[Info-vax] Valid disk types for SIMH?

[Paul Sture]

In article <paul.nospam-F40C1F.14523623112009 at pbook.sture.ch>,
 Paul Sture <paul.nospam at sture.ch> wrote:

> In article <7mvh5rF3gke5iU40 at mid.individual.net>,
>  Bob Eager <rde42 at spamcop.net> wrote:
>
> > Does INIT/ERASE write nonzero values to every block? Don't have the 
> > manual handy.
> 
> Yes it does. From V7.3 HELP INIT /ERASE
> 
> "If you specify the /ERASE qualifier, a DSE operation is performed
> on the volume. For disk devices, the ERASE volume attribute is
> set. In effect, each file on the volume is erased when it is
> deleted."
> 
> I note that on V8.3 there are also /ERASE=INIT and /ERASE=DELETE, which 
> allow you to specify the DSE operation and the volume attribute 
> respectively, /ERSASE=(INIT,DELETE) being the default.
> 

Someone kindly contacted me offline about this.

Unless you've specifically added the pattern overwrite service $erapat 
into your configuration, the DSE is a zero-overwrite of the whole disk.

(In VAX-VMS V7.3, see DOD_ERAPAT.MAR and DOD_ERAPAT_LNK.COM in 
SYS$EXAMPLES. I don't see it in SYS$EXAMPLES on Alpha V8.3. I'll mention 
that I've only ever come across one customer whose evaluation list had 
the ability to incorporate their own algorithm here, and it was 
government site.)

-- 
Paul Sture