onlog -d [device] gives "bad tape: tape format not recognized"

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ron wuthrich - 28 Jan 2004 21:33 GMT

Am trying to use the informix onlog utility to read log files from a
tape.
I've tried different approaches, but here's a typical:

ism_op -unmount /dev/rmt/0cbn #to unmount
mt -f /dev/rmt/0cbn rewind # to rewind
onlog -d /dev/rmt/0cbn # to read tape

onlog prompts to mount the tape, then gives the error listed in the
subject. informix storage manager and onbar logs both indicate
successful writes to the tape for the logical logs, so I believe it is
being written to ok. using onbar to create logs. working in informix
7.34 dynamic server on solaris intel. tape device agrees with the
LTAPEDEV parameter in onconfig. LTAPEBLK set to 1024.
Thanks.
Ron Wuthrich

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Jonathan Leffler - 29 Jan 2004 03:19 GMT

> Am trying to use the informix onlog utility to read log files from a
> tape.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> 7.34 dynamic server on solaris intel. tape device agrees with the
> LTAPEDEV parameter in onconfig. LTAPEBLK set to 1024.

Is that a non-rewind device? Bad idea...Informix programs open the
device, read the first block, close it (expecting it to rewind),
reopen it and complain when they don't get the same data again.
That's why you're told to use a rewind device.

OK - actually, I don't know that this is your problem. Nevertheless,
it could be.

Signature

Jonathan Leffler #include <disclaimer.h>
Email: jleffler@earthlink.net, jleffler@us.ibm.com
Guardian of DBD::Informix v2003.04 -- http://dbi.perl.org/

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TheBiggestPotatoeYouHaveEverSeen - 29 Jan 2004 10:55 GMT

>> Am trying to use the informix onlog utility to read log files from a
>> tape.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> OK - actually, I don't know that this is your problem. Nevertheless, it
> could be.

It is true that having TAPEDEV and / or LTAPEDEV set to a on-rewind
device can cause issues.

However, ism requires the devices to be non-rewind and that is probably
why you went that route.

Still, reading the logs backed up using onbar is ... apparently a
feature request ;)) Call support and quote Bug 115798, they should be
able to tell you how to do it.

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ron wuthrich - 29 Jan 2004 15:01 GMT

> >> Am trying to use the informix onlog utility to read log files from a
> >> tape.
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> feature request ;)) Call support and quote Bug 115798, they should be
> able to tell you how to do it.

Yes, we were compelled to use a no-rewind device. I believe I have
located someone in the outfit here with informix support access... we
will refer to your bug# and see what happens. Thanks

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ron wuthrich - 30 Jan 2004 20:51 GMT

fyi, informix support indicates that the onlog utility is designed for
use with ontape. Onbar, which uses a storage manager, does not create
logical log tape archives with the same method. Therefore, tapes
created with onbar are not readable by onlog.

informix did offer that you can use onbar -P ### to read a specific
log file from the tape. If the ### is not found on the tape, then the
error msg will be sent to the bar_act.log file. Running onbar -P ###
with a legitimate log number on that tape will pull the log data back
from the tape. You can also run onbar -P ###-### to get a series of
logs, also provided that all of the logs included in the range are on
the tape volume.

not quite the functionality we were looking for, but it will do.
thanks for the help.

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