Using Labelled MagTapes

[gwyn%brl-vld at sri-unix.UUCP]

From:      Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn at brl-vld>

The UNIX magtape driver can read individual files separated by tape marks.
A user-mode utility program can use this ability to decode the ANSI format.

It is possible that one of the USENIX distributions may have had an ANSI
magtape reading utility; I have occasionally been tempted to write one.

How about getting the magtapes written without ANSI labels etc.,
preferably fixed blocksize?  Then "dd" or other standard utilities could
handle the tapes with a minimum of fuss.