> > I am not aware of any VAXen that will BOOT from a nine-track tape.
> > If someone knows how to do this on a 750, let me know. I currently
> > have to boot and run the 4.3BSD utilities (format, etc) from the
> > TU58.
> 
> Actually, any VAXen can boot just fine from any tape. The problem is that
> almost no VAXen might have a boot program to actually do this in rom,
> which means you'll have to find one, and then enter it through the
> console.
> 
> Having said that, I know that MtXinu manuals have the bootstrap to boot
> from TU80 tapedrives on an 11/750. I think they have a few more bootstraps
> in there as well, but that one I do remember, since I have used it.

Thanks for the lead.  I will check that out, for sure.

> The next thing is that you need to have a tape with the proper files on it
> to run from a tape.

Except for the NetBSD-VAX non-rewinding problem, I can now write the
tapes (at least Ultrix seems to do it correctly).  But, I need to line
up the right bits.

OK, for the sake of discussion, what would it take to get a proper boot
on a 3100 class machine from the 9 track tapes?  It only gives me a
screen dump full of register info and then aborts to prom.

It might be fun to be able to boot 3100 class machines off the scsi
9 trackers reel jobs.

One of my long-term goals is to write PDP and OT VAX boot tapes for some
of the antique Unix stuff.  I have been looking for usable a PDP-11 thing
for 2.11BSD as well as an 11/730 class VAX, for the fun of it.  Maybe
someday.....

Bob