tar 1.13.17 Alpha Linux problems

[James W. McKelvey]

When I backup my system with the --verify option, I see this in the log:

usr/bigtmp/track-19.wav
usr/bigtmp/track-20.wav
usr/bigtmp/track.toc
context
.bash_history
Verify Fri_Apr_12_07_53_28_PDT_2002
Verify 
tar: : Warning: Cannot stat: No such file or directory
Verify lost+found/
Verify bin/

It seems to think there's a file named ":", but there isn't. It's
suspicious that this happens as soon as verification begins.


Eventually verify fails with:

Verify usr/bigtmp/track-19.wav
Verify usr/bigtmp/track-20.wav
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: /dev/st0: Cannot read: Input/output error
tar: Too many errors, quitting
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

I know it could be a drive or tape problem, but it's suspicious that this
always happens at the end of the archive. There are only a few small files
to go, so I wonder whether tar is trying to read too far.

Thanx,
  Jim McKelvey

--
All I have is a voice to undo the folded lie,
The romantic lie in the brain of the sensual man-in-the-street
And the lie of Authority whose buildings grope the sky
-- W.H. Auden