This is a quick and efficient method of backing up discs and transporting data. It is very economic of tape but can be read only by other Perkin-Elmer machines with OS32 so don't take your data home this way unless you have a PE at home. Fastback works disc to tape or contrariwise. If you intend to work tape to disc remove the "write protect" ring from your tape or a minute's inattention may corrupt an irreplaceable tape.
The commands for FASTBACK are, at any VDU after SIGNON
LO FASTBACK
*ST
> BA for disc to tape
RES for tape to disc
> Copy from unprotected disc? Y(ES)
> Vol or DEVN: e.g. SYS:
> Tape MAG1: or MAG2:
> ! GO will transfer all the files on the tape or disc, and verify.
If you wish to you can work through the options but you can !GO at any time you wish to abandon this approach.
If you only want a selection of tapes then type @ which allows you to select files from the Console. Run through the Q and A taking the default option at every line until you are prompted for a list of files. You can either type in a list of files followed by dot slash "./" or use wild cards like "-. FTN", "HSP.-" or "-.-/60" followed by "./". REN = -.-/60 allows you to change the account number. Alternatively if you want to omit the -.OBJ files for instance then (!-.OBJ/-) - but first you must have requested all files.
To BAckup files since a certain date, go through questions and answers until you get
> DEFAULT AGE answer = Y <cr>
> SInce = 18/APR/84
> !GO
If you wish to abandon at any stage, send STOP.
FASTBACK doesn't work from disc to disc and you have to use BACKUP instead
LO BACKUP
ST, I=RM5A:,0=RM5B:,LI=CON:,VER[,SEL=CON:]
to copy for example for an RM5A: to RM5B:, listing on console, verify, [,selected files typed in on console, ending "./"
Be sure to LABEL TAPE with the DATE and whether FASTBACK or BACKUP.