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LCG_Integration_Tools_Clearinghouse_T20_v7_30Apr86
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tools/comten1/tmount.hlp
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01 TMOUNT
! TMOUNT.HLP -- Created by RUNOFF 17 Aug 84 11:27:01
! Written: 12-Jul-82/SLP from ??
! Updated: 9-Nov-82/SLP
TMOUNT is a special command to help you mount a tape on the VAX.
TMOUNT interactively asks you for all the information necessary to
allocate a VAX tape drive, mount your tape, and, if required,
initialize your tape.
When you finish with your tape, you can use the TDISMOUNT command to
dismount your tape and deallocate the drive.
TMOUNT and TDISMOUNT thus make mounting and dismounting magnetic tapes
on the VAX similar to mounting and dismounting tapes on the DEC-10 --
very easy!
02 Parameters
TMOUNT needs to know which tape you want mounted, plus a little bit
about the format of the tape.
The format of the TMOUNT command is
TMOUNT [volume_label [tape_format [write_status [density]]]]
where the four parameters are optional. TMOUNT will prompt you for
the parameters you don't specify. TMOUNT also (re)prompts if you
give an invalid value to a parameter.
Most users prefer to let TMOUNT prompt them for the parameters. The
prompt will include a list of valid responses (shown in parentheses)
and the default response [shown in brackets] assumed when you press
RETURN without specifying a value for the parameter.
03 Volume_Label
Prompt:
What is the volume label (reel id) of the tape to mount?
This parameter specifies the volume label (reel identification) of
the tape you want mounted. It is the number of your tape (if your
tape is a rental tape) or the name of your private tape. TMOUNT
does not validate this parameter, except to insure it is non-blank,
has six or fewer characters, and does not contain an embedded space
or tab.
The operator uses the volume label to locate your tape on the tape
rack. He looks for the matching EXTERNAL label affixed to the
outside collar of your tape.
ANSI tapes also have an INTERNAL label (written on the magnetic
tape itself). When the tape is mounted, the computer will further
check that the volume label you specify matches the internal label.
This is a safeguard to insure that the proper tape was mounted.
03 Tape_Format
Prompt:
Are you mounting an ANSI (VAX), FOREIGN (unlabelled),
or DEC-10 BACKUP format tape? (A, F, D) [A]:
This parameter indicates the type (format) of your tape. Valid
choices are ANSI, FOREIGN, and DEC-10_BACKUP. The default is ANSI.
You only need to specify the first letter (A, F, or D).
04 ANSI
The tape is (to be) an ANSI labelled tape. This is the standard
format used by the VAX/VMS operating system. The tape will be
mounted with a logical name of "TAPE".
If the tape needs to be initialized (because it is blank), mount
the tape write-enabled (see write_status parameter).
You can use the COPY command to transfer files to and from an
ANSI tape.
04 FOREIGN
The tape is not an ANSI labelled tape or a DEC-10 BACKUP tape.
It will be mounted with a logical name of "TAPE". Tapes from
another computer usually need to be mounted FOREIGN. You can use
the TAPECOPY program to transfer files to and from such a tape.
Tapes to be used with the VAX BACKUP utility also need to be
mounted FOREIGN.
04 DEC-10_BACKUP
The tape is a DEC-10 BACKUP (or DEC-20 DUMPER) tape. The tape
will be mounted with a logical name of "DUMPER". The
write_status and density parameters, if you specified them, are
ignored. They are automatically set to write-locked and 800 BPI,
respectively.
Use the DUMPER utility on the VAX to read files off of a DEC-10
BACKUP tape. (Type HELP DUMPER at DCL command level for more
information about DUMPER.)
03 Write_Status
Prompt:
Do you want your tape WRITE ENABLED? (Y/W, N) [N]:
This parameter indicates whether or not you want to write (copy)
new files on to the tape. The valid choices are YES or WRITE (you
want to write on the tape) and NO or NOWRITE (you only want to read
from the tape). The default is NO. You only need to specify the
first letter (Y, W or N).
If you write-enable an ANSI tape, you will be asked if you want to
initialize the tape.
(No prompt for DEC-10 BACKUP tapes. write_status is automatically
set to write-locked.)
04 Initialize
Prompts:
Does this tape need to be initialized? (probably not!)
In general, you only need to initialize a tape if it's blank.
Initialize? (Y, N) [N]:
Further prompt, if confirmation needed:
WARNING: Initialization will effectively ERASE your tape!
Confirm: Do you REALLY want this tape initialized? (Y, N) [N]:
If you write-enable an ANSI tape, TMOUNT will ask if you need it
initialized.
It is necessary to initialize an ANSI tape before you can write
on it for the first time. Among other things, initialization
writes the internal label on the tape. You only initialize a
tape once.
If the tape has been initialized previously, you don't want to
initialize it again. Initialization makes any existing files on
the tape inaccessable, effectively erasing your tape. Don't
initialize a non-blank tape unless you intentionally WANT TO LOSE
all files written previously on the tape.
TMOUNT gives you two chances to back out before it will
initialize your tape.
03 Density
Prompt:
Your tape's BPI density (800, 1600, 6250) [1600]:
This parameter specifies the BPI (bits/bytes per inch) recording
density of your tape. The valid choices are 800, 1600, and 6250.
The default is 1600 BPI.
This parameter is optional for write-locked tapes, since the tape
drive will automatically detect the density of data written on the
tape previously. For write-enabled tapes, you should specify the
density you want to use.
(No prompt for DEC-10 BACKUP tapes. Density is automatically set
to 800 BPI.)
02 Examples
In these examples, all the TMOUNT parameters are given on the TMOUNT
command line; prompt mode is not invoked. However, the values shown
for the parameters are equally valid as reponses in prompt mode. The
tape_format and write_status parameter values can be abbreviated to a
single letter; they are spelled out in full in these examples.
(Note: the $ dollar sign is the DCL prompt.)
$ TMOUNT 245 DEC-10
This command shows how to mount a DEC-10 BACKUP tape. The reel
id of the tape is 245. You don't specify write_status or
density. (They are ignored if you do.) Use the DUMPER command
to copy files from the tape to your disk area.
$ TMOUNT 901 ANSI NOWRITE
This command shows how to mount an ANSI tape (the standard
VAX/VMS format) containing files that you want to copy to your
disk area. 901 = volume label, ANSI = ANSI format, NOWRITE =
write-locked. (Density defaults to whatever the density is on
the tape.) You can use the DIRECTORY command to see what's on
the tape. Use the COPY command to copy files on the tape to
your disk area.
$ TMOUNT MYTAPE FOREIGN NOWRITE
This command shows how to mount a tape from another computer.
The name of the tape in this example is "MYTAPE". You can use
the TAPECOPY command to copy files from the tape to your disk
area.
$ TMOUNT 855 FOREIGN WRITE 6250
This example shows how you could mount tape 855, intending to
archive files on your disk area to the tape with the VAX Backup
Utility. The tape will be set to write at a density of 6250
BPI.
$ TMOUNT 836 ANSI WRITE 1600
This command shows how to mount tape 836 so you could copy files
on to it with the COPY command. Data will be written at a
density of 1600 BPI.