File Listing of a DAT Tape

solex · 08-30-2004, 09:48 AM

Hello,
How can I get a file listing of my backup DAT tape?

Thanks,
Dan

michaelk · 08-30-2004, 10:02 AM

Some additional information is required...
So what application are you using to create the backups?

solex · 08-30-2004, 10:05 AM

I was using a script that simply tar'red the files and copied them to the tape.

Thanks,
Dan

michaelk · 08-30-2004, 10:25 AM

And how do you copy the tar files to tape?

solex · 08-30-2004, 10:13 PM

I used Tar to backup and copy the files. I found the answer to my question tar-tf /dev/st0, but now I need to know when the archive was made so I can find the latest tape that has the most recent backup. Does anyone know if and how this is possible?

Thanks,
Dan

mad_ady · 08-31-2004, 05:35 AM

It seems that tar has written directly to the tape. So, it's not a file on a filesystem on the tape. The tape contains the binary data (no filesystem).
So, there is no datestamp on the file (because it was dumped directly to tape). You could untar the tape to a temporary folder and check its contents for a recent date.

For the future, I suggest adding a blank file to the tape, named with the current date...

Something like this:

Code:

#!/bin/bash

#write a blank file named by today's date in the directory you wish to backup

$CURRENTDATE=`date`   #note the backquotes

touch "$CURRENTDATE" #note the normal quotes.
                    #it produces a file called like: Tue Aug 31 12:30:37 EEST 2004
#backup your files with the same command

#remove the date file
rm "$CURRENTDATE"

#you're done

Now, when you do a tar -tf /dev/whaterveryourtapeis it will list the files, and the file named from your date! Cool, huh?

solex · 08-31-2004, 08:33 AM

Thank you for your help I will add your suggestion to my backup script.

Thanks!
Dan

mad_ady · 08-31-2004, 01:00 PM

Try it out to make sure there are no bugs!

Glad I could help.