tar from VAX BSD to VAX V/2.0

[Barry Shein]

>From: jww at sdcsvax.UUCP (Joel West)
>I have multiple directories on a BSD 4.2 system thhat is going away,
>so I need to dump my files and load them up on a VAX V/2.0.
>
>If I use the  BSD tar(1), can that be read at the System V
>end?  I suppose the alternative is a PD cpio, if someone has one,
>although I've never used it.

If the hardware is the same (are you just changing the O/S, say on
a VAX?) the answer is yes.

If it is unfamiliar hardware the answer is still yes but use a small
blocking factor when writing the tar tape ('tar cbf 5 ....' should do it.)

The reason is there exist tape drives that cannot handle the 10240
blocks created by default by 4.2bsd tar (and have been reported on this
list.)

There is, however, no substitute for asking vendor if you could try
a tape, perhaps at a nearby site using the proposed hardware. If you
can 'tar t' it you should be able to read it back.

	-Barry Shein, Boston University