just a quick thought that dropped in while looking at `man amcheck`.
a quick check of the yahoo archive doesn't show any previous discussion.
-w Enables a destructive check for write-protection on the
tape (which would cause the subsequent amdump to fail).
If the tape is writable, this check causes all data
after the tape label to be erased (actually depends on
the device driver: there is no portable non-destructive
way to check for write-protection). The check is only
made if the tape is otherwise correct.
to enable non-destructive write-protection testing, perhaps some space
can be reserved at the start of the tape.
(if this is obviously wrong, what am i missing ? :)
this space could be reserved as the second record of the tape.
`amcheck` could seek to the second record, then write some string such
as "TESTING WRITE PROTECTION"
`amlabel` (as an option) previously having written "TESTING FOR WRITE
PROTECTION--*#&$*#%*(#W%*#UFIJ%*#U*U*FU*#U*U#F*U*"
the garbage acting as a spacer to avoid later testing creeping into
record three.
it should be random such that hardware compression wont take up less
space than the plain test would.
hope things are well with you all,
regards, ben (p.s. i'm only subscribed to amanda-users list.)
