[net.micro.pc] 6300/Xenix file backup problem

reg@whuxl.UUCP (R. E. Gunderman) (08/22/86)

I have a 6300, Xenix, and a 10 meg disk. In backing up a number of files:
    + I formatted a new floppy
    + executed
	tar cvf /dev/fd0 <list of filenames>
and I received this message:
"can't write beyond end of floppy"
"tar: tape write error"

I then reduced the number of files, executed tar again, and the error
messages did not appear. However, when I checked the contents of the floppy with
	tar vt
I received another, though different, message:
"tar: directory checksum error"

I repeated the above procedure with another new floppy and got  the
same results.

I would appreciate any explanations/clarifications/advice concerning this
problem.

		Dick Gunderman   whuxh!reg  386-3480  WH3A-326

spf@bonnie.ATT.COM (08/25/86)

> I have a 6300, Xenix, and a 10 meg disk. In backing up a number of files:
>     + I formatted a new floppy
>     + executed
> 	tar cvf /dev/fd0 <list of filenames>
> and I received this message:
> "can't write beyond end of floppy"
> "tar: tape write error"
> 
> 		Dick Gunderman   whuxh!reg  386-3480  WH3A-326

Try the following:
	tar cvfk /dev/fd0 360 <filenames>

The "k" option, along with its argument "360", tells tar that
you have media limited to 360K; when the floppy is full, tar
will prompt you for a fresh floppy.  I've used this command line
under XENIX System V on a 6300, and it has successfully made
multi-floppy backups for me.

Enjoy! Steve Frysinger
***
My songs are merely dreams visiting my mind.
		-- Donovan