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.c ;RSX/IAS SIG Tape Copy Infomation - Fall 1990
.b
	These are the instructions for copying the Fall 1990 RSX/IAS
Sig Tape, and for processing the tapes through the Copy Tree.
.b;.c ;TAPE COPY INFORMATION
	The tape contains over 710 files requiring 13000 blocks of
disk space.  Since this will fit on a single 600 foot tape only in BRU
at 1600 bpi, it is being distributed as such.
	In addition to the BRU backup set, the tape contains the
following files in ANSI-PIP format at the end of the tape:
.br;.nf
TPC.EXE for use on VAX's
TPC.TSK for use on RSX systems
BEGIN90A.DOC to describe how to start to use the tape.
RSX90ATPE.DOC for a summary of the tape contents.
.f
	Because of this tape structure, the only practical way to make 
copies of the tape is via TPC or some other structure-insensitive
program. Note there is now a VMS native mode TPC in [300,2] for
VAX sites (VMSTPC) as well as the BIGTPC (TPC) program.
If you attempt to copy the tape with BRU you will
lose the trailing files,
unless you then copy them with PIP.  Don't make copies without ALL of the
files, or someone below you on the tree will have a hard time doing their
job.
	There are two ways to extract a copy of TPC from the tape.
The first is to extract a copy of the task image from the backup set,
using BRU.  The command lines are as follows:
.nf
>UFD SY:[300,2]
>BRU /NOINI/DENS:1600 MM:[300,2]TPC.TSK SY:
.f;.s 1
If you cannot run BRU,
then you must use the second method, which is to get either the .TSK or .EXE
file from the end of the tape.  To do that the commands are
[or their VAX equivalents]:
.nf
>MOU MM:BACKUP/NOWRITE/DENS=1600 [MOU/NOWRITE MTA0: BACKUP]
>PIP =MM:TPC.TSK                 [COPY MTA0:TPC.EXE *]
.f
	To use TPC with the distribution you need a disk
with at least 15,000 blocks of free space, not necessarily contiguous.
.p
To read in a copy of the  master  tape  onto  your  disk, use the
following commands:
.nf
>RUN TPC
TPC>DB:RSX90B=MM:/HD/BL:5000./SA:1024./MI
  (Use either /VE or /MI, not both. If you don't use /VE, try to check
  the tape by other means.)
.f;.s 1
NOTE: The /HD switch is for High Density (1600 bpi).  Use the /HElp switch to
TPC for further information on the optional
/BL:nnnn and /SA:mmmm switches, which provide much better performance in
transferring to disk.  Note the use of the /VErify switch, to better guarantee
that your copy is valid.
Also, TPC now supports the TU78 (MF:), and the
buffer size in the .EXE version is large enough to copy such things as
VMS BACKUP tapes.  The source code for TPC is in [300,2] on the tape.
If you are running on VMS V4, you may need to use the /MI (magtape in)
or /MO (magtape out) switches to get TPC to know that one of your devices
is a tape. These are needed if TPC can't parse your VMS device names; if
you have the $$n names in wide use, TPC will probably need this. It only
affects VMS V4 and later. Just add the /MI switch when reading tape and
the /MO switch when writing it. Alternatively, have a look at Brian 
Nelson's VAXTPC in [300,2] here. This will allow copies to be done
in VMS native mode. Alternatively the TCPYE.MAC program for PDP11 or
the TCOPY.MAR program for VAX allow format independent tape to tape
copies for those with two drives. These are located in directory [300,2].
.p
	To make a copy of the tape for someone, use the following commands:
.nf
>RUN [300,2]TPC
TPC>MM:/MO=DB:RSX90B.TPC/HD/VE
 (If you use /MO, Don't use /VE; it will fail. You only need /MO
  if TPC fails to recognize the tape.)
.f;.b
Again, don't forget the /HD switch, or you'll be generating an 800 bpi
copy, which WON'T FIT.  And no, TPC doesn't have the vaguest idea how to
do a two-volume copy. (The /EV switch allows you to ignore EOV errors
but it requires the output tape be enough longer than the input tape
to record everything before hitting physical EOV.)
     If you don't have 1600 bpi capability yourself, PLEASE locate
someone in your area who can make the necessary copy(s), at least enough to
continue the distribution tree.  It will make life very difficult indeed
otherwise, particularly trying to preserve the stuff at the end of the tape.
	If you need to make LOCAL copies at 800 bpi, you will have to copy
the container file to disk via BRU.  In generating the 800 bpi output tapes,
you should use the BRU /LENGTH:2000.#
switch, so that the output tapes can be copied (very hard to do if your
original goes all the way to the EOT marker).  You can then use TPC to
make further copies of your 800 bpi tapes. The distribution should fit
on one 2400' volume at 800BPI...barely.
	Note that the /EV switch of TPC might let you copy multivolume
backup sets by causing TPC to ignore the IE.EOV errors at end of tape
and look for the endfiles beyond. The probability is significant you'll
run the output of the end of reel if you do this however, so it is not
recommended except as an emergency measure.
.b;.c ;TREE PROCEDURES
	The National Lug Council (NLC) has regional distributors who
will copy tapes to all who apply. They have been made the primary
contact points for copying tapes.
	Accordingly, what is mailed now is a list of LUG contacts who are
expected to get the SIG tapes. The list notifies them that the tapes have
been put into distribution. Everyone gets the entire list (a preliminary
version of the list is in [300,1] here) and people can get the tapes either
from the NLC reps, or from others on the list. Master distributions go
to the NLC, the regional tree heads, the DECUS library, and various other
DECUS areas.
.p
	The trees will be handled by Dar Schumann now, and all nodes should
expect to get a copy of the entire tree, along with
instructions to contact the person above them on the tree.  Don't forget,
YOU need to contact your parent on the tree, not vice versa.  And you, not
he, should send off the blank tape, unless you mutually agree on other
arrangements. Everyone gets the whole tree, so if your parent node is
flaky, please try someone else to get the tape AND let the tape copy
coordinator know so we can fix problems. See file TCTREE.LIS in the
[300,1] directory for names and addresses.
.p
A letter will go out with each tree copy. ONLY send back a reply ONCE
and please do so WHEN YOU GET THE TAPE. This way, you are assured of having
a copy of the letter. If the next symposium is imminent and you STILL don't
have the tape, return the letter with that box checked. IF you can't get the
tape from your parent node, TRY going up a level in the tree and SO NOTE
WHEN YOU RETURN YOUR LETTER. People move a lot on a national scale and
this will help get the tape to users quickly. You have all the information
there is about who has the tapes; please try to get them as quickly as
possible and make your copies for child nodes as fast as possible. It
is sometimes helpful to contact child nodes to remind them you need
a tape from them. For all we write, some librarians never read these
letters.
.p
VAX systems: Some VMS systems don't leave newly mounted tapes at
BOT. Please be sure tapes produced on a VAX can be read. You may need
to manually rewind a tape before starting a tape-tape copy.
.P
Thank you for your help.
.s 2;.lm 40;.nf
Glenn C. Everhart
RSX/IAS SIG Tape Copy Coordinator
GE Aerospace Technology Operations
Bldg. 100, Room U3040
230 Goddard Blvd.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
215 354 7610 (voice)
Everhart@Arisia.dnet.GE.com

Mail: 
25 Sleigh Ride Rd.
Glen Mills PA 19342