Multi-volume diskette files MSDOS->Xenix/386

[Ron Srodawa]

A week ago I mentioned I was exploring using PAX2.0 (tar.exe) to move large
files between MSDOS and Xenix/386.  Several asked for a report.  Here goes.
1. PAX2.0 for MS-DOS is available from Simtel20 and several other archive
sites.  I got mine from wuarchive.wustl.edu which is a mirror of simtel20.
There is a unix source supposedly on uunet.uu.net, but I haven't gotten
that.
2. I wrote a small tar file (single 360k volume) on MSDOS and ported it to
Xenix 2.3.2 (386).  No problem.
3. I wrote a 6 volume (1440K per volume) on MSDOS and ported that to
Xenix/386 2.3.2.  Initial attempts did not succeed.  Xenix tar would
complain of a directory checksum error at the end of the first volume
and never ask for succeeding volumes.  Finally, I moved all six volumes
to Xenix files using dd, then I built a single file with cat.  Xenix tar
accepted this with no problem.
--
I don't know why Xenix fails to accept a multi-volume tar file.  I plan to
try to write one with Xenix just to be sure it can read its own.  Obviously
the data is correct, since constructing a single file with cat yields a
tar file which can be processed.
---
One solution would be to build PAX2.0 on Xenix and use that instead of
Xenix tar.  Presumably pax can read its own output.
---
A second solution might be to tru gnu tar.  That too should be able to be
used both on Xenix and MSDOS.  Ron.

-- 
| Ronald J. Srodawa               | Internet: srodawa at unix.secs.oakland.edu |
| School of Engineering and CS    | UUCP:     srodawa at egrunix.UUCP          |
| Oakland University              | Voice:    (313) 370-2247                |
| Rochester, Michigan  48309-4401 |                                         |