This is not an amanda problem. It affects amanda, but it also shows up just 
dd'ing straight to tape. I'm just hoping someone here knows how to fix it.

CentOS 5.3 x86_64 server. 8-drive RAID-6 pretty much dedicated to backup, so 
streaming files to tape is not an issue.  Quantum LTO-3 Superloader 16 
connected to an Adaptec 29320LPE PCI-e SCSI controller.

The problem I have is that the server never fills a tape. It writes at 
anywhere from 41 to 60 MB/sec (depending on block size) for anywhere 
between 6440 and 6500 seconds, and then gives an end of tape. This can 
occur at anywhere between 270GB and 360GB of data. The tapes are 400/800 
LTO Ultrium-3 tapes, and the problem occurs on brand new tapes as well as 
tapes that have been in service for many months.

So, obviously, you'd suspect the tape drive. However, I happen to have an 
older standalone Quantum/Certance LTO-3 Ultrium drive, and if I plug it in, 
it does exactly the same thing. I don't have a clue where the problem is, 
although I suspect something in the st or Adaptec drivers. If anyone has 
any idea how to fix it, I'd be pretty ecstatic.

The stinit.def currently being used is attached. The same problem occurs 
with any block size, though, and the timeout parameters appear to have no 
effect.

-- 
Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world, 
is either a madman or an economist.

stinit.def
Description: Text document