Hmmm,

I've considered all the good suggestions, but it isn't anything like
write-protect or anything that simple (after all I just used amlabel
to label 12 tapes).  I installed the manual changer to no effect.
I've looked in /tmp/amanda and didn't notice anything there, However,
there is a strange warning in the amflush report (136314880 KB
requested, but only 100704808 KB available).  Can anyone decipher
this?  Is it related to the taper error immediately following?


 -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - start amflush report  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 

  *** THE DUMPS DID NOT FINISH PROPERLY!
  
  The dumps were flushed to tape Norstead06.
  The next 3 tapes Amanda expects to used are: a new tape, a new tape, 
Norstead01.
  The next 3 new tapes already labelled are: Norstead07, Norstead08, Norstead09.
    .
    .                                      
    .                                    <<< ? >>>                        <<< ? 
>>>
  NOTES :                                    V                                V
    driver : WARNING: /var/spool/amanda: 136314880 KB requested, but only 
100704808 KB available.
    taper : tape Norstead06 kb 224 fm 1 writing file: Input/output error
                                              


I've also included what look like pertinent extracts from amflush
log.  There are  some things there that are worrisome...
  

 -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - start /var/log/amanda/Norstead/amflush  -  -  -  -  
-  -  -  - 

  amflush: start at Fri Mar 11 01:54:27 GMT 2005
  amflush: datestamp 20050311
  FLUSH alsike alsike_archive_a 20050310 0 
/var/spool/amanda/20050310/alsike.alsike__archive__a.0
  FLUSH alsike alsike_boot 20050310 0 
/var/spool/amanda/20050310/alsike.alsike__boot.0
  FLUSH alsike alsike_archive_b 20050310 0 
/var/spool/amanda/20050310/alsike.alsike__archive__b.0
  FLUSH alsike alsike_root 20050310 0 
/var/spool/amanda/20050310/alsike.alsike__root.0
  FLUSH alsike alsike_home 20050310 0 
/var/spool/amanda/20050310/alsike.alsike__home.0
  ENDFLUSH
  driver: pid 10531 executable driver version 2.4.4p2
  driver: tape size 40960000
  driver: send-cmd time 0.049 to taper: START-TAPER 20050311
  taper: pid 10532 executable taper version 2.4.4p2
  taper: page size is 4096
  taper: buffer size is 32768
  driver: adding holding disk 0 dir /var/spool/amanda size 100704808
  reserving 20140961 out of 100704808 for degraded-mode dumps
  driver: flush size 45238525
  driver: start time 0.069 inparallel 4 bandwidth 600 diskspace 100704808 dir 
OBSOLETE datestamp 20050311 driver: drain-ends tapeq LARGESTFIT big-dumpers ttt
  taper: slot 2: date X        label Norstead07 (new tape)
  taper: read label `Norstead07' date `X'
  taper: wrote label `Norstead07' date `20050311'
  driver: result time 17.589 from taper: TAPER-OK 
  driver: send-cmd time 17.589 to taper: FILE-WRITE 00-00001 
/var/spool/amanda/20050310/alsike.alsike__archive__b.0 alsike UNKNOWNFEATURE 
alsike_archive_b 0 20050310
                    ^
                <<< ? >>>

  driver: startaflush: LARGESTFIT alsike alsike_archive_b 14085282 40960000
  driver: state time 17.589 free kps: 600 space: 100704808 taper: writing 
idle-dumpers: 4 qlen tapeq: 4 runq: 0 roomq: 0 wakeup: 86400 driver-idle: 
not-idle
  driver: interface-state time 17.589 if : free 600
  driver: hdisk-state time 17.589 hdisk 0: free 100704808 dumpers 0
  taper: writing end marker. [Norstead07 ERR kb 0 fm 1]
                                          ^
                                      <<< ? >>>
  taper: slot 2: date 20050311 label Norstead07 (active tape)


regards :-)
BruceS

-- 

Bruce S. Skinner
Defence R&D Canada - Atlantic
9 Grove St.              <mailto:Bruce.Skinner AT drdc-rddc.gc DOT ca>
P.O. Box 1012            <http://www.drdc-rddc.dnd.ca>
Dartmouth  NS
CANADA                    tel: (902) 426-3100 x205
B2Y 3Z7                   fax: (902) 426-9654