Is there any way I could test to make sure this is in fact what's happening?
Try writing several files to the tape, each in it's own operation,
and issue a 'mt -bsf' between each operation.
THEN try reading from the tape. with just successive 'read' operations.
*NO* 'mt' positioning
If everything is working 'properly', there will be *ONLY*ONE* file on the tape.
If there is an O/S failure to 'backspace on close' you'll get all the original
files, one on each read attempt.
If the O/S has a _complete_ 'failure to backspace', you'll get a tape that
functions identially to your earlier tests -- you can find all the file
by 'mt -fsf' between reads
Other things to try.
1) *write* a multi-file tape under Unbuntu, and try to read it under FreeBSD.
2) *write* a multi-file tape under FreeBSD, and try to read it under Unbuntu.
3) If there are read issues, see if the 'mt -fsf' hack allows you to
find everything.
OK, it's definitely an O/S failure to backspace on close, because the
tape does read properly when I manually backspace after each file.
Unfortunately, the "workaround" of running mt -fsf
after every file read
if it worked, 'mf -bsf' after every _write_ would be a better solution.<grin>
But it probably suffers from the same 'not really usable' defect.
*cheers* And YES!!!! That's a usable workaround! Luckily enough, Bacula
will run a script after each backup job, all I'll have to do is add a mt
-bsf command to that script!
_I_ have no clue what 'bacula' is -- sounds sort-of like a Transylvanian
back-up utility. One with 'fangs' init, and issues with mirrors.<grin>
Close! It's a multi-platform client-server backup application. Its
tagline used to be something like "Comes in the night, and sucks the
essence from your computers." When I went to check the precise wording,
though, it's no longer on their logo. I guess someone objected.....too
bad, I got a kick from that tagline. I find it to be a great
open-source replacement for backup exec. I can have the Bacula server
and tape drive on one FreeBSD or Linux box, and install clients on all
of my other FreeBSD & Linux servers, and Linux & Windows desktops to
back them all up to that one tape drive.
Thanks for all of your help!!!!!!
Renee
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