Xref: utzoo comp.unix.sysv386:2994 comp.unix.internals:1428
Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!know!cass!mips2!kittlitz
From: kittlitz@mips2.cr.bull.com (Ned Kittlitz)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.sysv386,comp.unix.internals
Subject: Re: How to get past end of cpio archive on tape
Keywords: eof
Message-ID: <1990Dec12.145706.18480@mips2.cr.bull.com>
Date: 12 Dec 90 14:57:06 GMT
References: <1990Dec12.050414.15575@bjm.wimsey.bc.ca>
Organization: Bull HN Information Systems Inc.
Lines: 22

In article <1990Dec12.050414.15575@bjm.wimsey.bc.ca> news@bjm.wimsey.bc.ca (News Login) writes:
>Hi NET,
>	
>	I have this backup which I accidentally wrote a cpio archive over.
>However, the cpio archive is only 20 megabytes and therefore 1/3 of the tape.

You don't say so explicitly, but by the process of multiplication, 
I am going to assume that you are talking about a 60MB 1/4 inch cartridge
tape. If so, several ravens which I have at hand quoth "nevermore".

From the Archive Viper description of write: "QIC data can only
be written over erased tape; therefor, when the Viper drive
writes to track zero, the erase head is turned on to condition the
entire tape".

From the Wangtek OEM manual for 5099ES/5125ES/5150ES streaming 1/4 inch
tape cartridge drive: "Tape is erased automatically while writing
track zero."

----------
E. N. Kittlitz - consulting at Bull, and nothing more.
kittlitz@world.std.com or kittlitz@granite.cr.bull.com