ramsey@NCoast.ORG (Cedric Ramsey) (01/19/91)
Hello. I am running ESIX a unix sys V compatible os. I've been trying to backup a directory, /mnt/code, using tar. I want to do the backups to floppy disk. I used the following command: $tar cevfk /dev/rdsk/f0q15d 1200 /mnt/code This will backup all files an subdirectories but when I get close to the last file I get 'tar read tape error'. Also, the tar does prompt me to put in the floppies when needed. and the directory /mnt/code has sub directories too. Can anybody help me? PS: I am a superuser with all the privelidges. Thankyou, Cedric A. Ramsey
bill@unixland.uucp (Bill Heiser) (01/20/91)
In article <1991Jan19.040951.2883@NCoast.ORG> ramsey@NCoast.ORG (Cedric Ramsey) writes: >Hello. I am running ESIX a unix sys V compatible os. I've been >trying to backup a directory, /mnt/code, using tar. I want to >do the backups to floppy disk. I used the following command: >$tar cevfk /dev/rdsk/f0q15d 1200 /mnt/code Hi, This doesn't answer your question as to why tar isn't prompting you for the next diskette (the first is probably out of space, causing the error you got). I'd suggest you modify your command, though, as follows: Instead of using /mnt/code, 'cd' to that directory first, then specify the filespec to tar by using "." (relative pathnames vs absolute pathname). That way, when you try to restore the files, you can restore them to any subdirectory, rather than having to restore them to the exact path from which they originated. Bill -- home: ...!{uunet,bloom-beacon,esegue}!world!unixland!bill bill@unixland.uucp Public Access Unix - Esix SYSVR3 508-655-3848(12/24) 508-651-8723(12/24/96-HST) 508-651-8733(12/24/96-PEP-V32) other: heiser@world.std.com
fangchin@elaine43.stanford.edu (Chin Fang) (01/20/91)
In article <1991Jan19.040951.2883@NCoast.ORG> ramsey@NCoast.ORG (Cedric Ramsey) writes: >Hello. I am running ESIX a unix sys V compatible os. I've been >trying to backup a directory, /mnt/code, using tar. I want to >do the backups to floppy disk. I used the following command: >$tar cevfk /dev/rdsk/f0q15d 1200 /mnt/code >This will backup all files an subdirectories but when I get close >to the last file I get 'tar read tape error'. Also, the tar does >prompt me to put in the floppies when needed. and the directory >/mnt/code has sub directories too. Can anybody help me? > I think for backing up to and from floppies, you are better off with the cpio utility because it senses backup media boundary (ie. when the reading or writing is reaching the end of the media, it will info you so and prompt you for new floppy). As far as I know, not every tar does this. ESIX's? I think the answer is no too. Xenix' tar will do but that's an exception? The syntax: from hard disk to floppy: cd to the directory you want to backup; find . -depth -print |cpio -ocavmB > /dev/rdsk/f0t (1.2 Meg) or f1t (1.4 Meg) or if no subdirectory; ls * (assuming you want everything) |cpio -ocavmB > ... (same as above) from floppies to a directory on hard disk: assuming you use 1.2 Meg drive and 5.25" floppies, cd to the appropriate directory (I can't tell you where, you set up your file tree) cpio -icvmB < /dev/rdsk/f0t You don't need f0q15dt or others, ESIX's floppy devices files are generally slightly faster (not necessary more solid, so always DOUBLE CHECK your backup-ed floppies to make sure there are no errors before you erase your originals on the hard disk!!!!!) Hope this helps Chin Fang Mechanical Engineering Department Stanford University fangchin@portia.stanford.edu
bill@bilver.uucp (Bill Vermillion) (01/20/91)
In article <1991Jan19.212640.18364@portia.Stanford.EDU-> fangchin@elaine43.stanford.edu (Chin Fang) writes: ->In article <1991Jan19.040951.2883@NCoast.ORG> ramsey@NCoast.ORG (Cedric Ramsey) writes: ->>Hello. I am running ESIX a unix sys V compatible os. I've been ->>trying to backup a directory, /mnt/code, using tar. I want to ->>do the backups to floppy disk. I used the following command: ->>$tar cevfk /dev/rdsk/f0q15d 1200 /mnt/code ->>This will backup all files an subdirectories but when I get close ->>to the last file I get 'tar read tape error'. Also, the tar does ->>prompt me to put in the floppies when needed. and the directory ->>/mnt/code has sub directories too. Can anybody help me? ->> ->I think for backing up to and from floppies, you are better off with the cpio ->utility because it senses backup media boundary (ie. when the reading or ->writing is reaching the end of the media, it will info you so and prompt you ->for new floppy). As far as I know, not every tar does this. ESIX's? I think ->the answer is no too. Xenix' tar will do but that's an exception? But the answer is yes. I just tried it now, since you said you didn't think it did it. Syntax is a snap. If you are using 1.2 meg 5.25" in drive 0 cd to the directory hierachy you wish to save and type tar cv2 . The 2 is the number of the proper drive type in the /etc/default/tar file. It knows how long the disk is, and it's blocking factor. That's one of the nice features from the Xenix side, a default tar file so you never get the k and b swapped, you always specify the proper device, it flags between non-seeking and seeking. If I didn't do tar cv2 . it would be tar cvfkbn /dev/<device.name> 1200 20 . I think tar cv2 . is better bill -> ->The syntax: -> ->from hard disk to floppy: -> ->cd to the directory you want to backup; -> ->find . -depth -print |cpio -ocavmB > /dev/rdsk/f0t (1.2 Meg) or f1t (1.4 Meg) -> ->or if no subdirectory; -> ->ls * (assuming you want everything) |cpio -ocavmB > ... (same as above) -> ->from floppies to a directory on hard disk: -> ->assuming you use 1.2 Meg drive and 5.25" floppies, -> ->cd to the appropriate directory (I can't tell you where, you set up your ->file tree) -> ->cpio -icvmB < /dev/rdsk/f0t -> ->You don't need f0q15dt or others, ESIX's floppy devices files are generally ->slightly faster (not necessary more solid, so always DOUBLE CHECK your ->backup-ed floppies to make sure there are no errors before you erase your ->originals on the hard disk!!!!!) -- Bill Vermillion - UUCP: uunet!tarpit!bilver!bill : bill@bilver.UUCP
john@jwt.UUCP (John Temples) (01/20/91)
In article <1991Jan19.212640.18364@portia.Stanford.EDU> fangchin@elaine43.stanford.edu (Chin Fang) writes: >In article <1991Jan19.040951.2883@NCoast.ORG> ramsey@NCoast.ORG (Cedric Ramsey) writes: >> [ Problems using "tar cevfk /dev/rdsk/f0q15d 1200 /mnt/code" with ESIX ] >I think for backing up to and from floppies, you are better off with the cpio >utility because it senses backup media boundary >As far as I know, not every tar does this. ESIX's? I think >the answer is no too. "tar cv /directory" does multi-volume backups fine under ESIX and ISC. Don't use all those other arguments. Under ESIX, you need to edit /etc/default/tar to make the 1.2 meg floppy "archive0"; ISC 2.0.2 ships with the 1.2 already set up as "archive0". -- John W. Temples -- john@jwt.UUCP (uunet!jwt!john)
fangchin@portia.Stanford.EDU (Chin Fang) (01/21/91)
In article <1991Jan20.070824.6205@jwt.UUCP> john@jwt.UUCP (John Temples) writes: > >"tar cv /directory" does multi-volume backups fine under ESIX and >ISC. Don't use all those other arguments. Under ESIX, you need to >edit /etc/default/tar to make the 1.2 meg floppy "archive0"; ISC >2.0.2 ships with the 1.2 already set up as "archive0". >-- Thanks John, I learnt something. Now got an open question: In my old MSDOS days, I used PC-Tools to do backup to and from floppies. This piece of software uses DMA direct access for data transfer and speed is relatively tolerable (tolerable only! I didn't say it's fast). Now I have been using UNIX exclusively and have come to know several backup utilities in the /usr/bin. They are almost always MUCH slower than PC-Tools as far as backing up to and from floppies is concerned and error prone (at least on my machine, double check after a lengthy cpio session is a MUST!). I wonder whether any one can give me a good reason why this is the case? Regards, Chin Fang Mechanical Engieering Department Stanford University fangchin@portia.stanford.edu