"tar" bug in Ultrix 1.2

[Dave Axness]

We have a shell script for archiving two directories onto one tape using
"tar" that basically does the following:

	cd /a/b
	tar cvb 128 directory_1 >& /tmp/LOG
	cd /c/d
	tar rvb 128 directory_2 >>& /tmp/LOG

The log file shows that all the desired files were backed up.  However, when
the tape is read:

	tar tb 128

an error message is generated while the last block of the files in directory_1
are being accessed:

	tms1a: hard error sn18936
	record data truncated
	tar: Archive read error at block 18493

I tried several tapes and several blocking factors and got the same error
message each time.  I tried reading ( tar t ) a tape that we had created
with Ultrix 1.1 and was able to read it OK ( it used the default blocking
factor ).

I called the Customer Support Center and they acknowledged that there was
an SPR for this problem.  Apparently, the EOF mark is being left off the
last block written to the tape.

I would suggest that anyone who has made a tar tape under Ultrix 1.2 check
to see if you can read the entire tape.


					Dave Axness
					Quantum Medical Systems
					Issaquah, WA
					...uw-beaver!tikal!wor-mein!dave