01/23/96, 4FAX# 2360 mksysb End-of-Tape Detection Problem Prior to 3.2.4 SPECIAL NOTICES Information in this document is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of this writing. Please send feedback by fax to "AIXServ Information" at (512) 823-4009. Please use this information with care. IBM will not be responsible for damages of any kind resulting from its use. The use of this information is the sole responsibility of the customer and depends on the customer's ability to eval- uate and integrate this information into the customer's operational environment. +----------------------------------------------------------+ | | | NOTE: The information in this document is NOT appli- | | cable for AIX 4.1. | | | +----------------------------------------------------------+ ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This document addresses the mksysb end-of-tape detection problem (when mksysb cannot bridge to a second or third tape). It describes fixes that may be ordered and a one- time workaround to use if you cannot wait for the fix. The problem addressed in this document has been fixed at AIX level 3.2.4 and above. FIXING THE MKSYSB END-OF-TAPE DETECTION PROBLEM If you can wait for the fix to arrive and be installed, please call 1-800-CALL-AIX and indicate that you want to order one or more of the following PTFs with "SUPERSEDE=N": U413108 Fixes the tar end-of-tape problem U408848 Fixes multivolume problems in ASCII version of smit U412353 Fixes multivolume problems in Motif version of smit (These PTFs will not upgrade your system to 3.2.4.) If you are trying to make a mksysb of your system in prepa- ration for an upgrade to a newer level, use the information in the next section as a one-time fix. mksysb End-of-Tape Detection Problem Prior to 3.2.4 1 01/23/96, 4FAX# 2360 WORKAROUND The information in this section is intended as a one-time workaround if you cannot wait for the fix to arrive and be installed. It will allow the mksysb command to correctly bridge to a second or third tape. NOTE: This modification is ONLY for a SINGLE tape/tape- drive combination. Determine what tape and tape drive you will be using for the backup before performing this workaround. NOTE: When running mksysb after this procedure, be sure to use the correct density setting to match the rmtX special device. For more information on density settings, order document #1896 from the IBM Fax Information Service (1-800-IBM-4FAX in the U.S), Outside the U.S. call 415-855-4FAX using a fax machine phone. 1. Make a backup copy of /usr/bin/mksysb. 2. Use the following table to determine which "-S SIZEb" flag needs to be added to the tar command at the end of /usr/bin/mksysb. "SIZE" is the size in 512-byte blocks to be expected from the tape. NOTE: After the number for the -S flag, you must put in the "b" flag to denote these are blocks, e.g., "-S 111100b". NOTE: The block-size setting for a 1/4-inch tape drive should be 512 and for an 8mm or 4mm dat tape drive should be 1024. However, if you are using a 7208 8mm tape drive and you do not have PTF U403173 on your system, you must use a block size of 512 and a SIZE flag of "-S 111100b" (half the value shown in the table). The capacity in this case will be 1.15GB. Tape Drive Flag Capacity ---------- --------- -------- 7206 4mm dat -S 222200 2.3 Gbytes 7208 8mm -S 222200 2.3 Gbytes 7207-001 1/4 inch 6150 tape -S 14000 150 Mbytes 6250 tape -S 23800 250 Mbytes 7207-011 1/4 inch 6150 tape -S 14000 150 Mbytes 6250 tape -S 23800 250 Mbytes 6525 tape -S 50800 525 Mbytes 7207-012 1/4 inch 6150 tape -S 14000 150 Mbytes 6250 tape -S 23800 250 Mbytes 6525 tape -S 50800 525 Mbytes 9100 tape -S 104700 1.2 Gbytes NOTE: Because the meaning of the tar flag "-S" has changed at some point in the past, it is necessary to perform a test to determine if any adjustment in the number shown in the above chart is needed. mksysb End-of-Tape Detection Problem Prior to 3.2.4 2 01/23/96, 4FAX# 2360 The following test can be used to determine any adjust- ment to the supplied values of S in this document. Use to terminate the test after tar asks for another volume. tar -cvf /dev/null -S100b / You will see something that looks like this: tar: There are 100 blocks on /dev/null. tar: Mount next media on device /dev/null and press return. If it asks for the second volume after 2000 blocks, use the numbers supplied in the fax. If it asks for the second volume after 100 blocks, mul- tiply the number in the fax by 20 and use that value. 3. Add the proper "-S SIZEb" flag to the /usr/bin/mksysb file. The original line looks like this: tar -cvdpf"$DEVICE" -L"$archive_lst" The corrected line should look like this (where SIZE is chosen from the table in step 2.): tar -cvdpf"$DEVICE" -S SIZEb -L"$archive_lst" EXAMPLE: For a 7208 8mm tape drive: tar -cvdpf"$DEVICE" -S 222200b -L"$archive_lst" mksysb End-of-Tape Detection Problem Prior to 3.2.4 3 01/23/96, 4FAX# 2360 READER'S COMMENTS Please fax this form to (512) 823-4009, attention "AIXServ Informa- tion". You may also e-mail comments to: elizabet@austin.ibm.com. These comments should include the same customer information requested below. Use this form to tell us what you think about this document. If you have found errors in it, or if you want to express your opinion about it (such as organization, subject matter, appearance) or make sug- gestions for improvement, this is the form to use. If you need technical assistance, contact your local branch office, point of sale, or 1-800-CALL-AIX (for information about support offer- ings). These services may be billable. Faxes on a variety of sub- jects may be ordered free of charge from 1-800-IBM-4FAX. Outside the U.S. call 415-855-4329 using a fax machine phone. When you send comments to IBM, you grant IBM a nonexclusive right to use or distribute your comments in any way it believes appropriate without incurring any obligation to you. 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Problem Report or Item #: Branch Office or Customer #: Be sure to print your name and fax number below if you would like a reply: Name: Fax Number: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ END OF DOCUMENT (mksysb.eot.bak, 4FAX# 2360) mksysb End-of-Tape Detection Problem Prior to 3.2.4 4