You have tried labeling a new tape, yes? This wouldn't be just several bad tapes?
It is curious that you get the 95% failure figure on labeling but the failures *always* return the same size string in the error message. No kernel messages about device problems? You've verified that a large dd to/from the tape drive doesn't have the same problem? (by large I mean 10 Meg at least so you rev the drive up to full speed for a few seconds.) This sort of puzzling behavior makes me think hardware and firmware, not Amanda. Maybe your drive needs an overhaul? Dana Bourgeois > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jon LaBadie > Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 7:15 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: problem labelling tapes > > > On Fri, Oct 24, 2003 at 09:43:38AM +0100, Tony wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Good idea. I have done this now. Went and downloaded the manual and > > there are two DIP switches that are relevant. I quote from > the manual: > > > > ------- > > Data Compression (switches 1 and 2) > > > > If switch 1 is ON (default), HW data compression is > enabled. If switch > > 1 is OFF, HW data compression is disabled. > > > > If dip switch 2 is ON (default), then SCSI commands can be used to > > enable or disable HW data compression. To prevent HW data > compression > > from being enabled or disabled by SCSI commands, set DIP > switch 2 to > > OFF > > ------- > > > > That all sounds pretty straight forward. I turned dip > switches 1 & 2 > > OFF so that HW compression is disabled and can't be turned > on again by > > the software. > > > > I would hope that if I have physically set these switches, > that even > > putting in a tape that was previously written on with compression > > enabled could not over-ride the DIP switch settings. > > > > I would not make that assumption. > The manual description of the effect of SW-2 refers to the > ability of software to change the compression setting, not > the ability of the hardware itself to change the setting. > Otherwise you would not be able to 'read' tapes previously > compressed. Certainly not a desireable trait. > > I would 'expect', but not assume, that after switching to HW > compression ON during a read, subsequent writes would still be > compression OFF if SW-2&1 and is off. But one never knows does one? > > BTW the manual for my drive has similar dip switch settings. > SW-1 is refered to as the "power on state". So the drive > must be power cycled to restore that state after a switch > change. SW-2 is described as enabling/disabling software > control of the compression state. But it doesn't say the > hardware can't change the state. > > -- > Jon H. LaBadie [EMAIL PROTECTED] > JG Computing > 4455 Province Line Road (609) 252-0159 > Princeton, NJ 08540-4322 (609) 683-7220 (fax) > >
