[comp.unix.ultrix] tar in ultrix 1.2 on microvax-II

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
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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