How to transfer data FAST?

[Johnny Billquist]

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 Paul Koning <pkoning at equallogic.com> wrote:

> >>>>> "Zane" == Zane H Healy <healyzh at aracnet.com> writes:
>
>  Zane> At 9:19 AM -0400 6/23/05, Paul Koning wrote:
>  >> >>>>> "Zane" == Zane H Healy <healyzh at aracnet.com> writes:
>  >>
>  Zane> As I understand it, the issue was with variable byte blocks.  I
>  Zane> had zero issues installing RSTS/E, and I think a couple layered
>  Zane> products off of 4mm DAT.  However, DECnet/E would not install
>  Zane> off of DAT.
>  >> You mean variable length blocks?  If it doesn't support that, it
>  >> isn't a proper tape.  Proper tapes handle any block size, odd or
>  >> even, from 14 up to at least 8k or so.
>
>  Zane> Yes, that's what I mean.  It is my understanding from when I
>  Zane> got some help figuring this out (I think by this list), that
>  Zane> was the problem. It wouldn't install from DAT, but had zero
>  Zane> issues with TK50.
>
> Ok.  RSTS does assume/require that tapes are designed by competent
> designers.  I'm surprised you didn't run into similar issues with
> other operating systems.

He should have. RSX expects tape drive to be able to deliver variable size
blocks as well. The distribution tapes hold 512 byte, 80 byte and 4144
byte size records. (As well as 0 byte file mark records.)

	Johnny

Johnny Billquist                  || "I'm on a bus
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