LAP6-DIAL-MS for the RK8F

This document, created in June 1973, serves as a supplement to the LAP6-DIAL Programmer's Reference Manual. It details updates, new features, system improvements, and suggested operational modes for the DIAL-MS software.

The primary new feature is the addition of support for up to four RK05 disks, expanding low-cost mass random access storage for PDP-12 users. System improvements include an increased logical unit size from 1000 (octal) to 1600 (octal) blocks to utilize the additional disk space and maintain compatibility with LINC tapes. The PIP utility has been modified to handle these larger block devices. A key limitation is noted: certain DIAL-MS commands will not function correctly on files located beyond block 777 (octal), and users are advised to use PIP for managing files in this extended area.

The document also provides step-by-step procedures for two "Suggested Modes of Operation": initializing a formatted disk and bootstrapping the DIAL-MS system from the disk. Disk initialization involves mounting the RK8F DIAL-MS tape, setting specific hardware switches, loading and using the PIP utility to copy and manage system programs, and optionally creating a backup. Bootstrapping DIAL from a disk requires setting particular switch configurations and executing a sequence of commands to restart the system.