Cloning an 'ontape' tape
Probably another damn fool question but...what's the best method (if it can be
done) of taking a clone copy of a previously-created 'ontape' level-0 tape?
Basically we want to copy the contents of a tape to SAN somewhere with the
probably future intention of copying it back off the SAN to a.n.other tape
which could then be used for an ontape -r restore.
NB we're using IDS9.30 so we don't have the STDIO option available for ontape
(this was introduced in V10.x)
Anyone done this/is it technically possible? Thinking of trying dd
if=<tapedevice> of=<filename> bs=xxx where xxx is probably 256k but I thought
I'd ask if there's a proven other method out there.
Thanks
Malcolm:
I have seen copies of a tape archive made to disk be reusable once copied
back to tape, but it is not recommended as I have also seen it fail,
resulting in an unusable archive. If you try it set bs equal to the
TAPEBLK setting that was used in the ONCONFIG file to create the archive.
Even in 9.30 you can make archives to disk, it is just a pain. You would
just have to set TAPEDEV to a file path and you can set the file size to a
bit under 2GB. If/when ontape prompts for another tape, you will have to
rename the file and touch a new one with the name in TAPEDEV.
Art
Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant
ASK Database Management
www.askdbmgt.com
Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions
and do not reflect on the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am
associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do
those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any
entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves.
On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 7:47 AM, MALCOLM PERRIOR <malcrp@gmail.com> wrote:
> Probably another damn fool question but...what's the best method (if it
> can be
> done) of taking a clone copy of a previously-created 'ontape' level-0 tape?
> Basically we want to copy the contents of a tape to SAN somewhere with the
> probably future intention of copying it back off the SAN to a.n.other tape
> which could then be used for an ontape -r restore.
> NB we're using IDS9.30 so we don't have the STDIO option available for
> ontape
> (this was introduced in V10.x)>
> Anyone done this/is it technically possible? Thinking of trying dd
> if=<tapedevice> of=<filename> bs=xxx where xxx is probably 256k but I
> thought
> I'd ask if there's a proven other method out there.
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.
>
>
--089e0158b61ca368400505d9668b
You should be OK. I have never had a problem as long as the blocksizes are
consistent i.e. Tape block size from onconfig = dd blocksize
You can backup to disk with 9.30, AFAIR never officially supported. However,
lots of scripts out there that will make it work for you
Cheers
Paul
Paul Watson
Oninit www.oninit.com
+1 913 387 7529
> On Oct 20, 2014, at 6:47, "MALCOLM PERRIOR" <malcrp@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Probably another damn fool question but...what's the best method (if it can
be
> done) of taking a clone copy of a previously-created 'ontape' level-0 tape?
> Basically we want to copy the contents of a tape to SAN somewhere with the
> probably future intention of copying it back off the SAN to a.n.other tape
> which could then be used for an ontape -r restore.
> NB we're using IDS9.30 so we don't have the STDIO option available for ontape
> (this was introduced in V10.x)
>
> Anyone done this/is it technically possible? Thinking of trying dd
> if=<tapedevice> of=<filename> bs=xxx where xxx is probably 256k but I thought
> I'd ask if there's a proven other method out there.
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
*******************************************************************************
> Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.