From: retrev@csh.rit.edu   
      
   Johnny Billquist  posted:   
      
   > On 2025-09-25 14:35, Simon Clubley wrote:   
   > > On 2025-09-24, retrev  csh.rit.edu    
   wrote:   
   > >>   
   > >> I'm running VMS 4.7 on a simh vaxen and I'm trying to create a standalone   
   backup to tape but I'm having some issues. I suspect it's a PEBCAK.   
   > >>   
   > >> simh> attach tq0 stabac.tap     # tq is an emulated TU81   
   > >>   
   > >> $ @SYS$UPDATE:STABACKIT   
   > >>   
   > >> Enter the name of the device on which to build the kit: MUA0   
   > >>   
   > >> Do you want to initialize _VAX1$MUA0:?  Note that this will erase all   
   > >> files currently on the volume.   
   > >>   
   > >   
   > > Have you tried with an emulated TK50 device instead ?   
   > >   
   > > Also, when was the TU81 supported in VMS, and did it need a patch kit   
   > > to enable that support ?   
   >   
   > TU81 - TK50. Both are TMSCP tape drives. If one works, the other works.   
   >   
   > But as asked by Volker - standalone backup on a tape? As far as I know,   
   > that was generally not supported. Old VAXen in general can't boot off   
   > tape. (MicroVAX being the first exception.) That's why the standalong   
   > backup exists. Because if you have a full backup of the system on tape,   
   > you need a way to recover that back to disk, in addition to a way of   
   > doing an initial install on disk. Standalone backup is what provides   
   > this. Done via floppies on the VAX-11/780, DECtape II on the VAX-11/750   
   > and /730. Exists on the FE RL02 on the VAX 86x0.   
   >   
   > I never used many machines beyond that, so someone else needs to fill in   
   > the rest. :-)   
   >   
   > (And "can't boot off tape" is meant in the general sense in that VMB   
   > didn't have the capability. Of course you could always write your own   
   > bootstrap which booted off tape if you were inclined.)   
   >   
   >    Johnny   
   >   
      
   It was because it's a tape. I've got a floppy bootstrap to allow boot from   
   tape but I hadn't realized I wouldn't actually be able to generate the stabac   
   on the tape.   
      
   Since I'm emulating and so hardware isn't an issue and I just wanted the   
   standalone as a last resort backup I just created an ra82 for the backup. Disk   
   space is cheap these days.   
      
   I was able to run a full system/user backup to the tape which is what I intend   
   to use as the primary backup source.   
      
   Thanks for all the pointers.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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