tape errors

[David Bear]

I'm beginning to wonder if my tape device or tape is going bad.

AFter a backup run tar exists with error

tar tvzf /dev/nsa0 > t2
tar (child): read error on /dev/nsa0 : Input/output error

gzip: stdin: decompression OK, trailing garbage ignored
tar: Unexpected EOF on archive file

checking status of the tape gives me

mt status
Mode      Density              Blocksize      bpi      Compression
Current:  0x26:DDS-4           512 bytes      97000    disabled
---------available modes---------
0:        0x26:DDS-4           512 bytes      97000    DCLZ
1:        0x26:DDS-4           512 bytes      97000    DCLZ
2:        0x26:DDS-4           512 bytes      97000    DCLZ
3:        0x26:DDS-4           512 bytes      97000    DCLZ
---------------------------------
Current Driver State: at rest.
---------------------------------
File Number: 1  Record Number: 0        Residual Count 8704


Now does ANY residual count indicate error?  mt errstat gives me:

mt errstat
Last I/O Residual: 0
 Last I/O Command: 08 01 00 00 14 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
   Last I/O Sense:

         F0 00 80 00 00 00 11 14 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00
         00 00 00 00 00 00 00 F6 1F 40 08 00 6F 63 00 00

Last Control Residual: 0
 Last Control Command: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
   Last Control Sense:

         00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
         00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

okay.  what does it mean?  Residual count is 8704.  yet, i/o residual
and control residual is 0.  my understanding of this is getting worse.

-- 
David Bear
phone: 	480-965-8257
fax: 	480-965-9189
College of Public Programs/ASU
Wilson Hall 232
Tempe, AZ 85287-0803
 "Beware the IP portfolio, everyone will be suspect of trespassing"