Tape Storage for Dummies

Gees, Allison, I've been interchanging tapes between VMS and RT-11 and RSX-11 for years and I don't have to mount them foreign :-). You will very likely want to review section 1.2.2 in your "RT-11 Volume and File Formats Manual" to get the straight dope RT-11 <-> VMS file interchange. In particular, it notes how RT-11 uses 80-byte HDR1 records now. If anybody *really* wants to get into minutae, we can begin a discussion about whether ANSI Standard X3.27-1978 requires that headers be exactly 80 bytes or whether it just sets forth the interpretation of the first 80 bytes. I don't have a copy of the level 4 standard with me at the moment, but I don't think this makes it any clearer. In any event, the level-4 compliant versions of RT-11's FSM handlers in RT-11 V5.7 only write 80 byte headers, so it's now a moot point. And tell any RSX devotee that his magtapes must be mounted /FOREIGN on a VAX and he'll teach you about something called an ACP :-). -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology Voice: 301-767-5917 7328 Bradley Blvd Fax: 301-767-5927 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817