Next | Prev | Up | Top | Contents | Index

Using Floppy Disk Drives

This section describes how to copy files to and retrieve files from floppy and floptical disks, regardless of whether the disk is in Macintosh, DOS, or IRIX filesystem format.

Note: The term floppy disk is used interchangeably with floptical disk in this section.

Using DOS and Macintosh Floppy Disks

The mediad daemon automatically determines the format of a floppy disk inserted in your drive and, if it is a DOS or Macintosh floppy disk, automatically mounts the filesystem on your default mount directory. Once the filesystem is mounted, you can use typical IRIX commands such as cd, ls, and pwd with it. See the mediad(1M) reference page for complete information.

Using a Floppy Disk Drive for IRIX File Transfer

You can use a floppy disk drive like a tape drive for IRIX file transfer. Use the standard tape archive commands to write files to the floppy disk if the disk is formatted. Use the mkfp command to format an unformatted floppy. See the mkfp(1M) reference page for additional information.

When you place files on a floppy disk, make a note on the disk label of the format or the exact command used to place the files on the floppy disk. This makes it easy for you (and others) to retrieve the files from the floppy disk. Also, whenever possible, change directories to the directory that contains the file and place the file on the floppy disk using a relative pathname, rather than specifying the absolute pathname.

Also be aware that using a floppy disk to transfer files to systems made by other manufacturers may mean that the same tools are not available on the receiving system. The tar, cpio, and dd tools are usually available on all UNIX systems.

In the following examples, the floppy disk drive device name is given as /dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5. Your actual device name may be different.

Floppy Disk File Transfer With tar

To place a copy of the file transfer.file on a floppy disk with the tar command, use the syntax

tar cvf /dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5 transfer.file

To retrieve the file, use the command

tar xvf /dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5 transfer.file

To retrieve all files from a tar floppy disk, use the command

tar xvf /dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5

or for high-density floppy disks

tar xvf /dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5hi

For complete information on tar and its options, see the tar(1) reference page.

Floppy Disk File Transfer With cpio

To copy files to floppy disk with cpio, use the command

ls transfer.file | cpio -oc > /dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5

To retrieve the file again, use the command

cat /dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5 | cpio -i

For complete information on cpio and its options, see the cpio(1) reference page.

Floppy Disk File Transfer With dd

This dd command copies a file to the floppy disk

dd if=transfer.file of=/dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5 conv=sync

The following command extracts the same file

dd if=/dev/rdsk/fds0d3.3.5 of=transfer.file conv=sync

Note: dd works only with single files. You can use tar or cpio to create an archive file, though, and then use dd to transfer that archive. If you attempt to extract the file on another brand of workstation and experience an error, try adding the conv=swab statement to your extraction command line. For complete information on dd, see the dd(1) reference page.


Using DOS and Macintosh Floppy Disks
Using a Floppy Disk Drive for IRIX File Transfer
Floppy Disk File Transfer With tar
Floppy Disk File Transfer With cpio
Floppy Disk File Transfer With dd

Next | Prev | Up | Top | Contents | Index