au.com>
>To: <linuxsa@linuxsa.org.au>
>Sent: Friday, November 05, 1999 9:56 AM
>Subject: Re: Tape operation question
>
>
>> Thomas Seidel wrote:
>> >
>> > Use /dev/nst0 instead of /dev/st0
>> >
>> > eg.
>> >
>> > tar cf /dev/nst0 file1
>> > tar cf /dev/nst0 file2
>> > ...
>> >
>> > See also 'man st'
>>
>>
>> you can use  'mt fsf 1'  to skip forward one record, and be placed at the
>start point for the next.
>>
>> so for when you want to restore archive 2,  you could issue
>>
>> mt -f /dev/nst0 fsf 1 ; tar -xvf /dev/nst0
>>
>> I'm not 100% sure if you need to use nst0 (the non-rewinding device)
>> for a fsf (skip forward). But it can't hurt :)
>>
>> Although you "can" backup two files using the
>>
>> tar -cf /dev/st0 file1
>> mt fsf 1
>> tar -cf /dev/st0 file2
>>
>> method, I think you'd agree it's very silly to be winding the
>> tape in and out of the spools like this.
>>
>> I always try for the minimum amout of tape movement, to prolong the
tapes,
>> and 'cause I don't trust tapes :) *grin*


Really, I was always taught that you should always fast forward to the end
of the tape & then rewind. Main purpose being to keep the tape's tension
even. This was true of audio, video & data tapes (the latter were from my
Colour Computer days back in the early 80's), I'm just a touch confused. Oh!
I don't use tapes at the moment, though I have everything I need, just not
installed.


Allan

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