@database MSD95.guide @author "Denis SPACH" @(c) "Copyright © 1998-2000 Denis SPACH" @$VER: MSD95.guide 1.6 (16-Sep-2000) @rem font helvetica.font 11 @wordwrap @node Main "MSD95 Documentation" @{b}MSD95 V1.6 @{i}a FREEWARE MS FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 Filesystem Handler@{ui} Copyright © 1998-2000 by Denis SPACH All rights reserved@{ub} @{" Introduction " Link "Introduction"} @{" Copyrights " Link "Copyrights"} @{" Disclaimer " Link "Disclaimer"} @{" Copy & (Re)distribution " Link "Distribution"} @{" Requirements " Link "Requirements"} @{" Features " Link "Features"} @{" Restrictions " Link "Restrictions"} @{" Installation " Link "Installation"} @{" Description " Link "Description"} @{" Hints " Link "Hints"} @{" Bugs ? " Link "Bugs"} @{" History " Link "History"} @endnode @node Introduction "MSD95 Introduction" @{b}@{u}Introduction@{uu}@{ub} MSD95 is a filesystem handler for Amiga. It is an application which is able to read PC style partitions table from a Hard Disk and to mount one of them as a real disk on the Amiga. Support for PC floppies disks has also been added starting from version 1.4. This is the same kind of thing that CrossDOS performs. For more details see @{"features" Link "Features"} @{b}! For your comfort MSD95 is Freeware !@{ub} Enjoy ! @endnode @node Copyrights "MSD95 Copyrights" @{b}@{u}Copyrights@{uu}@{ub} This software is © Copyright 1998-2000 by Denis SPACH. All Rights Reserved. The author, Denis SPACH, may be reached at the following adresses: PLEASE NOTICE NEW EMAIL AND WEB SITE ADDRESSES: e-mail dspach@free.fr web site http://dspach.free.fr Credits: @{i} "Matt Dillon for providing source examples of filesystems." "SAS for providing source examples of process'ed filesystems." "All the folks who made Linux so that it was easier to figure how these filesystem are stored on disk." @{ui} @endnode @node Disclaimer "MSD95 Disclaimer" @{b}@{u}Disclaimer@{uu}@{ub} This software is not Public Domain, but @{b}FREEWARE@{ub}. This means Copyright still belongs to the author. Usage of this software for any purpose, private or commercial, is allowed assuming (ex. from IJG doc) that: @{i} The author make NO WARRANTY or representation, either express or implied, with respect to this software, its quality, accuracy, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. This software is provided "AS IS", and you, its user, assume the entire risk as to its quality and accuracy. Permission for use of this software is granted only if the user accepts full responsibility for any undesirable consequences; the author accept NO LIABILITY for damages of any kind. @{ui} @{b}MORE CLEARLY@{ub} Do whatever you want @{b}USING@{ub} this software, I'm not responsible for anything. @endnode @node Distribution "MSD95 Copy & (Re)distribution" @{b}@{u}Copy & (Re)distribution@{uu}@{ub} Copying and redistributing this software is allowed according to the following conditions: * all files must be included with the redistribution * redistribution cost may not exceed floppy disk cost + postage * downloading cost from a BBS may not exceed a floppy disk cost + postage * charging for documentation translation is forbiden * inclusion on a cover magazine disk is forbiden w/o my permission If the conditions above do not meet yours, you @{b}MUST@{ub} contact the @{"author" Link "Copyrights"}, and ask him a written permission. Of course, Fred FISH and/or Aminet makers are specially welcome to redistribute this software, via net or CD's. @{b}MORE CLEARLY@{ub} Nobody else than @{b}ME@{ub} is allowed to make money of it, either directly or indirectly. @endnode @node Requirements "MSD95 Requirements" @{b}@{u}Requirements@{uu}@{ub} This sofware requires * any Amiga with Worbench 2.x and up @endnode @node Features "MSD95 Features" @{b}@{u}Features@{uu}@{ub} * FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32 support * long names support * dynamic caching with separate directory/data caches * run as a process for easier debugging and mount/dismount * read only filesystem (for your data safety !) * should read disks up to 4G (more with direct SCSI option) * hard _AND_ floppy disks support Unlike most handlers, MSD95 can be started and stopped at will (of course, according that no outstanding locks are still refering the filesystem). @{b}@{u}PLEASE NOTE:@{uu}@{ub} I DO NOT INTEND TO ADD WRITE SUPPORT TO THIS FILE SYSTEM @endnode @node Howto "MSD95 Restrictions" @{b}@{u}Restrictions@{uu}@{ub} * the whole FAT is loaded in memory which consumes a lot of memory with FAT32 (~1M for 1G disk) * no 2.+ packet support * character set translation for filenames is not that smart, any char which is not in the 7 bits ASCII range is translated to '_'. So is also the '~' char, since AmigaDOS seems to dislike such chars in filenames. @endnode @node Installation "MSD95 Installation" @{b}@{u}Installation@{uu}@{ub} MSD95 does not need any special assign, simply copy the files in a drawer which is in your path (e.g C:, SYS:Utilities, ...). @{b}@{u}List of files@{uu}@{ub} * MSD95 program for any CPU * MSD95-020 program for 68020 and up CPU's * MSD95.guide this file * MS95-0 IconX project sample to mount from Workbench * MS95-0.info and icon @endnode @node Description "MSD95 Description" @{b}@{u}Description@{uu}@{ub} This is a CLI application, the only way to start it from Workbench is to use an IconX project icon. Some parameters have to be given on the command line, the syntax is: MSD95 -n@{b}DeviceName@{ub} -u@{b}DeviceUnit@{ub} -p@{b}PartitionNumber@{ub} -m[cdf] -d -g -i -f -lN -c[di]N where each parameter is an option with the default values -n gvpscsi.device @{i}I do own a GVP beast!@{ui} -u 1 @{i}my default MSD disk@{ui} -p 0 @{i}first partition@{ui} others parameters -mf for disk buffers in fastmem -mc for disk buffers in chipmem -md for disk buffers in 24bitdmamem -d to use direct SCSI instead of trackdisk -g is for debugging infos -i may be used to dump disk infos without mounting -f floppy support (i.e. no partition table) -lN enable real long names from 30 up to 106 chars (default value is 30 chars) @{b}* USE THIS OPTION AT YOUR OWN RISKS *@{ub} -cdN use N buffers cache for data (default is 16 for FAT16, 64 for FAT12/FAT32) -ciN use N buffers cache for directories (default is 12 for FAT16, 48 for FAT12/FAT32) Examples: MSD95 -f -u0 -nmfm.device @{i}mount a floppy@{ui} MSD95 -d -u1 -nscsi.device -p1 @{i}mount 2nd partition of 2nd disk and use direct SCSI commands@{ui} Once the program is loaded, and a proper filesystem is found, it is mounted as a volume and an icon should appear on the workbench few seconds later. To dismount the volume, just send the process a Control-C or an ACTION_DIE packet @endnode @node Hints "MSD95 Hints" @{b}@{u}Hints@{uu}@{ub} If the hard disk you try to mount does not show up on your Workbench, this would means that one or more of the following occured: - partition you try to mount is not FAT12, FAT16 nor FAT32, forget it - device name and unit you provided were not correct, retry - partition number you provided was not correct, if you know that there is N partitions (not counting extended one's), try partitions numbers 0 thru N-1 - disk is larger than 4 GB, try the -d option - device buffers requires some special memory, try each -m? option If none of the above fix the problem, use the -i option and send me the information results, eg: MSD95 @{i}YourOptionsHere@{ui} -i > inforesult.txt @endnode @node Bugs "MSD95 Bugs" @{b}@{u}Bugs@{uu}@{ub} Well, I was able to transfer many Gb (YES Giga) without problems, but this does'nt mean there are no remaining bugs in this program. @endnode @node History "MSD95 History" @{b}@{u}History@{uu}@{ub} MSD95 V1.6 real long names may be used up to 106 chars data and directories cache sizes may be specified MSD95 V1.5 partition types 0x0e are now supported (same as FAT32 0x0b) FAT is now read by blocks of 32k instead of 1k as in V1.4 MSD95 V1.4 this version add support for FAT12 and floppy disks and is supposed to fix all known bugs, most notably: * read failure when reading the FAT on some disk devices * mount problems for disk w/o volume names or volume name not at start of root directory * more speed when reading file contents MSD95 V1.3 more informations about the disk with -i option MSD95 V1.2 partition types 0x0c are now supported (same as FAT32 0x0b) MSD95 V1.1 First publicly available release MSD95 V1.0 First release @endnode