Re: Reading Symbolics tapes on UNIX

On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 [email protected] wrote:

> the moment so I will try it at my Linux box. I already produced there
> some images but when I wrote them back to another qic tape these were
> not readable on my Symbolics 3640. I'm very happy about your mail since
> I did'nt thought about the different byte ordering. I might then be
> able to write these images back to tape and get readable tapes for
> Genera.

You can double check the byte ordering by running 'strings' against one of
the files. You should see readable pathnames, and so on. It'll be pretty
obvious if it's backward, as things like "w rodl" will appear instead of
"world".

It's more likely the case that you're using the wrong drive to write them
back. The 3640 uses a nine-track, QIC-24 drive. QIC-150 drives can read
9-track tapes no trouble, but most (if not all) can write only
18-track tapes. You need a QIC-24 drive to write a tape that your 3640 can
read.

ok
bear