**** BTNtape: an AmigaDOS handler for SCSI tape drives **** Version 3.0 3/14/94 **** Freeware by Bob Rethemeyer (drBob@cup.portal.com) **** **** (c) Copyright 1990, 1994 Robert Rethemeyer. **** This software may be freely distributed and redistributed, **** for non-commercial purposes, provided this notice is included. **** All original files must be included in the distribution. BTNtape is the "Better Than Nothing" SCSI tape device handler. It provides flat-file access to a SCSI tape drive from application programs using simple calls to DOS or C library I/O functions. It can also be used with the Amiga TAR utility for disk backups. It uses your existing SCSI adapter's device driver for access to the bus. This is version 3.0, update to version 2.1. It fixes a number of bugs and includes a many new features. Some advantages of BTN over other handlers and dedicated tape backup programs: * Includes a monitor program that keeps you informed of what's happening * Supports many standard SCSI tape drives and Amiga SCSI bus adapters * Supports the 3M MCD-40, a non-standard SCSI tape drive * Fully adjustable tape block size and blocking factor * Double buffering improves streaming performance * Includes an interface to send SCSI control commands to the drive * Includes an interface to set drive-specific Mode Select parameters * TAR tapes can be exchanged with Un*x systems * DOS compatibility for use with any program. e.g. data logging applications =================== ******> R E A D T H I S <****** ====================== DISCLAIMER: "This software is provided AS-IS, without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. In no event will I, Robert Rethemeyer, be liable for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages or data loss resulting from the use or application of this software. The entire risk as to the results and performance of this software is assumed by you." If you do not agree with this disclaimer, do not use this software; buy commercial tape software instead. ============================================================================ BTN got its name from the good ol' days when there was no commercial Amiga tape software, so it was definitely better than the alternative (nothing). Because commercial tape backup software is now available, the only reasons you might still want to use BTNtape would be: * Compatibility with TAR for transporting tapes between Amiga and Un*x * Compatibility with AmigaDOS for data logging or special applications * You don't want to spend any money. I claim only that this handler works with the Amiga TAR program ported by Jonathan Hue. It might work with some recent backup programs that allow backup to a DOS file, but won't work with any that backup to Exec devices. There are other variations of TAR available, but I haven't tried them. ============================================================================== DISTRIBUTION: The distribution package should contain the following files: btn-handler handler binary tapemon monitor binary mountlist example mountlist entry tape.rexx an ARexx script to issue tape control commands readme.first you're reading it changes.doc a brief history of BTNtape doc Documentation directory (PLEASE READ) install.doc how to install BTN usage.doc how to use BTN features.doc how to use special features of BTN tapemon.doc how to use the monitor program messages.doc explanations of handler messages hardware.doc information about certain hardware drives.doc explanation of how tape drives work src Source code directory btn.c main handler btnio.c interface to SCSI-direct btn.h local include file tapemon.c tape monitor tplink.h local include file for handler/monitor interface smakefile SAS/C-6 make file for both handler and monitor COMPATIBILITY: You must have a SCSI adapter and software that honors the SCSI-direct API as defined by Commodore in the "devices/scsidisk.h" include file. All decent/recent Amiga SCSI adapters will support this API. The list below shows the manufacturers I know about that support SCSI-direct (but this list I'm sure is incomplete). The following lists the hardware that has worked with BTN at one time or another, for one or more persons. Don't worry if your SCSI hardware is not listed here, it will probably work anyway. On the other hand, I can't guarantee that all this hardware works in every combination. SCSI adapters: * Commodore A2091 * Commodore A590 * Commodore A3000/A4000/etc. (built-in) * GVP (various models) * HardFrame * Nexus * Commodore 2090A- see hardware.doc file. * Supra (all types) Series III or above driver * Original Trumpcard- with 2.0F software, 4.0 ROMs, Interrupt 2 jumper. * Trumpcard Pro * Xetec * Spartan- with v34.1 or above software (may need OV-0 in startup) * Ashcom SCSI Sequential tape drives: * Commodore A3070 (Caliper CP150) * Archive 2060S, 2120S, 2150S, 2250S, 5945S * Wangtek 5099, 5150ES, 5525ES * Wangtek DAT 6200H, 1300 * Sankyo CP-150SE * Tandberg 3620, 3640, 3660, 3820 * Teac MT-2ST Cassette (maybe) * Emulex MT-02 SCSI/QIC-36 tape adapter * Exabyte EXB-8200/8500 8mm Cartridge Tape Subsystem * Sony SDT-1000 DAT drive * HP 35480A DAT drive * DEC TK50 Direct-access tape drives: * 3M MCD-40 40MB cartridge tape drive * Jasmine DT40 (Braemar, 3M derivative?) * TallGrass (model unknown, 3M derivative?) HOW IT WORKS BTNtape acts as a bridge between AmigaDOS and your tape drive by using the SCSI-direct API provided by your hard disk SCSI adapter. It makes the tape drive look like a sequential data file, so programs operating under AmigaDOS can access the tape drive like most other data files, using calls to Open(), Read(), Write(), and Close(), or through the C library I/O functions fread(), etc. BTN does NOT make the drive look like a file system. Tape archive utilities such as TAR do this, in one sense, by storing a little file system inside a single tapefile. As your application (such as TAR) makes read or write requests, AmigaDOS passes these requests as messages to BTN. BTN translates these requests into SCSI commands to the tape drive as necessary. BTN holds tape data in memory buffers and exchanges data from these buffers with your application. Two buffers are maintained so that one buffer can be used by DOS while the other is exchanging data with the drive. With the multitasking nature of the Amiga, this should help keep the tape in motion (but it may not help much with non-DMA SCSI adapters). In write mode, the handler collects DOS data in one buffer while the previously filled buffer is being written to tape. In read mode, the handler reads ahead on the tape to fill one buffer while DOS gets data from the previously read buffer. Seeks are implemented as a restricted form of read which does not return any data. The handler does not write or expect anything special on the tape for itself. That is to say, the data written on the tape is your raw data, nothing else. SUPPORT I will try to provide support for this handler, especially for bug fixes, as my limited time and resources allow, but I do not guarantee anything. That's why it's freeware-- shareware would imply a guaranteed level of support that I may not be able to give. If you want to distribute a version of BTNtape that you have modified or enhanced, you may only do so under the following conditions: * do not call yours BTNtape; call it something else to avoid confusion * your version must also be distributed as FREEWARE * your distribution must also include all the source code * keep my name somewhere in the list of authors * I shall not be liable for any damages caused by your version * I cannot help you debug or support your version CONTACTING THE AUTHOR Email: (I don't log-on every day, so there may be a response delay.) Internet = drBob@cup.portal.com CompuServe = 73014,2400 USmail: Robert Rethemeyer 979-4 Belmont Terrace Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA BTNtape is FREEWARE, do not send money or gifts. IMPORTANT!! If you want to contact me about a problem, you need to include with your mail the following information as applicable: * your configuration: model of Amiga, SCSI adapter, and tape drive * the version of BTN you are using * a copy of your mountlist entry for TAPE: * a capture of the output from TAPEMON. Just redirect its output to a file: TAPEMON >filename * a verbal description of what happens to the drive and/or Amiga (e.g. tape doesn't move, smoke issues from Amiga, etc.) * any other info that may help me figure out what's going on. Remember, I'm not there to see what is happening, and I probably don't have your hardware setup available to recreate the problem. I have only your description to go by. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank those who helped make BTNtape v3.0 possible: BETA TESTERS: Serenella Ciongoli, Thad Floryan, Frank Perricone, Bill Seymour HARDWARE LOAN: Scott Blackledge Contributors to previous BTN versions are listed in the changes.doc file. It's been 3 years since the last version- my apologies if I forgot someone.