Yes, you can use dd to read a tape.
from man dd: Example 3: Reading a Tape Into an ASCII File This example reads an EBCDIC tape blocked ten 80-byte EBCDIC card images per block into the ASCII file x: example% dd if=/dev/tape of=x ibs=800 cbs=80 conv=ascii,lcase Are you going to sleep well until you have tested and documented the recovery procedure? No. On Wed, Oct 02, 2002 at 04:08:27PM -0800, Robyn Anderson Sands wrote: > Hello, > > I need some info about backups. I am working on a customer site, and > have implemented both exports and hot backups. Both jobs copy to a > separate mount point, and a job scripted by another individual then > moves the files to tape. > > Here's the problem - he's using a dd command, primarily because it > provides a succinct output he can email to non-technicals. The file > system is built on a 12 disk A1000 array. We've provided him with a > ufsdump script, but he's doesn't want to use it. Can the system be > recovered from this tape? Has anyone ever relied on a dd for a daily > backup method? The system is Oracle 9i on Solaris 8. > > Robyn > > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > -- > Author: Robyn Anderson Sands > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- =============================================================== Ray Stell [EMAIL PROTECTED] (540) 231-4109 KE4TJC 28^D -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Ray Stell INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).