On Tue, Jul 15, 2003 at 04:04:33PM +0200, Paul Bijnens wrote:
> 
> Try a blocksize of 512 bytes (no K), and you'll notice the difference.
> 

I'm sure.

Indeed, without specifying --maxtapeblocksize to configure, 32k is
both the min and max blocksize.

I found a thread titled 'amanda and blocksize' in the
amanda-hackers list (~Jan 02), and concluded from that discussion
that altering the blocksize (via --maxtapeblocksize) is probably a
poor idea where amanda is concerned, regardless of real or
perceived performance.  Evidently the parameter evolved to handle
certain problematic pieces of hardware.

I suspect that the answer to the original question is that
thoughput is high enough that the differences produced by simply
doubling or tripling the number of filemarks produced are
negligible.

The -b parameter to amtapetype might not be particularly useful in
the average situation.

Bryan