+extern int ntrec; /* blocking factor on tape */
+
+/*
+ * Allocate the buffer for tape operations.
+ *
+ * Depends on global variable ntrec, set from 'b' option in command line.
+ * Returns 1 if successful, 0 if failed.
+ *
+ * For later kernel performance improvement, this buffer should be allocated
+ * on a page boundary.
+ */
+alloctape()
+{
+
+ writesize = ntrec * TP_BSIZE;
+ tblock = (char (*)[TP_BSIZE])malloc(writesize);
+ return (tblock != NULL);
+}
+