Re: [Bug-tar] tar 1.15.1 fails creating multivol tape archive, outputs incorrect error

[Joerg Schilling]

Jim Faulkner <address@hidden> wrote:

>
> First reported here:
> http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=87540
>
> I have used Gnu tar for several years to back up various filesystems to a
> DDS-4 tape drive.  However, tar version 1.15.1 fails to complete archiving
> one of my large filesystems, and outputs an obviously incorrect error
> message when failing.
>
> Partway through a backup using tar 1.15.1, tar will error out.  Please
> note that this *only* happens at the very beginning of a tape, immediately
> after inserting the next tape volume and pressing enter.
>
> Here is the output of a failed backup using tar 1.15.1:
> delta-9 media # tar --multi-volume -cf /dev/st0 a* b* c* e* m* o* v*
> Prepare volume #2 for `/dev/st0' and hit return:
> Prepare volume #3 for `/dev/st0' and hit return:
> Prepare volume #4 for `/dev/st0' and hit return:
> Prepare volume #5 for `/dev/st0' and hit return:
> Prepare volume #6 for `/dev/st0' and hit return:
> tar: 
> mp3/AntiPop_Consortium/Antipop_Consortium_vs_Matthew_Shipp/07-antipop_consortium-stream_light-chr.mp3:
> file name too long to be stored in a GNU multivolume header
> tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
> delta-9 media #

The method used by GNU tar to implement multi volume does not
support to split the archive inside a GNU long name header.

Even if older GNU tar versions have been able to create
the archive, they did not accept the next volume in case of a restore.

Use star instead.... :-)

Jörg

-- 
 EMail:address@hidden (home) Jörg Schilling D-13353 Berlin
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