"tar" and non-8-bit byte machines
Scott Orshan
sdo at u1100a.UUCP
Tue Nov 27 00:47:04 AEST 1984
The Sperry 1100 has 36 bit words and 9 bit bytes (quarter-words)
just like the S1. When we make tar tapes we give the user the
option of specifying whether it is a Sperry-to-Sperry tape
or a normal tape.
The normal tape is a text tape - only the low order 8 bits
of each byte are stored. It is transportable to a vax, etc.,
and can be read back on the 1100 as well.
The Sperry-to-Sperry tape uses the 9-to-8 bit packing scheme
to put 8 quarter words into 9 tape-bytes. It allows a tape
to be made with binary files in it, but it can only be used on
another 1100 (or maybe an S1).
--
Scott Orshan
Bell Communications Research
201-981-3064
{ihnp4,allegra,pyuxww}!u1100a!sdo
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