[Solaris 8]

The fourth field of the DLT7K-data specification in st.conf is a set
of flags.  The flag assigned to 0x4000 is ST_BUFFERED_WRITES. I think
that probably should be "on" for better tape drive performance, and
this thinking is supported in the 'st' man page.

Later on in the same man page, however, it seems to outline two more
parameters that, if not set, default to *no* write buffering.

The "tape-driver-buffering" parameter is set to the number of write
requests to buffer. If not set, the man page says it defaults to 0.
Wouldn't setting the limit on the number of write requests to buffer
to zero effectively disable write buffering?

The other parameter is "tape-driver-buf-max-size" and it defaults to
1MB.

The st man page goes on to state that if write buffering is to
operate properly sufficient space must exist on the media after LEOT
in order to flush the
remaining data to tape. How much media space is left when DLT7K
signals LEOT?

Has anyone set the "tape-driver-buffering" and
"tape-driver-buf-max-size" parameters in addition to
ST_BUFFERED_WRITES in their st.conf file? Noticed any performance
improvements or problems?

=====
Jim VandeVegt
vandevegt AT yahoo DOT com vandevegt AT avaya DOT com
http://members.xoom.com/vandevegt
There is no luck except where there is discipline.

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