[net.unix-wizards] Need to read a cpio tape

jim (02/28/83)

We just got a tape from Bell, and it is in cpio format.  Unfortunately,
we are running Berkeley Unix and don't have cpio.  Has anyone written a
program capable of reading cpio tapes which they could send me?  Or
could someone send me the manual page or other information needed to
read the tape?  WARNING:  Mailing the manual page may be a copyright
violation.  Use your own judgement.

Angry postscript:

The tape contains a package which is licensed separately from Unix 3.0,
and yet it is written in a format that only 3.0 and derivatives can
read.  Tar is a much more widely used format.  What prompted the
decision to write the tape in cpio format?  Is this Bell's
not-so-subtle way of telling us we should spend large amounts of money
for a Unix system we don't want?  For me, one of the great attractions
of Unix is that it is relatively free of the "do-it-my-way-or-else"
attitude so common in other operating systems.  I would hate to see
this advantage lost because of marketing decisions.