(I wasn't sure which section to post this in so I decided to put it here)
I have a few OpenVMS backup tapes which contain save sets (.bck) created by the BACKUP tool. Unfortunately, I do not have access to a physical OpenVMS system to read and restore them. I do however have FreeAXP... but from my understanding you can't connect physical hardware to it.
What I'm hoping to do is someone pull the .bck off the tape drive and transfer it to FreeAXP to restore it.
I did some research and came across this page:
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/VMS-to-Linux-...
It talks about how to use Linux's DD to grab files off a VMS tape created with the COPY command. Would I be able to use this method to grab the .bck file even though the tapes were created with the Backup tool? Is this even possible?
So I ended up trying vmsbackup and it wasn't what I needed. Instead of allowing me to pull the .bck from the tape, it would extract files within the saveset. So I instead tried DD.
This is what i discovered:
Openvms saveset tapes have essentially two files on them:
1) The tape header
2) The .bck
You skip the header file on the tape by using the Linux command:
mt -f /dev/yourtapedrive fsf
Now that you are positioned at the .bck file, dd it directly off the tape.
dd if=/dev/yourtapedrive bs=8192(i used the tape blocksize) of=/where_you_want_it_to_go/saveset.bck
I next made an iso with imgburn and so it could be mounted in FreeAXP. A MAJOR note is at some step in the process the saveset's file attributes are lost. Unless these are restored backup will not accept the file. But not to fear! You can restore them using the HP freeware tool @RESET_BACKUP_SAVESET_FILE_ATTRIBUTES.COM.
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/openvms/freeware/backup.html (information on OpenVMS tapes and DD)
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/VMS-to-Linux-HOWTO/x838.html (HP reset saveset file attributes tool)
malmberg August 04 2022 No more VAX hobbyist licenses. Community licenses for Alpha/IA64/X86_64 VMS Software Inc. Commercial VMS software licenses for VAX available from HPE.
ozboomer July 20 2022 Just re-visiting.. No more hobbyist licenses? Is that from vmssoftware.com, no 'community' licenses?
valdirfranco July 01 2022 No more hobbyist license...sad
mister_wavey February 12 2022 I recall that the disks failed on the public access VMS systems that included Fafner
parwezw January 03 2022 Anyone know what happened to FAFNER.DYNDS.ORG? I had a hobbyist account here but can longer access the site.
gtackett October 27 2021 Make that DECdfs _2.1A_ for Vax
gtackett October 27 2021 I'm looking for DECdfs V2.4A kit for VAX. Asking here just in case anyone is still listening.
MarkRLV September 17 2021 At one time, didn't this web site have a job board? I would love to use my legacy skills one last time in my career.
malmberg January 18 2021 New Hobbyist PAKs for VAX/VMS are no longer available according to reports. Only commercial licenses are reported to be for sale from HPE
dfilip January 16 2021 Can someone please point me to hobbyist license pak? I'm looking for VAX/VMS 7.1, DECnet Phase IV, and UCX/TCPIP ... have the 7.1 media, need the license paks ... thanks!
