Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 22:03:26 -0700 (MST) From: Technical Director <trodat@ultratrends.com> To: Rick Duvall <rduvall@onlinehighways.net> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Verifying integrity of Backup Tapes Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.4.21.0310312155500.282-100000@server1.ultratrends.com> In-Reply-To: <000701c3a031$00b09500$f901a8c0@ws21>
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Rick, I'm not to sure of a best method for checking the tapes, I might tar'ing a massive file to the tape and then back to see if it is working. Unfortunately during the use of your backup schema the tapes have to degrade. If it's a DLT400 tape or even a DDS# series I can see the need to hang on to them for some time to insure the cost of the media was repaid. Might it be best though to question the integrity of using a media that may have reached it's usable lifespan? As well depending on your method of backup, say full, 1/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc. one tape that has a problem with the data on it will throw the entire sequence of backups. And if you have full backups, skipping the incremental, you might save yourself the hassle of a wrecked sequence of incrementals, yet the entire concept of backup is lost with bad media. I'm just trying to give you some ideas on how to go from here, not trying to critisize you on something you probably are already thinking. R. On Fri, 31 Oct 2003, Rick Duvall wrote: > I have some backup tapes that I have been using each once per week for about > 8 months. I am getting errors when running amverify on a couple of them. > To be sure that my tapes are still good and not just the system giving me > fits, it would be nice if I could run a program that would write bits to the > tape in question and try to read them back, telling me which blocks on the > tape are bad. Is there such a tool that does this? I guess it would be > kind of like a scandisk is to a DOS Floppy as what I am talking about is to > a Unix Tape. > > Sincerely, > > Rick Duvall > Online Highways > System Administrator > (541) 997-8401 x 111 > > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >
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