LinuxSA Mailing list archives

  From: Andrew Whyte <andrew.whyte@netregistry.au.com>
  To  : linuxsa@linuxsa.org.au
  Date: Fri, 05 Nov 1999 10:26:19 +1100

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*

cheers,

-- 
Andrew Whyte
Senior System Administrator
_____________________________________________
NetRegistry     http://www.netregistry.au.com
Tel: +61 2 9699 6099  |  Fax: +61 2 9699 6088
PO Box 2088   Sydney   NSW   1043   Australia

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