UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi there,

I have a problem at the moment trying to restore a directory from a Super DLT tape with about 3 weeks worth of backups on it. I need to be able to get the last backup performed on this tape but using ufsrestore -i it only restores the first backup which is no good to me. There is no archive file associated with this tape. I am using ufsrestore -i to restore the files. My question is would there be any way I could specify the backup date I need from the tape using ufsrestore (or any other command) without the use of an archive file? The system is running Solaris version 8. Thanks for your help.

You can use the mt command (check the man page) and the fsf option to "file skip forward" to get to the last backup.

Make sure your device is one with the norewind

# /usr/bin/mt -f /dev/rmt/0n fsf 2
This would skip the first two ufsdumps and go to the begining of the third. If you don't know how many dumps are on it, then you will have to do this and start counting. It may take you awhile and you will have to find the number and then rewind and do a fsf to the number you found (since you would go beyond the end of the one you wanted while searching for how many are actually on the tape).

That's great RTM. I will get to try that tomorrow and let you know how I got on. Your help is much appreciated.

ufsrestore -ivfs /dev/your/tape/drive # (# here starts at 1 not 0)

the # is the location of the data on the tape. so if you run lets say 5 backups on 1 non rewinding tape. then you would substitute the # with a 5.

Thanks RTM/Optimus_P for your help. I tried /usr/bin/mt -f /dev/rmt/0n fsf # and it worked. I'll keep both methods handy though. Thanks again.