At 03:03 PM 12/19/2000 -0500, NetBSD Bob wrote:
> > > TK50 tapes?  Any insights appreciated.
> >
> > I've bulkerased them and 'inited them under VMS with zero problems.
> > If the drive then are formatted (inited) on is off however the portability
> > of the tape may be poor.  They are serpintine or block mode and the basic
> > init is the calibration tracks and marks.  There are issues with moveing
> > between tk50 and tk70 where bulk erasing is required if you wish to write
> > on the tape using TK50.  TK70 media however does not take as well for some
> > reason to this..
>
>So, it apparently does require a calibration or positioning track to
>be written?  Oh, horror of horrors.  Explain, a little more.

TK70 media when bulk erased becomes TK50 media.

>Does NetBSD or Ultrix require this initing of the tapes before use?
>If so, what specifically does that in either OS, or is it done from
>prom?  I did not recall running across anything like that in my
>Ultrix manuals, but maybe I need to recheck those.  Me and VMS don't
>get along very well....(:+{{..

mt erase did it on ultrix.
init/erase on vms.

--
Matt Thomas               Internet:   matt@3am-software.com
3am Software Foundry      WWW URL:    http://www.3am-software.com/bio/matt/
Cupertino, CA             Disclaimer: I avow all knowledge of this message