Copying Files to a Remote Tape Device

How to Copy Files to a Remote Tape Device (tar and dd)

1. Configure ssh on the remote system so that you can access the tape drive. See Configuring Secure Shell (Tasks) in System Administration Guide: Security Services.
2. Change to the directory where you want to put the files.
3. Insert the tape into the tape drive.
4. Copy the files to a remote tape drive.

   $ tar cvf - filenames | ssh remote-host dd of=/dev/rmt/n obs=block-size

   tar cf

   Creates a tape archive, lists the files as they are archived, and specifies the tape device.

   v

   Provides additional information about the tar file entries.

   - (Hyphen)

   Represents a placeholder for the tape device.

   filenames

   Identifies the files to be copied. Separate multiple files with spaces.

   ssh | remote-host

   Pipes the tar command's output to a remote system.

   dd of= /dev/rmt/n

   Represents the output device.

   obs=block-size

   Represents the blocking factor.

5. Remove the tape from the drive. Write the names of the files on the tape label.

Example 21-10 Copying Files to a Remote Tape Drive (tar and dd)

# tar cvf - * | ssh mercury dd of=/dev/rmt/0 obs=126b
password:
a answers/ 0 tape blocks
a answers/test129 1 tape blocks
a sc.directives/ 0 tape blocks
a sc.directives/sc.190089 1 tape blocks
a tests/ 0 tape blocks
a tests/test131 1 tape blocks
6+9 records in
0+1 records out

How to Extract Files From a Remote Tape Device

1. Insert the tape into the tape drive.
2. Change to a temporary directory.

   $ cd /var/tmp

3. Extract the files from a remote tape device.

   $ ssh remote-host dd if=/dev/rmt/n | tar xvBpf -

   ssh remote-host

   Indicates a secure shell that is started to extract the files from the tape device by using the dd command.

   dd if=/dev/rmt/n

   Indicates the input device.

   | tar xvBpf -

   Pipes the output of the dd command to the tar command, which is used to restore the files.

4. Verify that the files have been extracted.

   $ ls -l

Example 21-11 Extracting Files From a Remote Tape Drive

$ cd /var/tmp
$ ssh mercury dd if=/dev/rmt/0 | tar xvBpf -
password:
x answers/, 0 bytes, 0 tape blocks
x answers/test129, 48 bytes, 1 tape blocks
20+0 records in
20+0 records out
x sc.directives/, 0 bytes, 0 tape blocks
x sc.directives/sc.190089, 77 bytes, 1 tape blocks
x tests/, 0 bytes, 0 tape blocks
x tests/test131, 84 bytes, 1 tape blocks
$ ls -l