From: utzoo!decvax!duke!mcnc!idis!dan
Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards
Title: mag tape ballots counted
Article-I.D.: idis.130
Posted: Sun Jul 25 06:05:23 1982
Received: Wed Jul 28 03:27:15 1982



About 10 days ago I posted a complaint in net.unix-wizards about
the unix convention for encoding programmable magnetic tape drive
features (density and automatic rewind) in the special file names.
I suggested that ioctl() be used to select these features and
requested opinions from other news readers.

I have received ten responses so far.  Seven agreed with me.
One thought that both the current system and control via ioctl()
were both ugly but suggested no alternatives.  One voted for the
current system.  The remaining response indicated no clear
preference.

One of the people who voted with me suggested that a opening a
magnetic tape drive should be reset it to some standard state.
This is exactly what I think should not be done.  Magnetic tape
drive characteristics should survive open() and close() so that
a sophisticated utility program (one that knows all about the
ioctl()s) could be used to set up a tape drive before an
unsophisticated program is run.  Very few programs would need to
use ioctl()s.  Existing programs (e.g. tar, dd, tp, and cpio)
would not need to be changed.

Tape drive characteristics could be reset to some standard (I favor
1600 bpi without automatic rewind) when the drive is assigned.