Re: [Bug-tar] Cannot retrieve 20GB file using tar

[Paul Eggert]

"Ang, Vincent-Th (Hpcs)" <address@hidden> writes:

> Due to the limitation on HP-UX tar of up to 8GB file, I'm using this
> gtar as an alternative. However, I've encountered a problem when trying
> to retrieve a 20GB file from tape using this gtar. It works fine when I
> used gtar to copy the same file to a file and the retrieved it. It also
> works fine when I copy multiple smaller files to the tape and retrieve
> them.
>
> I would like to ask if you have similar encounters before.

First I've heard of it.

> Would you have any fixes for this?

First we have to see whether the bug is in GNU tar, or in the
tape driver.  The fact that the problem is limited to the tape
drive is suspicious.

Have you tried using "truss" on gtar, or whatever the HP-UX
equivalent is for "truss"?  That way, you can see exactly
which system calls are being executed, and that may tell you
what "gtar" is up to.