Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Path: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!ucbvax!info-vax From: J.R.COWIE%edinburgh.ac.uk@CS.UCL.AC.UK Newsgroups: mod.computers.vax Subject: VMS ARCHIVING Message-ID: <8601091207.AA01050@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> Date: Wed, 8-Jan-86 10:52:43 EST Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8601091207.AA01050 Posted: Wed Jan 8 10:52:43 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 10-Jan-86 01:17:46 EST Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 111 Approved: info-vax@sri-kl.arpa We are also looking for a good archiver at the University of Strathclyde i.e. users are unaware of tape handling, but in control of archiving and retrieving data when they want to and providing some kind of directory of what they have in their archive. Also possibly automatic archiving for files over certain time limits. The solution offered by zar would be ok if you only had a few users, but it is totally unworkable when you have hundreds. Jim Cowie University of Strathclyde Glasgow Message-ID: <08 Jan 86 15:52:43 gmt 210230@BUSH> (Message 19) Subject: archiving From: Damerell@ucl-cs Wed, 4 Apr 84 12:15:49 GMT To: j.r.cowie@rco, powell@arpa.dec-marlboro, muslin@arpa.dec-marlboro, jiml@arpa.su-score, weber@arpa.usc-isib, mooret.acf1@arpa.nyu-acf2, tihor@arpa.nyu-cmcl1, doug@arpa.jpl-vlsi, billw@arpa.sri-kl Via: 2972 ; (to RCO) 04 Apr 84 14:30:40 bst Via: UCL-CS ; (to RCO) 04 Apr 84 14:14:27 bst Msg ID: FROM: DAMERELL at UCL-CS This is a digest of responses to my request about file-archiving for VMS, I have tried to condense it without distorting anyone..... I have commented in brackets... . 1. REQUESTS for information....... From: "J.R.Cowie" I am particularly interested in archivers which use the BACKUP utility to produce the archive tapes. (damerell: The full stops in this name are significant; I tried to send to "JRCowie" & it failed...) From: "Reed B. Powell" From: Victor Muslin From: Jim Lewinson Reply-To: Jiml@arpa.su-score It's going to be real hard to do given the limited amount of info that can be stored in the FDB for a file. Let me know if you do find anything, however. Jim 2. SI Archiver..... From: John Weber We have been using an archiver produced by Strategic Information, 80 Blanchard Rd., Burlington, MA 01803. Being used to the TOPS-20 archiver we were a little disappointed. Forced migration is not as automatic, but can be implemented. All the features you mention are there, however. From: "Terry C. Moore" We have looked at the manuals, but have no practical experience with the thing. Try calling them (617-273-5500) and requesting documentation. From: Stephen Tihor We have looked at SI Archive repeatedly over the last year or so and have finally decied that although it seems to be a good product with all the desired functionality: (1) their archive format is not great, your real protection is that they cut two copies of each tape. (2) they don't have a goos tape compression facility to handle partially expired archive tapes. Finally since we can do all this with VMS BACKUP and some straightforwards command files we have decided not to get it for a single major system backup. Perhaps later this year when the release multiple archive support so that individual groups that want this facility can use it without the central systems group being responsible for it or getting into each others pockets. 3. So what about DEC themselves.... From: Doug Freyburger You are asking for TOPS-20 functionality from an operating system produced and maintained by DEC. Good luck. Anyways, the simplest way would be to introduce a new type of file, let's say ".ARC". Entries in it in addition to the ".DIR" file are scheduled to be reaped, entries the just the ".ARC" file are archived, and there is a "please recover" queue just like the batch or print queues. This requires two changes to the File-ACP, in the the "directory not found" and "file not found" errors to check the ".ARC" file. Also a REAPER and UNREAPER need to be written. It sounds so simple that maybe if all of DECUS asked for it, we should get it. Oh, by the way, the real reason I replied to your message was the leading whitespace. (DAMERELL: that was a bug in our local system) From: BILLW@SRI-KL the VMS developers dont seem to think this is useful. It was a very sore point at the last decus at one of the 10/20 to VMS "integration" sessions that when a user complained that there was no VMS archive facility, the responise of the resident VMS wizzard was essentially "Whats archiving?" ( Damerell: that response is not absolutely stupid. I certainly didnt have any idea what archiving was until the local staff told me. Also I suppose that from DEC's point of view, it's better if we cant archive files properly as we then have to spend much more money on big discs!)