Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!gargoyle!ddsw1!karl
From: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.att
Subject: Re: 6386 <-> 3B1 floppy compatibility?
Summary: Can we GIVE it away (ie: PD?)?
Keywords: AT&T 6386 WSG, AT&T 3B1 UNIX PC, floppy disk
Message-ID: <1087@ddsw1.UUCP>
Date: 17 May 88 13:25:41 GMT
References: <1051@woton.UUCP> <186@ssbn.WLK.COM> <148@elgar.UUCP>
Reply-To: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger)
Organization: Macro Computer Solutions, Inc., Mundelein, IL
Lines: 45

In article <148@elgar.UUCP> ford@kenobi.UUCP (Mike "Ford" Ditto) writes:
$In article <186@ssbn.WLK.COM> bill@ssbn.UUCP (Bill Kennedy) writes:
$>In article <1051@woton.UUCP> riddle@woton.UUCP (Prentiss Riddle ) writes:
$>>Does anyone know whether it is possible to write a floppy on a UNIX PC
$>>and read it on a 6386 WSG, or vice-versa?
$
$>Not entirely kosher, but it will work.  If you can locate a copy of the
$>cpiopc [sic] for the PC 6300 PLUS you can use the `x' option ...
$
$Here's another alternative:
$
$I have a program which lets the Unix PC read/write to the "raw" disk
$in 360K format, suitable for use with SCO Xenix "/dev/rfd048ds9" and
$Regulus "/dev/raw/fibm" devices.  Probably others as well, but I have
$tested those formats.
$
$The usage is:
$
$	fdwrite /dev/rfp020 <program_which_writes_to_stdout>
$or:	fdread  /dev/rfp020 <program_which_reads_from_stdin>
$
$For example:
$
$	fdwrite /dev/rfp020 tar -cvf - foo bar baz
$
$And then to read it on Xenix:
$
$	tar -xvf /dev/rfd048ds9
$
$It's just a ten-liner that ioctl's the floppy and then execs the
$desired program.  I'll mail or post as interest indicates.

PLEASE PLEASE POST THIS.

It would be most helpful to us and many others who are trying to interchange
with a 3b1 and having no end of trouble.

Also -- is this code freely redistributable?

Thanks!

---
Karl Denninger                 |  Data: +1 312 566-8912
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. | Voice: +1 312 566-8910
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