DOS/360 Distribution Tapes

Getting the Tapes

This installation process starts with tape images of DOS/360 Release 26.2, as distributed by IBM on 7-track tape; these images are available at a collection of 360/370 distributions maintained by Jay Maynard under the heading "DOS/360 and TOS/360" at:

http://www.ibiblio.org/jmaynard/

Because finding ancient software often includes broken links and sites that have been taken down, I host a mirror of the DOS/360 distribution tapes.

You'll need to download the following two files to the tape subdirectory that was created when you extracted the zip file.

k360n-ma108a.aws; external label BT2-04 (7-track, tape 1) (mirrored here)
k360n-ma110a.aws; external label BT4-04 (7-track, tape 2) (mirrored here)

Note that if you visit Jay Maynard's site, ma108a is identified as tape two, but this not correct according to the Basic Program Material List and based on the material restored from each tape.

A Basic Program Material List available at bitsavers.trailing-edge.com describes the contents of the two DOS/360 tapes used in this process. Much additional information is provided in that document, and it's worth reading.

About the Tapes

Each of the two distribution tapes include:

IPL'able disk initialize utility
IPL'able tape to disk restore utility
Backup images used by the disk restore utility to restore distribution volumes

Tape 1:

Tape 2:

The PID Control File is interesting. It shows that the tapes from which these AWS files came from were created 11 December 1975.

The three 2311 distribution volumes, once restored, will contain:

RES11A: an IPL'able system residence file with core image and relocatable libraries

RES11B: an IPL'able system residence file with core image and source libraries

RES11C: an IPL'able system residence file with a core image library, plus private relocatable and source libraries

The disk volume names are mine chosen for convenience. The restore programs do not care what the volumes are called, although the pre-loaded label cylinder assumes that all three volumes are named 111111 and have room for work files. The first two volumes do not have room for work files, and running a system with three volumes named the same is confusing at best and a likely invitation to disaster.

The structure of the 2311 distribution volumes leads to a requirement for a fourth work file volume, assembler output to tape or punched cards, and multiple IPL's to assemble and link a supervisor and related system phases. We won't do this. Instead we'll transfer things to 2314 disks--which are much larger--and do the system generation there.

On to a dissection of the POWER II Distribution Tape.

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