bemery@nmsu.edu (Bryan Emery) (09/11/90)
This is concerning my second attempt at backing up my user files before I
attempted to install Ultrix 4.0.
I used the tar command as follows to create what I thought was one archive:
tar c /usr/users
this was to backup user files on my RZ55 disk.
At the completion of that, I did:
tar r /usr2
which I understood to mean that those files would be 'added' to the
existing archive.
Now, after Ultrix 4.0 is installed, I do:
tar xv
or
tar tv
and get all the files from /usr/users and then get an error:
tar: ioctl MTBSF failed -4: I/O Error
Strange thing is, if I do:
cp /dev/nrmt0h backup.tar
I get a file that is about 64 megabytes big. When I then do:
tar tf backup.tar
I only see maybe 10 files out of /usr/users. However, if I do:
more backup.tar
and move down through the file, I can "see" some of my filenames that I need
to get.
Any suggestions???
Bryan Emerygrr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins) (09/11/90)
In article <136@opus.NMSU.Edu> bemery@nmsu.edu (Bryan Emery) writes: > This is concerning my second attempt at backing up my user files before I > attempted to install Ultrix 4.0. > > I used the tar command as follows to create what I thought was one archive: > tar c /usr/users > At the completion of that, I did: > tar r /usr2 > which I understood to mean that those files would be 'added' to the > existing archive. That's what it's supposed to mean, but it looks like you've been screwed over. > Strange thing is, if I do: > cp /dev/nrmt0h backup.tar > I get a file that is about 64 megabytes big. When I then do: > tar tf backup.tar > I only see maybe 10 files out of /usr/users. However, if I do: > more backup.tar > and move down through the file, I can "see" some of my filenames that I need > to get. There's no particular promise that cp will use the appropriate blocksize to suck in the tape image. Try using "dd if=/dev/nrmt0 bs=20b of=disk.file" which will, then using "tar tf disk.file" and see if you get any better results. > Any suggestions??? If you get really desparart you can play with gnu tar, which may be a little more flexible about recoving most of what appears as a corrupted tape. Also, you neglect to mention what kind of tape you are using, is it DECish or some third party device (Exabyte?) that doesn't backspace too well? -- George Robbins - now working for, uucp: {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr but no way officially representing: domain: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com Commodore, Engineering Department phone: 215-431-9349 (only by moonlite)