RSX/IAS SIG Tape Copy Infomation - Spring 1986 These are the instructions for copying the Spring 1986 RSX/IAS Sig Tape, and for processing the tapes through the Copy Tree. TAPE COPY INFORMATION The tape contains over 2840 files requiring 61,000 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. If the distribution will not fit on an RK07, the [5,*] directories contain 5247 blocks of DECUS C utilities and may be excluded and read separately. The directories [70,101], [356,40], and [150,1] should also be excluded as they include respectively a rerelease of Swedish Pascal, several Kermits, and some Amiga utilities. If all these directories are excluded, the rest of the tape will fit on an RK07 and these directories can be captured onto a second device in a second pass over the tape. In addition to the BRU backup set, the tape contains 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 BEGIN85B.DOC to describe how to start to use the tape. RSX85BTPE.DOC for a summary of the tape contents. and a couple more for the LUG distribution only. Because of this tape structure, the only practical way to make copies of the tape is via TPC or some other structure-insensitive program. Note there is now a VMS native mode TPC in [356,42] for VAX sites. If you attempt to copy the tape with BRU you will 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 set 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/MI NOTE: The /HD switch is for High Density (1600 bpi). Use the /HElp 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. If you are running on VMS V4, you may need to use the /MI (magtape in) or /MO (magtape out) switches to get TPC to know that one of your devices is a tape. These are needed if TPC can't parse your VMS device names; if you have the $$n names in wide use, TPC will probably need this. It only affects VMS V4 and later. Just add the /MI switch when reading tape and the /MO switch when writing it. Alternatively, have a look at Brian Nelson's VAXTPC in [356,42] here. To make a copy of the tape for someone, use the following commands: >RUN [300,2]TPC TPC>MM:/MO=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. (The /EV switch allows you to ignore EOV errors but it requires the output tape be enough longer than the input tape to record everything before hitting physical EOV.) 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 file 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. Note that the /EV switch of TPC might let you copy multivolume backup sets by causing TPC to ignore the IE.EOV errors at end of tape and look for the endfiles beyond. The probability is significant you'll run the output of the end of reel if you do this however, so it is not recommended except as an emergency measure. 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. Everyone gets the whole tree, so if your parent node is flaky, please try someone else to get the tape AND let the tape copy coordinator know so we can fix problems. With each tree sent, there will be included a letter and a copy of these instructions. Please try to copy these and send them to nodes below you when you send tapes out. 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 letter 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 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. VAX systems: Some VMS systems don't leave newly mounted tapes at BOT. Please be sure tapes produced on a VAX can be read. You may need to manually rewind a tape before starting a tape-tape copy. 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