[comp.sys.apollo] Using IOS_$ calls with tape drives

FERGUSON@TMASL.EXXON.COM (06/12/89)

When I do wbak or rbak to a 6250 9-track tape drive, I often see error
messages that say there was a bad tape block, or a read overflow, etc.

I have a program that uses ios_$ system calls to open and read/write
mag tapes. If tape errors happen during these calls, do I get the same
error protection that happens in rbak/wbak? Or do I have to be double-
checking to prevent errors?

Also, a few OS updates ago, support for standard fortran/C io calls
(OPEN or fopen of /dev/rmt8, etc) was dropped. I remember a lot of
people were steamed about it, but I didn't care because I had nothing
to do with it.

Now that I do, has this support been reinstated, or do you still have to
use IOS calls for program access to tape drives?

Thanks,
Scott Ferguson
ferguson@erevax.bitnet
Exxon Research & Engineering