On Sun, Feb 25, 2024 at 04:16:03AM -0000, Michael van Elst wrote: > t...@panix.com (Thor Lancelot Simon) writes: > > >Probably not a good idea to start with lseek() because if you _do_ > >encounter a tape device, seeking to SEEK_END could take you an extremely > >long time. > > lseek() doesn't move the tape. But the open() or close() may trigger > tape operations like loading or winding. Special files are special.
Ah, yes, that's the MTEOM ioctl -- approximately. I have it stuck in my mind that SEEK_END did this, too, back when I was a literal tape jockey for 9 track tapes on an 11/750 and a collection of TK and QIC-150 drives. But this could be an invention of memory. -- Thor Lancelot Simon t...@panix.com "The inconsistency is startling, though admittedly, if consistency is to be abandoned or transcended, there is no problem." - Noam Chomsky
