tar - versions?

[Schuyler D. Erle]

> To explore some of the options, I need to download a tape from the SCO system
> to the RH7; same tape drive (Seagate Python).  However, when I try 'tar -xvf
> /dev/st0' the tape drive starts to whirl, then  RH informs me that 'this does
> not look like a tar achive' then exits.  

I'm no tar guru, but isn't the f option used for files? Looks like you're
trying to get the backup off a tape device... Try it without the f? Also,
are you sure that your kernel actually has support for said drive?

SDE