How to copy tar files from unix floppy disk to linux

WWII · 07-24-2009, 10:16 AM

I have a computer with a old version of sco unix and want to copy the files from it to my linux box. I would like to use the tar feature in unix to copy to floppy disk and then copy them to the linux box. I have tried and when I try to mount the floppy drive in linux it wants to know what the filesystem type is. I can mount windows formatted floppy disks ok. Does anyone have a answer.

Thanks
WWII

TB0ne · 07-24-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWII

I have a computer with a old version of sco unix and want to copy the files from it to my linux box. I would like to use the tar feature in unix to copy to floppy disk and then copy them to the linux box. I have tried and when I try to mount the floppy drive in linux it wants to know what the filesystem type is. I can mount windows formatted floppy disks ok. Does anyone have a answer.

Thanks
WWII

Try:

Code:

mount -t sysv /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy

Read the man page for the mount command; modify the command above accordingly, to match your device and mount point. The file system type is what you need to worry about, since it's old SCO junk. Once you get the floppy mounted, you should be able to read it just fine. Also, Google has quite a bit of info on this.....

HTFS, BFS, SFS, and VXFS are all used by SCO too, just to keep your life interesting.

WWII · 07-24-2009, 11:13 AM

I tried the -t sysv and got the message:
mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/fd0,
missing codepage or other error. I also tried to use xfs and got the same message.

emetib · 07-24-2009, 11:33 AM

where did you make the fs for the floppy? sco or linux?
if sco, then take a look to see if your flavor of linux is supporting it. you might have to install that fs support.
if linux, does sco support it?

if sco supports fat filesystems than i would use that and tar..., cp...., then put it into your linux system.

WWII · 07-24-2009, 11:51 AM

I created the disk on unix. did tar -cv filename on unix box. How do i tell if flavor of linux supports it? and how do i install that fs?

tredegar · 07-24-2009, 12:40 PM

Even an "Old SCO" box can probably format a FAT16 floppy.
Use SCO to do that, tar-up and copy the files to the floppy. Then mount it on your new linux box and extract the files.

TB0ne · 07-24-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredegar

Even an "Old SCO" box can probably format a FAT16 floppy.
Use SCO to do that, tar-up and copy the files to the floppy. Then mount it on your new linux box and extract the files.

Agreed...that'd be the best way to go, if the file system types aren't being recognized, use something that's "lowest-common-denominator". Also, have you considered just transferring these files over the network, if that's even an option?