webster@oddjob.UUCP (Frank Webster) (06/21/88)
We are running ultrix 1.2 on a microvax-II, and we have experienced numerous problem with tar. First, tar creates a `hung process' (in D status) for what i believe are `soft errors' (i.e. media errors). The only way to recover from the error is reboot the system as the `hung process' cannot be killed. Second, the tape being written to when the `hang' occurrs cannot be appended to. Third, dec thinks this is a hardware error, but replacing both the drive and controller does not solve the problem. At the present time, our TK50 is essentially unusable. My questions are: 1) has anyone else encountered and solved these problems, 2) are the later versions of ultrix including tar with a better error handler, 3) is this a hard ware or software problem? frank webster (james franck institute/ university of chicago) webster@silly.uchicago.edu
rcsmith@anagld.UUCP (Ray Smith) (07/26/88)
In article <43542@felix.UUCP> you write: > >We are running ultrix 1.2 on a microvax-II, and we have experienced >numerous problem with tar. At our facility we have 2 MicroVax II systems. One runs Ultrix 1.2, the other MicroVMS 4.5. We have experienced several problems with the TK50 on the VMS machine and even had DEC come out and take a look. What we discovered (much to our surprise I might add) is that our VMS box does not work with tapes from other manufacturers other than DEC (we were using 3M brand TK50s'). Our Utlrix tape unit has not been used very much to date; however, it will become more abused in the near furture (I will let you know if we start having more problems with it.) The use of 3M tapes in it with "cpio" produced undesirable results (the tape could not be read back in.) However, when I used some DEC tapes to move data between the Ultrix and VMS machine it worked without any problems at all. One thing we noticed with the VMS and 3M tapes was the fact that the hardware had trouble just getting to the load point on the tape. The little red and green lights kept blinking back and forth as it was trying to find the BOT mark (I suppose it has one like 9 track tapes do.) These are our experiences and observations with these little buggers, I hope it helps. Good luck, Ray -- Ray Smith | USnail: Suite 200, 9891 Broken Land Pky, Columbia, MD 21046 Analytics, Inc. | GEnie : rcsmith (301) 381-4300 | CIS : 72000,1111 | Net : ...!uunet!mimsy!aplcen!anagld!rcsmith =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was." -Walt West =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
klg@dukeac.UUCP (08/03/88)
Ray, I have used tar and dump both, with Ultrix 1.2 on a uvaxII, and have done a few (all successful) restores with both the 3M and DEC tapes. Another site here running the same setup has had bad results with the TK50 all around. Why? They have had the machine over a year and a half and never cleaned the caked on dust and dirt out of the drive. Generally it has been reliable for us. Still it is such a flakey design (leader-catcher popping off its holder occaissionaly) for a slow speed device I would rather go with something else (TK70 or a WORM). good luck, Kim --- Kim L. Greer Duke University Medical Center try: Div. Nuclear Medicine POB 3949 dukeac!klg@escgate Durham, NC 27710 919-681-2711x223 ...!mcnc!ecsgate!dukeac!klg