From owner-freebsd-questions Fri Aug 15 06:39:10 1997 Return-Path: Received: (from root@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.5/8.8.5) id GAA27029 for questions-outgoing; Fri, 15 Aug 1997 06:39:10 -0700 (PDT) Received: from helix.nih.gov (helix.nih.gov [128.231.2.3]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id GAA27024 for ; Fri, 15 Aug 1997 06:39:06 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from crtb@localhost) by helix.nih.gov (8.8.5/8.8.5) id JAA20335 for questions@freebsd.org; Fri, 15 Aug 1997 09:39:00 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 09:39:00 -0400 (EDT) From: Chuck Bacon Message-Id: <199708151339.JAA20335@helix.nih.gov> To: questions@freebsd.org Subject: tape question Sender: owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk Running a new 2.2.2-R system, fresh from the CD-ROM. I bought a SCSI TR-4 tape drive (at triple the price) to replace a very nice ISA TR-3 unit (not supported because only SCSI tapes are supported[1]). Works well except for one peculiarity. The command: dump 0uf .... fails when the tape reaches the end of its first pass. That is, the tape is prepared to turn around and continue writing on the next track, but dump calls out for me to insert the next tape. However, by adding the 'a' option: dump 0auf .... everything's fine. Well, OK, but why should dump be interested in the individual tracks of a tape? The problem arises with another system running 2.1.0-R. I want to backup over the ethernet onto the 2.2.2 system. However, Its dump doesn't have an 'a' option, and sure enough, can't dump more than one pass' worth before asking for a new tape. Of course, I tried copying the dump from 2.2.2, but it won't compile (forgot why). Perhaps I don't understand the uses of discrete tracks on a tape. Maybe dump can get to something far down the dump file by just stepping the head a bit [2]. Thanks a heap (mebbe a stack?) to all who respond to questions like mine! I've learned a lot this way :-) Chuck Bacon - crtb@capecod.net or crtb@helix.nih.gov [1] I'll really feel silly if someone points out that tapes on the ISA bus, with and without accelerator cards, are supported. [2] I'd REALLY like to know how to take advantage of this, because I've listened and waited for a file I knew was way down the tape.