Re: [Networker] setting block size

Is the block size for the system determined by the st.conf information for the 
tape device?

Thanks.
Teresa


-----Original Message-----
From: Shelley L. Shostak [mailto:sls AT qstech DOT com] 
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 1:59 PM
To: Teresa Biehler
Subject: Re: [Networker] setting block size

Hi Teresa,

Setting the block size by environment variables in startup scripts is not the
best solution, in fact, I would call it the wrong answer.  If you run commands
from the command line, what block size will you get?  Who know?!  So, the best
solution is the modify the system's idea of tape block size to use the block
size that you want by default.  I do not remember how to do this on solaris.

I am betting that the block size when running the scanner command is different
than that when the tape was written.  The linux mt implementation allows you
to set the tape block size, but the solaris version does not.  Try setting the
environment variable NSR_DEV_BLOCK... to 128 and then run scanner.

Good luck,
Shelley

On Fri, 8 Aug 2003, Teresa Biehler wrote:

> Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 07:57:49 -0700
> From: Teresa Biehler <tpbsys AT RIT DOT EDU>
> Reply-To: Legato NetWorker discussion <NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU>,
>      Teresa Biehler <tpbsys AT RIT DOT EDU>
> To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
> Subject: Re: [Networker] setting block size
>
> So, I set the environment variable on the Solaris server to lower the block 
> size to 128KB so that Windows and UNIX agree.  I added the following to the 
> top of the networker start up script:
>
> NSR_DEV_BLOCK_SIZE_8MM_AIT_3=128
> export NSR_DEV_BLOCK_SIZE_8MM_AIT_3
>
> After making this change, I restarted the server.  I states that the block 
> size for all the AIT-3 devices is 128KB as expected.  Then I labeled a new 
> tape, ran a full back up to it - so far so good.  When I ran scanner on the 
> tape, however, I get this:
>
> scanner -v /dev/rmt/5cbn
> scanner: Opened /dev/rmt/5cbn for read
> scanner: Rewinding...
> scanner: Rewinding done
> scanner: Reading the label...
> scanner: Reading the label done
> scanner: SYSTEM error: Tape label read: Bad file number
> scanner: SYSTEM error: Tape label read: Bad file number
> scanner: scanning for valid records...
> scanner: read: -1 bytes : Not enough space
> scanner: Opened /dev/rmt/5cbn for read
> scanner: read: -1 bytes : Not enough space
> .
> .
> .
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> scanner: read: 0 bytes
> .
> .
> .
>
> Does anyone have any ideas what is going on?
>
> Thanks.
> Teresa
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ruzza, Claudio [mailto:claudio.ruzza AT HP DOT COM]
> Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 8:54 AM
> To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
> Subject: Re: [Networker] setting block size
>
> Teresa,
> Needless to say, the variable name should be modified according to your 
> drives technology.
> Example: assuming you have SDLT drives, the variable name will become
> NSR_DEV_BLOCK_SIZE_SDLT
>
> In windows 2000 you can set this variable doing some easy steps:
> Click right on "My computer" and choose Properties
> Choose "Advanced"
> Click the "Environment variables" button
> Click the button "new" in the lower part of "system variables" pane
> In "variable name" enter the name you have "build up" once you have 
> identified your drive's technology
> In "variable value" just enter 128
> Click OK and that's all.
>
> Please check that after having set the variable at least one media 
> initialized by those Server/SN has reaaly labeled at 128K. In case it 
> doesn't, there are some additional steps to do, involving registry edit. 
> Check listmail archives, there's a wonderful page about that.
>
> In Solaris and any other UNIX flavour the variable must be set as any other 
> environment variable. I'm not a UNIX expert, so I can't be more precise.
>
> Hope it helps
>
> Claudio Ruzza
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Teresa Biehler [mailto:tpbsys AT RIT DOT EDU]
> > Sent: venerdì 8 agosto 2003 14:05
> > To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
> > Subject: setting block size
> >
> >
> > I've got a Solaris Networker server and I'm trying to set up a Windows
> > storage node that will share the same tape library.  So, I
> > want the each
> > system to be able to read/write tapes written by the other.  Based on
> > running scanner -v on tapes written by both hosts, I've
> > determined that
> > I need to set the block size to 128KB.  So, how do I do this?  In the
> > admin guide is says to set the environment variable
> > NSR_DEV_BLOCK_SIZE_DEVICE_NAME.  Where/how do I do this (for both
> > Solaris and Windows)?
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Teresa
> >
> >
> > --
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