[comp.unix.i386] floppytape driver wanted

pgf@cayman.COM (Paul Fox) (07/11/90)

	I have a tape drive, "Cypher Model 525 Floppytape", which I
	would like to use for system backups.  I don't know much about
	the thing, except that the host interface is purported to be
	quite similar to that of a floppy disk drive.  (That is, they
	select the data stream using drive select, move the tape using
	the step control, etc.) Does anyone know it there's a public
	domain or commercial driver around for this kind of drive,
	preferably using the 386 AT's on-board floppy controller, or
	alternatively an add-on controller? Anyone know how different
	a driver for this thing would be from the standard floppy
	driver?

	Also, can someone point me at the data format standards for
	tape? This same drive is used on other unix systems -- AT&T
	UNIX pc for one -- and I'd like to produce a compatible format
	if I end up writing my own driver. 

	By the way, what is QIC (QIC-02 ?) format? How different is
	it from other standards?  How widespread?

	As you can see, any pointers would be quite helpful.  Thanks.


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		paul fox, pgf@cayman.com, (617)494-1999
		Cayman Systems, 26 Landsdowne St., Cambridge, MA 02139