Magazyn Exec 3/CD_Magazyn_EXEC_nr_3.iso/Recent/disk/cache/fda.readme

Text File | 2000-07-13 | 17.1 KB | 468 lines

Short:    Faster than PFS also installed V2.6
Author:   [e-mail] (Martin Tauchmann)
Uploader: [e-mail] (Martin Tauchmann)
Version:  2.6
Type:     disk/cache
Kurz:     Nutzt den freien Speicher als Cache für FestPlatte, CD, FD et cetera
Requires: OS 2.0+, 2MB FastMemory
Date:     06.06.00
Replaces: disk/cache/fda.lha
Url:      http://MartinTauchmann.home.pages.de


Version 2.6 of Future Drive Accelerator

which is running out of date in middle of February 2001,
to give pirates no chance,



New features figured out:

* 'FDA' give you also more CPU-time, because it's just about 15 times faster,
  than the scsi.device (IDE-Controller).

* 'FDA' is 5 times cheaper and 4 times faster than 'PFS' with 'FFS' and all
  well tested disk-repair/reorg-tools with full compatibility to all existing
  programs, it's faster to install, and updates are free.



english documentation:
 o `fda_DviPS.lha` DVI (TeX) and PostScript (GhostScript) formarts,
 o `fda.lha` AmigaGuide and HTML formats.

german documentation:
 o `fda_d_DviPS.lha` DVI (TeX) and PostScript (GhostScript) formarts,
 o `fda_d_GuidHTML.lha` AmigaGuide and HTML formats.



`Future Drive Accelerator' V1.4 documentation and newer
*******************************************************

Uses the  `*free memory*' as a `*cache*' , the program reacts automatically on
changes in memory resources, so that you will always get the maximum speed for
your drives. Even "resources-hungry" programs will get enough memory.

The concepts behind `Future Drive Accelerator'
**********************************************

`Future Drive Accelerator' is a disk-cache program.

   A cache buffers all data which is written or read from the drive (hard
disks, floppy disks, Compact-Disk, removable disk, ZIP...).

   If requested data is already in the cache, it doesn't need to be loaded from
the slow disk.

So far nothing new!

   Memory is, as we all know, always short. So you better think twice before
you give it to programs.  No matter how you set it up, you can never make it
suitable for all programs.  One program runs (thanks to the cache) faster than
ever before, another one stops working (due to the lack of RAM).

   With all other cache programs, you had to adjust the memory usage.  Of
course, the more memory a cache can use, the faster it will work.  So with old
cache programs the memory usage had been set quite high, but because other
programs stopped working this was stopped rather quickly.  Now the cache is
commonly set to an average size, so that all "memory-eating" programs run.
Or you always had to change the cache-size manually to fit the current
situation.  But this is not a very satisfactory solution. And this is where
`Future Drive Accelerator' comes in.

`*The whole free memory*', whose size is changing all the time, `*is used as
cache.*'

   With this technique, an `Amiga' with a 68030 50Mhz processor and 16 MByte
FastMemory (Blizzard IV) averages a *factor 4* speed up. See Benchmarks.

   Write accesses are buffered, and later, while *writing back* to the drive,
the head is moved from the highest to the lowest address.

   Another improvement is built-in for people who use exchangable media like
disks, CDs, MagnetOptical-disks and ZIPs. When inserting the media again, the
still filled cache is used. The media doesn't need to be accessed again.

   Who used a lot of dos-buffers?  (1) for the file system, you can now even
`save' this memory.

   Not to mention that you `*help protecting the environment*'.  The motor and
the electronics of the drive is used less and thus, energy is saved.
=> the *nuclear power plants* can be shutted down earlier.
You should also keep in mind that the *hardware* wears out less.

   ---------- Footnotes ----------

   (1) A dos-buffer requires (per default) a half KiloByte.

What is required to use `Future Drive Accelerator'?
***************************************************

   `Future Drive Accelerator' needs at least:

"AmigaOS" 2.0
     or better.

"2 Megabyte memory", more memory is recommended.
Additionally, the following software is supported:

"DiskSafe" (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/disk/salv/DiskSafe.lha)
     After a reset or system crash, the cache will be written back before
     restarting the system.

     Example installation for `s:Startup-Sequence':
          DiskSafe DF1: DF0: HD0: Store: Font: HD2: HD3: HD4: ... REBOOT QUICKKEY WAITVERIFY VERIFYREQ LOGFILE=Store:T/DiskSafe.log IGNORE
     If this shouldn't work, try adding `RESETKEY'.

"CopyMemQuicker"
     See Speed up.

"FileSystems", "Devices"
     See Features.

What speed improvements can be achieved with `Future Drive Accelerator'?
************************************************************************

   * Copies 850KB in *35 seconds* from hard to floppy disk, this equals the
     speed of formatting. This is possible because, minimizes the overall seek
     time required to read or write data from or to disk. Outstanding I/O
     requests are ordered such that they can all be performed "*with one
     sweep*" of the disk head assembly, from the highest to the lowest disk
     address (Elevator seeking).

   * *23 MB/s* while reading, (SysInfo V3.23) instead of 7 MB/s without cache,
     with an Amiga and following equiment: Zorro III, CyberStorm MKIII, 060/PPC
     604 150Mhz, UltraWide SCSI HD, 64 MB FastMemory, CopyMemQuick 40+.

   * The booting can get twice as fast if there are a lot of small files to
     load and many files reside in the `WBStartup' directory.

   * Faster access to directories from Workbench.

   * Amiga MC68030 50MHz, 16MB FastMemory.

        - IDE-HardDisk (tested with `DiskSpeed') (1)
               read  *6.8 times* faster.
               write *8.1 times* faster.

        - DD-FloppyDisk (tested with `DiskSpeed')
               read  *488.0 times* faster.
               write *997.6 times* faster.

        - Copying from one partition to another.
               44 Dirs, 561 Files = 2.3MB Size
               c:Copy MUI: ASWAP:MUI ALL CLONE QUIET

               Dos  457 Dos-Buffers  46 secs 253999 micros
               FDA    7 Dos-Buffers  11 secs 196642 micros (*4.13 times faster*)

   * Amiga PPC604 233MHz MC68060 50MHz, 96MB FastMemory.

        - IDE-HardDisk (tested with `DiskSpeed')
               read  *19.5 times* faster.
               write *20.4 times* faster.

        - SCSI-HardDisk (tested with `DiskSpeed')
               read  *3.8 times* faster.
               write *3.5 times* faster.

   ---------- Footnotes ----------

   (1) DiskSpeed Reference: 262144 byte, MEMF_FAST, LONG-aligned buffer.



Compatibility, Features of `Future Drive Accelerator'
*****************************************************

   * Accelerates all kind of media e.g.*: Harddisk-, Floppy-, Compact-, ZIP,
     MagnetOptical- or SyQuest-drives, almost like a RamDrive.

   * Uses the  `*free memory*' as `*cache*' , the program reacts automatically
     on changes in memory resources, so that you will always get the maximum
     speed for your drives. Even "resources-hungry" programs will get enough
     memory.

   * Minimizes the overall seek time required to read or write data from or to
     disk. Outstanding I/O requests are ordered such that they can all be
     performed "*with one sweep*" of the disk head assembly, from the highest
     to the lowest disk address (Elevator seeking).

   * Gentle, parallel reading and writing in Multitasking.

   * Smart-Power-Technologie: Minimizes the number of disk-accesses.

   * SmartCache: Read-ahead of blocks.

   * When disks are removed, the cache is only removed if necessary.  When
     disks are re-inserted, the cache will be used again.

   * No fragmentation of memory. (Opposite to DynamiCache.)

   * Can possibly save memory, because dos-buffers are not required anymore.

   * Power-LED flashes when accessing cache.

   * Verify is as fast as in a copy-program, because data is verified in the
     background while writing.  (the processor isn't used much while writing
     anyway).

   * If `DiskSafe' is installed, the cache will be written before a reset or
     system-crash restarts the computer. See Requirements.

   * Supports `DiskExpander'
     (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/util/pack/epu14.lha),
     `Virtual-Memory-Manger (VMM)',
     `XFH' (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/util/pack/XFH.lha) `temporal files'
     and `World-Wide-Web browsers'.

   * Supported devices: (probably all
        - scsi (http://www.amiga.de/files/index.html), 2nd.scsi, NewStyleDevice,
          atapi (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/disk/misc/IDEfix97.lha),
          cybscsi,

        - trackdisk,
          floppy (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/disk/misc/floppy43.lha),
          diskspare (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/disk/misc/Diskspr3.lha),
          hackdisk (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/disk/misc/NewHackdisk.lha),
          mfm.device ((C)CrossDOS),
          messydisk (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/misc/emu/msh-156.lha),

        - fmsdisk (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/disk/misc/fmsdisk.lha),

        - xpkdisk (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/util/pack/xpkDisk37_8c.lha),

        - cd.

   * Supported FileSystems: (All knownn)
        - FastFileSystem(FFS),
          V44.5 (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/disk/misc/ffstd64.lha)
          V43.20 (ftp://ftp.amiga.com/pub/)

        - ProfiFileSystem1+2(PFS)
          (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/disk/misc/pfs95.lha),
          HomePage (http://www.greed.nl)

        - AmiFileSafe(AFS)
          (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/biz/demo/afsdemo159.lha),

        - SmartFileSystem(SFS) (http://www.xs4all.nl/~hjohn/SFS/),

        - MessyFileSystem(MSD)
          (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/misc/emu/msh-156.lha),

        - CrossDOSFileSystem(MSD) ((C)CrossDOS),

        - Berkeley (NetBSD LinUX) Fast FileSystem (BFFS UNI\02)
          (http://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/misc/emu/bffs1.3.lha).

     and compatible, furthermore all MultiUser-"clones".

   * Supports FileSystems with a variable block-size.

   * Supports harddisks with a capacity of 4 GigaByte or more.

   * Protects partitions beyond the 4 GigaByte "barrier" from faulty accesses.

   * Is the fastest cache program. Accelerates harddisks by the *factor
     2*-*20*, floppy disks by the *factor 2*-*997*.



FAQ:

* Please,  enable  "Protect  tracks  in  memory  with   checksummes"   in
  preferences,    first  time you run 'FDA', to figure out whether you have
  installed programs which change foreign memory blocks (cache).  If  so,
  you  should  remove  the  "bad" programs. When there is no further "FDA
  Checksumme-error" request, your system is  clean  and  stable  and  you
  should  disable  "Protect  tracks  in  memory  with checksummes" to get
  maximum performance.

  Perhaps, the next version protect the     cache    with  MMU  for    "relativ"
  safety; without slow down the performance.

* It is *very recommend* to install 'StackAttack' (also for OS3.5) after
  SetPatch and before FDA in the 'S:Startup-Sequence', it make FDA and
  the whole Amiga more stable (fixes deadlocks, Guru $8000004 & $1000005)

  xyz/StackAttack ADDSTACK=512       ;Increase StackSize of every Programm

* Install 'StackAttack' before 'PoolMem'.
  And 'PoolMem', with the argument "NoRamReverse", before 'FDA'.
  It's   recommended   to   do   not   install   PoolMem,   because   the
  Garbage-Collector task "PoolMem.supervisor", waste sometimes CPU-time.

Q: I have a Blizzard board, and the mulitasking doesn't sweep.
A: Reuse the Chip-memory as cache; because only Fast-memory access confuse
   these boards.

Q: I changed some files and after the reboot, the files are unmodified.
A: Install DiskSafe. See manual-Requirements.

Q: The internet-software crashes very often, and my new emails are not saved.
A: I use "Async-delay" = 2 sec, for my partitions where i write while i'm
   online, it's good for 28k modems. When you have a faster, you should set
   it to 1 sec, to save the datas back to disk, while you are online. And
   not after a logout without Guru. If the datas aren't written back,
   because the write-traffic of your partition is to high (several writes
   while 1 sec); use "write sync".

Q: Why FDA doesn't wait silently for mounting CD0: and then simply cache it?
   The same is for PC0:, if FDA is started BEFORE PC0: mounts itself
   from Devs/DosDrivers, FDA just complains that "Can't Find PC0:"
   and doesn't care if PC0: is started later...
A: AmigaOS doesn't have a "simple" mount-notify function, but a hint:

   Insert in "S:Startup-Sequence" behind SetPatch,
   SaferPatches/PatchControl/SetMan/PatchLib's PatchSetFunc,
   StackAttack, PoolMem and FBlit<V3.64:
     RUN <>NIL: Sys:System/FDA ENVARC:FDA-Boot.prefs QUIET
   and at bottom of "S:User-Startup":
     Sys:Prefs/FDAPref ENVARC:FDA-AfterBoot.prefs USE
   and save as with FDAPref the two new prefs.

Q: I have 16 partitions, how can i enable it quickly?
A: It's not 'HyperCache', it was difficult enough to detect partitions.
   Use SHIFT-KEY & LEFT-MOUSE.



If FDA, or FDAPref while FDA is running, hangs; i will send you a debug version
to figure out which device is unsupported.

Bugfixes are only possible with bugreports!



History V2.6 06-Jul-2000

    * Found the taskpriorities of PowerFlyer device;
          for an faster access in 'n sweep.

    * Fixed: QUIET prints still the first line.

  FAQ addition: For Blizzard boards.


History V2.4 14-Apr-2000

    * Found the taskpriorities of ExpSys.device & buddha_atapi.device;
          for an faster access in 'n sweep.

    * Demo uses whole free memory to speedup.


History V2.2 16-Feb-2000

    * Fixed, the preferences calculate sometimes unreal values of
      'Size of Track'.

    * Checksumme calculation faster.

    * Fixed, can't create the update-task for IDEfix ATA[PI]
      (CD-drive & ZIP-drive).

        * Fixed, unclean termination and preferences-use if 'PatchControl'
          is installed.

    * Fixed, trackdisk capacity-change detection.

    * Fixed, hanging of messydisk.device v1.56.

    * Perhaps fixed, hanging of cd.device 3.6 (05.03.97) Georg Campana;
      because untested.

    * Fixed, "Verify error" while writing ½ trax.

    * Fixed, "write async" timer restarted while receiving update-command
      according read-command.

    New USA office address:

    ShareIt! Inc
    Suite 1800
    Chapel Hill Professional Center
    GREENSBURG PA 15601-8019
    USA

    Phone: [phone]
    Fax  : [phone]

    Of course our old address with the PO Box is still available and can be used
    to send us checks and other mail. In future, you are welcome to use our new
    address instead.


History V2.0 17-Dec-1999

    * Fixed, hanging of mfm.device (CrossDos) v40.9 and fd.device
      (XFileSystem v2.14 ) v42.86; because they use SendIO() without
      WaitIO(). This was also the case for the hanging bug of
      FDAPref.

    * Fixed, capacity-change detection for XFileSystem v2.17

    * trackdisk.device OS 3.0 doesn't work with ½ trax and format-command,
      and doesn't reply a error value. The update-task uses now the
      write-command.

  FAQ addition:

  * Please, don't install QuietTD from DiskSpare, i don't know why it
    hangs.

  * Please, don't use fd.device v42.86 from XFileSystem v2.14 together
    with "verify", use instead mfm.device it works. XFileSystem v2.16 do
    something but not bugfree.

  Copyright addition:

  Registration move to new user is free of charge.


History V1.8 09-Nov-1999

    * Fixed, "write-Async" not 100% working timer.

    * Added, PFS against FDA+FFS benchmark.


History V1.6 30-Sep-1999

    * Recognize capacity-change of removeable-madias.
      I.e. DD<->HD Disks

    * English translation of documentation

        Thanks to The Amiga Translators Organization [http://ato.vapor.com]
            Jens Neubauer <[e-mail]> for translate.
            Heiko Hayn <[e-mail]> for proof-read.

    * ESC-Key supported



Other products
**************

Aminet:gfx/edit/FCP.lha            (Convert Pic -> CopperList  (6BitPlane -> 0 BitPlane CopperList)  - CopperListEditor  - CopperListSearcher  - Full Modula-2 SourceCode)
Aminet:mods/slow/BrainBird.lha          (Shaman drums to meditate and 14 Ambient NewAge Songs)
Aminet:comm/misc/TelekomBill.lha       (German Phone-Bill calculater for WG´s)
Aminet:gfx/show/ActiveWinPic.lha        (Picture on any window, special SHELL!)
Aminet:util/boot/IsInserted.lha         (StartUp-Check if a Disk inserted then start BootUte)
Aminet:misc/unix/File2Partition.lha     (Spare memory if LinUX install, stores files direct to HD, Disks or any LogicalDevice)
Aminet:dev/asm/ExecDis.lha        (A commented disassembly of the exec library 1.2)
http://computer.freepages.de/tauchmann/PasTeX-SuperHighRes.lha (5.1MB)
                    (SuperHighRes & Epson medium pk-fonts, other resolutions possible)
                    (=> Display 9PinPrinter `Quality` on Screen)
Optimized Oberon 2 Ansi-C preCompiler   (Translate Oberon-2 Source Code to optimized ANSI-C (GCC) sourcecode. =>Oberon for PowerPC m68k... prozessors, requires GNU/Linux/Unix/AmigaOS)
                    (Oberon-2 is nearly identical to ADA 95, Amiga E, Cluster, Pascal and Modula.)
Garbage Collector            (Replaces C malloc and C++ new;C string (cord) package that provides for fast concatenation and substring operations on long strings;Required by Optimized Oberon 2 C preCompiler,
Sather and Java.)
extended ixemul.library         (PPC version, Required by Optimized Oberon 2 C preCompiler, Java and many others.)

http://home.pages.de/~MartinTauchmann/devel.html#Oberon