[comp.sys.apollo] Domain/IX tar and /dev/rct8

mark@bruce.oz (Mark Goodwin) (09/08/88)

Why oh why doesn't tar work? Is this a SR9.7 type "feature" or do I have
to do something totally un-unix-like to /dev/rct8 so that tar can open it?

"/com/edmtdesc /dev/rct8 -L"    prints :-
Volume information:
    DEV     (device type)                   CT
    U       (tape unit #)                   0
    LAB     (labeled)                       no
    REO     (reopen previously used volume) yes
    CLV     (close volume on file-close)    yes
    SPOS    (save position on volume-close) no

File information:
    F       (file sequence #)               current
    RF      (record format)                 F  (fixed length)
    BL      (block length)                  512
    RL      (record length)                 512
    ASCNL   (ascii newline handling)        no

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Any help appreciated!
Mark Goodwin.

GBOPOLY1@NUSVM.BITNET (fclim) (09/09/88)

sometimes the following works and sometimes it doesn't :
[hopes this is fixed in sr10]

     first you need to log on or crp on or telnet onto the node
that has the
cart drive.  then you must ensure that the tape is rewound.  use
"/com/rbak -dev ct -rewind".  now try "tar -f /dev/rct8 ...."

if the above doesn't work, i do
     log on node. (no need to rewind tape)
     /com/rwmt -dev ct -f 1 -rf f -unlab -r -raw -rl 512 -bl 512 file_1
     tar -f file_1 ...
if you have a few tarfiles on tape, then change -f 1 and file_1 to -f n
and file_n respectively.

another method is
     log on node and *rewind* tape
     dd if=/dev/rct8 | tar -f- ....


i found out that i cannot make tar tapes at sr9.7.  some guru told
me that i have to use a blocking factor of 1 (slllooooowwwww).  so
i do the following:
     tar -cvbf 1 file_1
     log on node. (no need to rewind tape)
     /com/rwmt -dev ct -f 1 -rf f -unlab -w -raw -rl 512 -bl 512 file_1


i also found out tapes make on non-apollo cart drives need not be
done with a bf of 1 (could still use default of 20), but apollo
cart drives must read and write at a bf of 1.

i hope this helps.  beaucomp of lucks.

fclim          --- gbopoly1 % nusvm.bitnet @ cunyvm.cuny.edu
computer centre
singapore polytechnic
dover road
singapore 0513.

rees@MAILGW.CC.UMICH.EDU (Jim Rees) (09/10/88)

    Why oh why doesn't tar work? Is this a SR9.7 type "feature" or do I have
    to do something totally un-unix-like to /dev/rct8 so that tar can open it?

You have to rewind the tape first, even if it's already rewound.  Use "rbak
-dev ct -rewind".  One of the (relatively few) big disappointments of sr10
is that tape is still mostly broken, although you can now use "mt rew" to
rewind.
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