martin@idca.tds.PHILIPS.nl (Martin Peeters) (03/26/90)
Does anyone know how existing UNIX device drivers handle physical block sizes that exceed 512 bytes? For example, Exabyte cartridges use a block size of 1 kilobyte by default. Two approaches are possible in case the I/O is not a multiple of the physical block size: 1. An I/O of 512 bytes is written as 1 physical block. 2. The driver uses blocking to combine 2 I/O's of 512 bytes into 1 physical block. Obviously, the different approaches lead to incompatibility e.g. when labelit/volcopy is used. Thanks in advance, Martin Peters Internet: martin@idca.tds.philips.nl UUCP: ...!mcvax!philapd!martin Tel: +31 5543 3163 Fax: +31 5543 3488 Telex: 36345 phl nl