testing DLT tapes

I have about fifty used DLT tapes of unknown origin. In principle,
I'm very reluctant to use them for anything important, but I'd
consider using them if I had some way of verifying the integrity
of the media.

Is there any tool that I could use to write something to every
block on the tape, read it back, and indicate if there were any
media errors (even those that can be corrected)? I'm using HP-UX
and Linux, so it would have to run on one of those platforms.
Thanks...I couldn't find anything like this with a quick Google
search.

In article ,
Scott Norwood wrote:
I have about fifty used DLT tapes of unknown origin. In principle,
I'm very reluctant to use them for anything important, but I'd
consider using them if I had some way of verifying the integrity
of the media.

Is there any tool that I could use to write something to every
block on the tape, read it back, and indicate if there were any
media errors (even those that can be corrected)? I'm using HP-UX
and Linux, so it would have to run on one of those platforms.
Thanks...I couldn't find anything like this with a quick Google
search.


The Quantum DLT drives I've used had very good reporting about tape
usage and error rates. I was using Veritas backup software and that
was what I was getting the information from. I have no idea what
other way there are to get the statistics.

I didn't test tapes, I just did my daily backups. If a particulat tape
showed error rates (per gigabyte) much higher than the others I
rotated it to less important use. I never saw a hard (unreadable)
error on a DLT tape.

Remember to use a cleaning cartridge whenever the "clean-me" light
comes on.

At least some of the DLT cartridge manufacturers have a
no-questions-asked lifetime warantee, which makes using recycled carts
a no-brainer for me. I liked Fuji and I called them about the
warantee they said no prrof of purchase was required to replace a
failed cart. I never had to get one replaced.
--
Al Dykes
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