validating dumps

[Bob McGowen Wyse Technology Training]

In article <1989Aug12.063242.544 at algor2.uu.net> jeffrey at algor2.UUCP (Jeffrey Kegler) writes:
>In article <794 at Terra.cc.brunel.ac.uk> linda at cc.brunel.ac.uk (Linda Birmingham) writes:
>>I'm trying to validate dump tapes.
>>
>>I liked someones idea of trying to restore the last file on the tape.
>>
>
>I have always simply reread the tape's table of contents.  Does anyone
---deleted---

dump under XENIX (also backup -- hard linked names) puts the table of
contents first on the tape, followed by the files.  This means that if I
read only the table of contents with dumpdir, I do NOT test the integrity
of the actual files on the rest of the tape.  I do not know if this
"feature" is the same on all systems?

I have used dd to read the entire tape to be sure it is at least readable
but this does nothing in terms of checking the logical structure created
by the dump.  Restoring the last file on the tape will certainly prove
that it is good and may possibly validate the rest of the tape since
restore has to find the file, which it would presumably do by reading
the tape.

Perhaps there is some way to generate a checksum on the disk to compare
with a checksum from the tape?

Bob McGowan  (standard disclaimer, these are my own ...)
Customer Education, Wyse Technology, San Jose, CA
..!uunet!wyse!bob
bob at wyse.com