Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!dftsrv!drax!buck
From: buck@drax.gsfc.nasa.gov (Loren (Buck) Buchanan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi
Subject: Help with 1/2 inch Magnetic Tapes
Message-ID: <3495@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Date: 25 Sep 90 22:09:36 GMT
Sender: news@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov
Reply-To: buck@drax.UUCP (Loren (Buck) Buchanan)
Organization: Computer Sciences Corporation @ NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Lines: 31

Hi SGI Fans,

Well, we got our 9-track drive, it is a Pertec FS2001-2.  I modified
/dev/MAKEDEV by changing "KENNEDY*96X2" to "PERTEC*FS2001-2" to create 
the various device files.  We can write and read back tapes, but we
are unable to read tapes created on a foriegn machine (dd and our own
custom software), by getting the cryptic anything error message

   "I/O error"

The tapes we write can be read on a Sun with a Cipher tape drive (via 
dd or tar).

The foriegn tapes have variable length records up to 3970 bytes, I 
would like to be able to read them directly with my own custome software,
but a solution using dd would be appreciated.

The hardware specifics are:
  SGI PI 4D/20 (low serial number, but more recent electronics module)
  Pertec FS2001-2 (has a Pertec to SCSI board).

A quick side question, is how do I write variable length records on a
9-track tape?

Thanks & B Cing U

Buck
Loren Buchanan     | buck@drax.gsfc.nasa.gov   | #include <std_disclaimer.h> 
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