Very Computer

by **Robert Angelin** » Fri, 19 Apr 1996 04:00:00

I have 8mm tapes which were written on an exabyte 8200 using tar.
Are there any tape units on the x86 hardware supported list which will
read these tapes???

Any help is appreciated...

--
- ------ - Robert Angelino
| | | ---- \ | | ms 301-270
| | | | \ | | | 4800 Oak Grove Drive
| | | | -- | | | Pasadena, CA 91109

\____|et |_|ropulsion |_____\aboratory (818) 354-1448

by **Brad Wilso** » Sat, 20 Apr 1996 04:00:00

>I have 8mm tapes which were written on an exabyte 8200 using tar.
>Are there any tape units on the x86 hardware supported list which will
>read these tapes???

>Any help is appreciated...

>--
> - ------ - Robert Angelino
> | | | ---- \ | | ms 301-270
> | | | | \ | | | 4800 Oak Grove Drive
> | | | | -- | | | Pasadena, CA 91109

>\____|et |_|ropulsion |_____\aboratory (818) 354-1448

I just went through a large ordeal with an Exabyte 8200 on x86. I could read and
write tapes fine under DOS, but under Solaris 2.5 on the same machine I could not
read my DOS tapes or tapes written using tar on an IBM RS/6000 or SUN SPARC. I
tried everything. Finally I tried another tape drive and it worked!!! So, if your
8200 does not work on your PC, try another. Sun support was VERY helpful, but were
unable to tell me why that tape drive didn't work. I am just using it on another
machine now (RS/6000). Perhaps a firmware problem? Check the Exabyte fax back
number for firmware information.

by **Ed Mul** » Thu, 25 Apr 1996 04:00:00

>>I have 8mm tapes which were written on an exabyte 8200 using tar.
>>Are there any tape units on the x86 hardware supported list which will
>>read these tapes???

>>Any help is appreciated...

>>--
>> - ------ - Robert Angelino
>I just went through a large ordeal with an Exabyte 8200 on x86. I could read and
>write tapes fine under DOS, but under Solaris 2.5 on the same machine I could not
>read my DOS tapes or tapes written using tar on an IBM RS/6000 or SUN SPARC. I
>tried everything. Finally I tried another tape drive and it worked!!! So, if your
>8200 does not work on your PC, try another. Sun support was VERY helpful, but were
>unable to tell me why that tape drive didn't work. I am just using it on another
>machine now (RS/6000). Perhaps a firmware problem? Check the Exabyte fax back
>number for firmware information.

The tapes are created with a "blocksize" that is significant. The tar
command takes a block size option as does the dd command. Even if the
tape is written with no block size on the creating system, the block
size will appear and mess you up on other systems. I have had this
sort of problem with an RS6000, which gives fits till the kernel
transfer blocksize is set.

If you did not have the problem on an RS6000 you were lucky.

On Solaris and other systems see if you can dd the tape in trying
various -ibs parameters, and if you get one that tries, use it to
override when using tar or dd.

On cpio, you can use dd as a filter and pass thru to cpio's standard
input, and force the blocksize.

On Dos if you have similar problems, I am not aware of controls in
what I use, which is aspitar, and aspitape. further follow ups by
others may shed light on this.

I use both the 8200 and an 8500, as well as an HP dat and wangtek dat,
but with combinations of the above I have never had a problem on any
unix, and can't recall any specifics WRT Solaris.

Very Computer

Exabyte 8mm tapes on other x86 supported tape units???

Exabyte 8mm tapes on other x86 supported tape units???

Exabyte 8mm tapes on other x86 supported tape units???

Exabyte 8mm tapes on other x86 supported tape units???