[Info-vax] Backup TK50 tapes

[David Froble]

supervinx wrote:
>> I'm sure that quite a few people could give you very specific
>> directions, if you can clearly state your goals to them.
> 
> Well, let's try to be minimal.
> My goal was to create a physical image of the tapes so, if they will
> "die" (everything has an end, only a sausage has two ;) ) I'll be
> able to recreate them.
> Usually I use a SCSI tape interface, and used tapecopy/tapedd.
> 
> Marginally I had the curiosity to try those tape images to install
> in simh an older VMS version.
> 
> So the question wasn't only to archive tape content but to 
> preserve their functionality.

Preserving their functionally is good.  Trying to use additional tapes 
isn't so good.  Those ratty old tape drives will not work forever.  I 
think most of mine are non-functional.  If you can read the tapes once, 
and preserve the files that are on the tape, then you've achieved your 
goal of preserving functionality.

> I admit I'm not so expert in the VMS boot mechanism and didn't think
> that I could transform a boot tape into a boot disk.

Yep, VMS can use a disk as distribution media.  Note the current usage 
of optical media for just that purpose.

> I've learned a lot from your answers even if my ideas are still a bit...
> messy ;)
> 
> Simh is a handy tool: I can try many things without messing up real hardware.
> But tape support isn't so perfect :(

Good luck with it.  I suppose sooner or later I'm going to need to use 
SimH.  It will most likely be because of not having 50 pin SCSI disks 
available, or broken power supplies, than CPU failure.  Already got one 
VAXstation 4000 model 90A down due to the power supply.