Should we reuse mag tapes?

[rbj at icst-cmr.arpa]

   From: Jacobo Bulaevsky <jacobo at megatest.uucp>
   Date: 18 Feb 87 01:23:41 GMT

      The question is:  Is it safe to reuse mag tapes  for  important  data  or
      should we use brand new tapes when storing critical information?

No. You should mail all your used tapes to me :-)  Seriously, there is even
a case *against* using virgin tapes.  The deflowering process stretches the
tape and rubs some of the oxide off.  You might do better writing the
data twice, or at least running a program that writes until EOT and
then rewinds.  You could even run a verification pass for crucial tapes.

Of course, we do nothing of the sort.  I am merely speculating, altho
those little cartridge tape drivers often have a `retension' command
which fast forwards and then rewinds.  Good luck.

	(Root Boy) Jim "Just Say Yes" Cottrell	<rbj at icst-cmr.arpa>
	Help! A 900 foot tall vision of Dennis Ritchie told me
	that if I don't get my 4.3 BSD tapes by March I'll die!