From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Jul 22 16:37:00 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4787137B401 for ; Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:37:00 -0700 (PDT) Received: from post2.inre.asu.edu (post2.inre.asu.edu [129.219.110.73]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 92BC843F93 for ; Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:36:59 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from David.Bear@asu.edu) Received: from conversion.post2.inre.asu.edu by asu.edu (PMDF V6.1 #40111) id <0HIG00F019EULG@asu.edu> for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:32:54 -0700 (MST) Received: from smtp.asu.edu (smtp.asu.edu [129.219.110.107]) by asu.edu (PMDF V6.1 #40111) with ESMTP id <0HIG00ARV9ETVR@asu.edu> for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:32:54 -0700 (MST) Received: from moroni.pp.asu.edu (moroni.pp.asu.edu [129.219.120.183]) by smtp.asu.edu (8.11.0/8.11.0/asu_smtp_relay,nullclient,tcp_wrapped) with ESMTP id h6MNWqH11219 for ; Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:32:52 -0700 (MST) Received: (from iddwb@localhost) by moroni.pp.asu.edu (8.11.6/8.11.6) id h6MNWrQ02828 for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:32:53 -0700 Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 16:32:53 -0700 From: David Bear To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Message-id: <20030722163253.A2808@asu.edu> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-disposition: inline User-Agent: Mutt/1.2.5.1i Subject: invalid argument X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: David.Bear@asu.edu List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 23:37:00 -0000 while writing to a tape device using tar I get an error message: using 'tar czvf /dev/nsa0 /var/log/' ppsrv3# tar (child): can't write to /dev/nsa0 : Invalid argument My assumptions were 1) the dev/[n]sa0 device was the first scsi tape unit 2) that n meant non-rewinding 3) that I could write one tarball to the tape, then another, in succession. Then each tarball would reside on the tape, one after the other, and that I could untar them in succession as well. So, what would be the cause of the "invalid arg" messeage above? when attemptint to read the above tar file, with tar tzvf /dev/nsa0 tar happily lists all files in the archive, but ends with: gzip: stdin: unexpected end of file tar: Unexpected EOF on archive file I'm wondering if I have a blocking factor problem? This is a DAT/dds4 tape unit. Any advice would be appreciated. -- David Bear phone: 480-965-8257 fax: 480-965-9189 College of Public Programs/ASU Wilson Hall 232 Tempe, AZ 85287-0803 "Beware the IP portfolio, everyone will be suspect of trespassing"