From: davef@tsoft-inc.com   
      
   On 9/25/2025 2:40 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:   
   > On 9/25/2025 9:59 AM, Johnny Billquist wrote:   
   >> 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.)   
   >   
   > MicroVAX'es could boot of tape. And one could backup the system   
   > disk to another tape when booted.   
   >   
   > Booting was painfully slow. As I remember it 35 years later, then   
   > it was like 30 minutes from 9 track tape and 2 hours from TK50.   
   >   
   > Arne   
   >   
      
   And then we had CD drives and things were much better.   
      
   Also, place a bootable kit on non-system drives and boot off them to backup   
   system disk.  Or use /IGNOREINTERLOCK (and duck when Steve throws something at   
   you).   
      
   :-)   
      
   --   
   David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450   
   Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef@tsoft-inc.com   
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