Cool, is there documentation available for this formatting and error-check/correction algorithm and structure? I'd like to take a look!
=] -- Anders Nelson +1 (517) 775-6129 www.erogear.com On Tue, Sep 26, 2017 at 12:26 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk < [email protected]> wrote: > On 09/25/2017 11:40 PM, Steve Malikoff via cctalk wrote: > > > Yes, you will need the controller to at least format, but not sure about > just reading/writing. > > Looking at the interface, it's pretty much a "raw" interface. > > As in a lot of things in life, timing is everything in tapes. Tape > blocks are separated by blank gaps--it's the gap that defines the block > boundaries. In addition, check characters (LRCC in 7 track; CRC+LRCC > in 9 track) are separated from block data by a specified number of bit > times of empty space. > > External logic has to generate/check vertical and horizontal parity, and > insert the required spacing between check characters and inter-block > gaps. In addition, most formatters will correct any single-bit errors > in a block (using the vertical and horizontal parity(LRCC) to locate the > bit in error). > > Logic should also include generation/detection of tapemarks. > > It's not simple, but it's also not rocket science. > > --Chuck > > > >
