[ale] problems with ssh to tape

[Björn Gustafsson]

Used to be that using shell redirect to a tape was unreliable and slow
at best, and failed at worst.  The message you get indicates to me
that it may be using the entire backup set size as the inferred
blocksize on the tape device.

I'd try piping to dd(1) (with an appropriate block size for the tape
device) rather than a simple redirect.  For example:

ssh $mach "tar -cf - $BackupThis" | dd  bs=20b  of=/dev/nst0

On Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 4:36 PM, Geoffrey <lists at serioustechnology.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to write backups directly to tape as follows:
>
>    ssh $mach "tar -cf - $BackupThis" > /dev/nst0
>
> but when I try to read it from the tape I get:
>
> tar: /dev/nst0: Cannot read: Cannot allocate memory
>
> I've tried tarring directly to the tape from the local machine and that
> works fine.
>
> Anyone else tried this?  Suggestions?
>
> --
> Until later, Geoffrey
>
> Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
> temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
>  - Benjamin Franklin

-- 
Björn Gustafsson