is there a better way to backup? DLT IV

From: John (johns_at_networkamericainc.com)
Date: 07/14/05 

Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:02:05 -0400

I'm using the following as my backup script:

echo "Start - "$(date) >> /root/backup_files/catalog_$(date +%A) mt -f
"/dev/nst0" rewind
tar --create --verbose --preserve --ignore-failed-read --file=/dev/nst0
/home /var /boot /usr /opt /root > /root/backup_files/catalog_$(date +%A)
mt -f "/dev/nst0" rewind
mt -f "/dev/nst0" eject
echo "End - "$(date) >> /root/backup_files/catalog_$(date +%A)

It does everything I need, but is painfully slow. Restoring is very slow
as well.

I had experimented once with a program called taper by Yusuf Nagree that
worked very fast, however, it was troublesome to get it to run from cron
when not logged in.

Is there a better way to run my script above? Is there some way to use mt
to buffer tar's output to the tape that might make it run faster?

John
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