/dev/nst0

[Paul Howarth]

Beast wrote:
> Paul Howarth wrote:
> 
>> /dev/nst0) for that; if you used a rewinding device node then the tape 
>> would be rewound after writing each file to the tape and the next file 
>> would overwrite the one just written.
> 
> 
> Thanks Paul, I still have a question.
> 
> If I have new tape (or old but unused tape), should it need to be 
> formated first or just erase/overwrite is suficient? Is there any 
> standard file format for tape drive?

I'm not sure. I think in most cases you can just erase or overwrite it 
but some tape technologies may require formatting first.

Try it and see, e.g. archive your home directory:

$ cd ~
$ tar cvf /dev/st0 .

Then see what's on the tape:

$ tar tvf /dev/st0

Paul.