ftape(1) —
NAME
ftape − interface to floppy tape drives
SYNOPSIS
ftape −SFViIot [ −f number ] [ −d description ] device
DESCRIPTION
ftape is the user interface to floppy tape drives. It uses ECC (Error Correction Codes) that go beyond the usual CRC checksums (which are implemented in the device driver) to allow the recovery of data that would otherwise be lost through tape errors. ftape can be used only with the floppy tape driver, ft(7). device must be the floppy tape driver device file, /dev/ftape. ftape is typically used with one of the archiving programs cpio(1) or tar(1).
The ftape program supports multiple filesets on a single cartridge, following the QIC-40 standard for the Volume Table (VTBL), and also supports multiple volume operations. When the program detects the end of the tape, it prompts for another cartridge. When reading multiple cartridge sets, it checks to make sure the volumes are inserted in the proper order.
The command line options are:
−i Read data from the tape and write it to stdout.
−I Same as −i, except that the program will not exit if uncorrectable errors occur.
−o Read data from stdin and write to it to the tape.
−t Read just the tape header and VTBL block, producing a table of contents of the tape volume.
−f Reads from or writes to fileset number. There can be as many as 64 filesets on an Irwin tape, and up to 116 on a QIC-40 tape. If no −f flag is given, the first fileset on the tape is assumed. When writing fileset number N, filesets 1 through N-1 must have been previously written, and any filesets numbered >N are destroyed.
−d Description is up to 44 characters of descriptive text. This text is stored in the VTBL header, and will be displayed by the −t flag, but has no effect on the data. The text should be quoted if it contains any special characters or blanks.
−S Specifies that a write servo operation is to be performed on the tape. The tape must be a new, unformatted tape or have been erased with a bulk tape eraser.
−F Specifies that a physical format operation is to be performed on the tape. When formatting a tape, there should be no other activity on the system.
−V Specifies that the tape is to be searched for bad blocks and a tape header placed at the beginning of the tape indicating the bad blocks on the tape.
EXAMPLES
To archive all files in the file system tree above the current directory into fileset 1 on the tape:
find . −print | cpio −o | ftape −o −d ’Monday backup’ /dev/ftape
To restore all the files previously archived in fileset 1:
ftape −i /dev/ftape | cpio -i
SEE ALSO
DIAGNOSTICS
All diagnostic output, as well as the output from the −t flag, is directed to stderr. stdout is reserved for the data stream. Prompts for new tapes and responses to prompts are written and read from /dev/tty.
WARNINGS
A tape should only be servo written after being thoroughly erased with a bulk tape eraser or erratic behavior may result.
ADDED VALUE
This entry, supplied by INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation, is an extension of UNIX System V.
\*U — Version 1.0