RSX/IAS SIG Tape Copy Infomation - Fall 1983 These are the instructions for copying the Fall 1983 RSX/IAS Sig Tape, and for processing the tapes through the Copy Tree. TAPE COPY INFORMATION The tape contains over 2000 files requiring 60,000 blocks of disk space. Since this will fit on a single 2400 foot tape only in BRU at 1600 bpi, it is being distributed as such. Because it is larger than an RK07 disk, it has been split into 2 BRU container files, with the 1st (/BAC:RSX83B) as an RK07 image (of around 45,000 blocks), and the 2nd (/BAC:LBLTOOL) as an RL02 image. image containing a collection of printer pictures (22,000 blocks). In addition to the two container files, the tape also has the following files in ANSI-PIP format at the end of the tape: TPC.EXE for use on VAX's TPC.TSK for use on RSX systems BEGIN83B.DOC to describe how to start to use the tape. RSX83BTPE.DOC for a summary of the tape contents. Because of this tape structure, the only practical way to make copies of the tape is via TPC or some other structure-insensitive program. If you attempt to copy the tape with BRU you will have to copy the 2 backup sets individually, and will still lose the trailing files, unless you then copy them with PIP. Don't make copies without ALL of the files, or someone below you on the tree will have a hard time doing their job. There are two ways to extract a copy of TPC from the tape. The first is to extract a copy of the task image from the 1st backup set, using BRU. The command lines are as follows: >UFD SY:[300,2] >BRU /NOINI/DENS:1600 MM:[300,2]TPC.TSK SY: If you cannot run BRU, then you must use the second method, which is to get either the .TSK or .EXE file from the end of the tape. To do that the commands are [or their VAX equivalents]: >MOU MM:BACKUP/NOWRITE/DENS=1600 [MOU/NOWRITE MTA0: BACKUP] >PIP =MM:TPC.TSK [COPY MTA0:TPC.EXE *] To use TPC with the distribution you need a disk with at least 60,000 blocks of free space, not necessarily contiguous. Otherwise you need at least a free RK07, and will have to copy the backup sets and following ANSI files individually, as discussed above. To read in a copy of the master tape onto your disk, use the following commands: >RUN TPC TPC>DB:RSX83A=MM:/HD/BL:30000./SA:1024./VE NOTE: The /HD switch is for High Density (1600 bpi). Use the /HE switch to TPC for further information on the optional /BL:nnnn and /SA:mmmm switches, which provide much better performance in transferring to disk. Note the use of the /VErify switch, to better guarantee that your copy is valid. Also, TPC now supports the TU78 (MF:), and the buffer size in the .EXE version is large enough to copy such things as VMS BACKUP tapes. The source code for TPC is in [312,315] on the tape. To make a copy of the tape for someone, use the following commands: >RUN [300,2]TPC TPC>MM:=DB:RSX83A.TPC/HD/VE Again, don't forget the /HD switch, or you'll be generating an 800 bpi copy, which WON'T FIT. And no, TPC doesn't have the vaguest idea how to do a two-volume copy. If you don't have 1600 bpi capability yourself, PLEASE locate someone in your area who can make the necessary copy(s), at least enough to continue the distribution tree. It will make life very difficult indeed otherwise, particularly trying to preserve the stuff at the end of the tape. If you need to make LOCAL copies at 800 bpi, you will have to copy the container files to disk via BRU. In generating the 800 bpi output tapes, you should use the BRU /LENGTH:2000. switch, so that the output tapes can be copied (very hard to do if your original goes all the way to the EOT marker). You can then use TPC to make further copies of your 800 bpi tapes. TREE PROCEDURES The Tape Copy tree has been mailed in advance to all nodes, along with instructions to contact the person above them on the tree. Don't forget, YOU need to contact your parent on the tree, not vice versa. And you, not he, should send off the blank tape, unless you mutually agree on other arrangements. With each master tape sent, there will be included letters and copies of these instructions for all lower child nodes. Be sure that you also send along the appropriate letters and documentation for all lower nodes that each of your children will handle. We are trying this approach in the hope that everyone will be reminded to return their letter as soon as they have the tape. If you fail to return the tape I am likely to assume that you are either not interested in or not able to particpate in future Tape Copy projects. I say this because in the past only about 50% of those on the tree EVER return their letters. A letter also will go out with each tree copy. ONLY send back a reply ONCE and please do so WHEN YOU GET THE TAPE. This way, you are assured of having a copy of the letter. If the next symposium is imminent and you STILL don't have the tape, return the letter with that box checked. IF you can't get the tape from your parent node, TRY going up a level in the tree and SO NOTE WHEN YOU RETURN YOUR LETTER. People move a lot on a national scale and this will help get the tape to users quickly. You have all the information there is about who has the tapes; please try to get them as quickly as possible and make your copies for child nodes as fast as possible. It is sometimes helpful to contact child nodes to remind them you need a tape from them. For all we write, some librarians never read these letters. Thank you for your help. Glenn C. Everhart RSX/IAS SIG Tape Copy Coordinator RCA G.S.D. Engineering MS 206-1 Rt. 38 Cherry Hill, N.J. 08358 (609)-338-6022