SAP Note 27937 - BR278E ... Data Dictionary: write error: Invalid argument

Symptom:

only AIX:
BRBACKUP or BRARCHIVE report the error BR278E with the subsequent AIX system message "dd: write error: Invalid argument"

Cause and prerequisites

The AIX operating system blocksize for tape drives is not 0.

Solution
Set the Blocksize for tape drives to 0 with the AIX administration tool 'smit' and repeat the save.

(other unwanted effects of a Blocksize unequal to 0:
see notes 13372 and 13994)

Additional key words

BRBACKUP, BRARCHIVE, SAPDBA, SMIT, block size