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From: sdo@u1100a.UUCP (Scott Orshan)
Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards
Subject: Re: "tar" and non-8-bit byte machines
Message-ID: <747@u1100a.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Nov-84 09:47:04 EST
Article-I.D.: u1100a.747
Posted: Mon Nov 26 09:47:04 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Nov-84 01:44:37 EST
References: <370@mordor.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway, NJ
Lines: 19

The Sperry 1100 has 36 bit words and 9 bit bytes (quarter-words)
just like the S1.  When we make tar tapes we give the user the
option of specifying whether it is a Sperry-to-Sperry tape
or a normal tape.

The normal tape is a text tape - only the low order 8 bits
of each byte are stored.  It is transportable to a vax, etc.,
and can be read back on the 1100 as well.

The Sperry-to-Sperry tape uses the 9-to-8 bit packing scheme
to put 8 quarter words into 9 tape-bytes.  It allows a tape
to be made with binary files in it, but it can only be used on
another 1100 (or maybe an S1).
-- 

			Scott Orshan
			Bell Communications Research
			201-981-3064
			{ihnp4,allegra,pyuxww}!u1100a!sdo