reading 8mm tapes on an RS 6000

[Paul T. Keener]

I have an sl format 8mm tape that was written on a VAX running VMS that I
want to be able to read on a rs 6000.  I have successfully read the tape
on a SUN.  For those who don't know, sl format tapes look like

        file #          contains
          1             Header
          2             Data
          3             Trailer
          4             Header
          5             Data
          6             Trailer
                .
                .
                .

On this particular tape, the first data file is a zero length file.  I was
able to read the first four files on the SUN using
        dd if=/dev/rst1 of=file
and the fifth file using
        dd if=/dev/rst1 of=file ibs=16384

On the rs 6000, I could not read the first four files at all (IO read error),
and using 
        dd if=/dev/rmt0 of=file ibs=16384
was able to get the device driver to read the tape, but it come back with
a zero length file.

Does anybody know how I might be able to read this tape?  Thank you.

        -paul
keener at upenn5.hep.upenn.edu / Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not 
keener at penndrls.upenn.edu  / fully human.  At best he is a tolerable subhuman
keener at penndrls.bitnet    / who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make
                         / messes in the house.    -L.L.