mktartape

Name

mktartape -- save directory trees to tape in Unix tar format

Usage

mktartape

Parameters

None

Description

This task provides a virtually foolproof method for writing backup tapes in Unix tar format. Significant features:

supports all tape formats (Exabyte, DAT, DLT, and LTO)
warns user if no tape drives are attached to the current machine and offers a list of alternative machines with tape drives
allows observer to select any tape drive on the current machine without needed to know the name of the tape drive
prints list and status of all tape drives attached to the current machine
checks status of tape before trying to write to verify whether drive is already in use, tape is inserted and rewound
allows user to select from available legal tape densities
allows user to append new files to those already on tape
can write multiple data directory trees to tape in one pass, putting each into a separate tarfile
verifies the existence of the data directories entered by user
after writing data to tape can (optionally) verify tape while creating a tape log
optionally rewinds and ejects tape at completion of writing

Examples

Here is a sample run (user input in bold):

gwirth@kapoho:~/tmp% mktartape
	----------------------------------------------------------------
	Welcome to MKTARTAPE, a program for creating tapes of your data.
	----------------------------------------------------------------

No tape devices are attached to this machine (kapoho).  Would you like
to try running this program on a different computer which has a tape drive
available? [y]: y

Okay, here's a list of the available machines and tape drives:


N  Computer     Location                            Tape_Drives       
-  --------     --------                            -----------       
1  pohue        Remote Ops II                       8mm(Exabyte), DLT, Ultrium
2  pupukea      Remote Ops I                        8mm(Exabyte)      
3  waihee       Room 109 (K2 Pre/Post-Observing)    DAT, 8mm(Exabyte) 
4  moomomi      Room 110 (K1 Pre/Post-Observing)    DAT, 8mm(Exabyte) 
5  mokulau      Remote Ops I                        8mm(Exabyte)      
6  hamoa        Remote Ops II                       8mm(Exabyte)      
7  None of the above --- quit!                                                       
Please select an option by number [7]: 4

Okay, spawning /home/kapoho/gwirth/bin/mktartape on moomomi...

	----------------------------------------------------------------
	Welcome to MKTARTAPE, a program for creating tapes of your data.
	----------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the tape devices available on moomomi:

   N  Type            Device          Busy?      Tape_in?   Rewound?  
   -  ----            ------          -----      --------   --------  
   0  DAT             /dev/rmt/0      No         Yes        Yes       
   1  8mm(Exabyte)    /dev/rmt/1      No         No         No        
   2  None of the above --- quit!                                                 

Please select an option by number [2]: 0

The tape drive appears to be online and the tape is rewound to the beginning.
Your options are:
(B)egin recording here, or
(S)kip past any existing files on the tape and record from there.
So which will it be? [b]: b

Please select a data format.  Options are:
	[L]ow
	[M]edium
	[H]igh
	[C]ompressed
Which would you like? [l]: l

Enter name of first data directory to save to tape (RETURN to end list):
> /h/gwirth/tmp/data1
Directory /h/gwirth/tmp/data1 exists and is accessible; adding it to list...

Enter name of next data directory to save to tape (RETURN to end list):
> /h/gwirth/tmp/data2
Directory /h/gwirth/tmp/data2 exists and is accessible; adding it to list...

Enter name of next data directory to save to tape (RETURN to end list):
> /h/gwirth/tmp/data3
Directory /h/gwirth/tmp/data3 exists and is accessible; adding it to list...

Enter name of next data directory to save to tape (RETURN to end list):
> /h/gwirth/tmp/data4
ERROR: directory '/h/gwirth/tmp/data4' not found; please try again

Enter name of next data directory to save to tape (RETURN to end list):
> 

Should I generate a logfile listing of the contents of the tape when I am done?
This can help verify that things went smoothly, but will take extra time. [n]: y

Enter name of logfile to create [mktartape.log]: 

Should I rewind and eject the tape when done? [y]: y

Before I start writing the tape, please verify the information below:
	Hostname:             	moomomi
	Tape device name:     	/dev/rmt/0lbn
	Tape device type:     	DAT
	Density:              	[L]ow
	Directories to store: 	/h/gwirth/tmp/data1
				/h/gwirth/tmp/data2
				/h/gwirth/tmp/data3
	Logfile:              	mktartape.log
	Rewind before writing:	No
	Skip to EOM marker:   	No
	Eject at end:         	Yes
Should I begin? [y]: y

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Storing data from directory /h/gwirth/tmp/data1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
./
foo1.fits

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Storing data from directory /h/gwirth/tmp/data2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
./
foo2.fits

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Storing data from directory /h/gwirth/tmp/data3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
./
foo3.fits

Done writing data to tape.
Rewinding tape to create logfile...done.
Generating listing for file 1...done.
Generating listing for file 2...done.
Generating listing for file 3...done.

Rewinding and ejecting tape...done.

	----------------------------------------------------------------
		      Finished writing tar tape
	----------------------------------------------------------------

Bugs

Does not currently check to verify that the tape has enough space to hold all data

Last modified: Sun May 25 21:45:19 HST 2003