Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cbmvax!grr
From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.ultrix
Subject: Re: ultrix 3.1
Keywords: 3.1, strange tale, tk50, 9-track
Message-ID: <7452@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: 27 Jul 89 03:54:40 GMT
References: <288@edison.UUCP>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 42

In article <288@edison.UUCP> don@edison.UUCP (Don Kossman) writes:
> we've been trying to get our hands on a 3.1 upgrade tape
> (to solve weekly "out of mbufs" messages on the console
...
> "the reason that 3.1 has not been shipping is a problem
> with tk50 media; dec got a bad batch and shipments have
> been on hold for the last TWO MONTHS for this reason."
> 
> anyone out there gotten 3.1 on tk50?  9-track?

Well, I got it on 9-track, but only last week, so the out of TK50's
story sounds a little wierd or at least questionably relevant as to
why you haven't gotten the upgrade yet.  On the other hand, you might
end up waiting another few months if it be true...
 
> also, what is the format of the 3.1 tape- if i
> get a 9-track tape, can i easily copy it to a tk-50?
> (my ris server isn't the one with the 9-track drive...)

It's in setld format, with maybe 15-25 files on the tape for a total
of about 20 M-bytes total.  It's certainly copyable with something
like a "copytape"* program or with dd, but doing so would be a
moderate pain.  You might also be able to use setld, either by letting
it do it's RIS thing on the machine with a 9-track drive, then moving
the data to RIS host, or via the "Reproducing stdld-Compatible kits"
stuff in "Software Development, Volume 2" - "Guide to Preparing Software
for Distribution on Ultrix Systems" in the little grey wall.

(*) comp.sources.unix archives volume 10

The bottom line is you can do it, it'll take some mucking about and
there's some risk they'll keep sending you 9-track tapes ever after.

If the "out of mbufs" problem is the nfs related one, you might just
a copy of the current 3.0 patch tape from the support center and
apply the relevant one(s) and wait for your 3.1 update to eventually
show up.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@uunet.uu.net
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)