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Scout 37.204 Release 2.10 User's Manual Copyright (C) 1994-97 Andreas Gelhausen, Richard Körber What is Scout? ============== Scout is a tool that allows you to monitor your computer system. It displays many different things -- like tasks, ports, assigns, expansion boards, resident commands, interrupts, etc. -- and you can perform some certain actions on them. For example you can freeze tasks, close windows and screens, release semaphores or remove locks, ports and interrupts. Through AmiTCP it's also possible to use Scout as an TCP/IP service. Since version 2.0 of Scout you can use nearly all implemented functions through shell parameters. Therefore it's not necessary to install MUI for using Scout, but you will need MUI, if you want to use Scout with its graphical user interface. Copyright ========= Please read the following parts carefully. You accept the following terms by starting the software, even for a test drive only. COPYRIGHT Scout 37.204 (Release 2.10) - Copyright (C) 1994-97 by Andreas Gelhausen and Richard Körber, all rights reserved. You only have the right to use the software, but no rights on the software itself. Disassembling, resourcing and all other ways of reverse engineering is forbidden. FREEWARE Scout is FreeWare. You are allowed to use the packet without paying a fee or similar to the authors. Of course we would appreciate a small donor! ;-) COPYING You can copy the packet as long as it remains entire and unchanged. You are allowed to compress the packet using a customary compression software (as lha, lzh, lzx, dms). You must not compress single files of the packet (e.g. PowerPacker or Imploder). DISTRIBUTION You must not exceed an usual price on the market for your working and material. This means a maximum of 5 DM (or the equivalent amount in other currencies, including all taxes) for disks and 35 DM for CD-ROMs containing a PD software collection. In any case, you need a written permission from us if you want to include Scout on a cover disk or in connection with a commercial product. We explicitly permit the distribution via AmiNet, Meeting Pearls and Fred Fish. LIABILITY You are using the program as it is, with all flaws, and on your own risk! We grant no warranty for the software meeting a special purpose. This software may cause financial damage or harm people. LIMITATIONS You are not allowed to use this software and its results * for fascism or military purposes * if you do not agree to the copyright note In this case you must delete the software and all related and generated files immediately! CONTENTS OF THE PACKET The Scout packet is only entire with these files: Scout/arexx/activatetask.scout Scout/arexx/arexx.readme Scout/arexx/arexx.readme.info Scout/arexx/breaktask.scout Scout/arexx/freezetask.scout Scout/arexx/poptofront.scout Scout/arexx/settaskpri.scout Scout/arexx/startup.scout Scout/arexx.info Scout/help/deutsch/scout-39.guide Scout/help/deutsch/scout-39.guide.info Scout/help/deutsch/scout.doc Scout/help/deutsch/scout.doc.info Scout/help/deutsch/scout.dvi Scout/help/deutsch/scout.guide Scout/help/deutsch/scout.guide.info Scout/help/deutsch.info Scout/help/english/scout-39.guide Scout/help/english/scout-39.guide.info Scout/help/english/scout.doc Scout/help/english/scout.doc.info Scout/help/english/scout.dvi Scout/help/english/scout.guide Scout/help/english/scout.guide.info Scout/help/english.info Scout/help.info Scout/icons/icons.readme Scout/icons/icons.readme.info Scout/icons/Scout.info Scout/icons/ScoutDock Scout/icons/ScoutDock.info Scout/icons.info Scout/libs/identify.library Scout/libs/identify.readme Scout/libs/identify.readme.info Scout/libs.info Scout/Product-Info Scout/Scout Scout/Scout.info Scout/scout.history Scout/Scout.history.info Scout/Scout.readme Scout/Scout.readme.info Scout.info TRADEMARKS All copyrights and trademarks are held by their owners. System Requirements =================== Scout only requires Amiga operating system version 2.04. The identify.library V8 is not required, but I strongly suggest to install it to give Scout its full power. See also Identify. If you want to use Scout's graphical user interface, you also have to install MUI version 2.1 or higher. See also MUI. The TCP/IP features of Scout are only available, if you have installed the version 4.0 of AmiTCP. See also AmiTCP. MUI - MagicUserInterface ======================== (C) Copyright 1992-97 by Stefan Stuntz MUI is a system to generate and maintain graphical user interfaces. With the aid of a preferences program, the user of an application has the ability to customize the outfit according to his personal taste. MUI is distributed as shareware. To obtain a complete package containing lots of examples and more information about registration please look for a file called muiXXusr.lha (XX means the latest version number) on your local bulletin boards or on public domain disks. If you want to register directly, feel free to send DM 30.- or US$ 20.- to Stefan Stuntz Eduard-Spranger-Straße 7 80935 München GERMANY Identify ======== Copyright (C) 1996-97 Richard Körber Identify is a Shared Library that decodes expansion IDs, guru codes and library functions, and identifies your system. Identify is FreeWare. You can find a complete package in the AmiNet (util/libs/Identify.lha) or on the author's home page: http://www.is-koeln.de/einwohner/shred/. To get in contact, write to shred@chessy.aworld.de. AmiTCP ====== AmiTCP is a TCP/IP protocol stack for the Amiga. The demo version 4.0 (or higher) should be available in greater public domain collections or on the AmiNet. Ask your preferred Amiga dealer. =:^) Installing Scout ================ You only have to copy the program scout to your favourite directory, and identify.library to libs:. Then you can start it. How to use Scout **************** This chapter describes the usage of Scout through its graphical user interface. This graphical user interface is based on the Magic User Interface (MUI) and MUI have to be installed in your system, if you want to use Scout trough windows and so on. If you don't like MUI, you should see Scout without MUI. If you start the program you will see the main window which includes many gadgets. Each of these gadgets represents a certain kind of system structure. You can choose between: Allocations, Assigns, BoopsiClasses, Commodities, Devices, Expansions, Fonts, InputHandlers, Interrupts, Libraries, Locks, LowMemory, Memory, Mounted Devices, Ports, Resident Commands, Residents, Resources, ScreenMode, Semaphores, System, Tasks, Timer, Vectors and Windows. Click one of these gadgets and another window will be opened with a list of the structure type that is indicated on the pressed gadget. Example: Press the task gadget and you will get a window with the list of tasks and processes. You can also select these functions by pressing the underlined key you see on each gadget or by using the right mousebutton menu. If you wish to handle/remove a given structure, you should know what you do. Warning: Wrong handling of the showed structures can crash your system. At the worst you will lose your data. Please note: You should not be surprised, if you don't find a certain detail information in this manual, because it's to much work to explain each element of all the structures you could see in this program. Many books are written about these things and if you want to have more information about them, you should have a look in the specialized literature. Allocations =========== This window informs about who allocated what hardware resource. CIA --- The Amiga owns two CIA to control its hardware, the keyboard and the printer interfaces. Additionally, it contains a couple of timer. This window shows which parts of the CIA are not yet allocated, or which program allocated the resource. Timer A Timer B This are two 16bit timer. They can also be coupled to a 32bit timer. Alarm This resource informs if a third timer reached an alarm value. Serial This is a simple serial interface. Usually, the CIA-A one's is used for communicating with the keyboard. The CIA-B serial interface will not be allocated in most cases. Flag This is a special control line. It is connected from the CIA-A to the Index line of the floppy disk drives. Note: newer DraCos do not contain the CIA chips. Thus, these hardware resources will be emulated or are even not offered. Ports ----- This are the resources for the internal parallel and serial interfaces. Serial Port This are the plain data transfer registers (transmitting and receiving). Serial Control This are the serial control lines, as Carrier Detect. Parallel Port This are the data lines of the parallel port. Parallel Control This are the control lines of the parallel port, as Busy or Paper Out. Actions ------- Update The window is updates each time you press this button. Print The window's contents are printed or saved to a file of your choice. Exit The window will be closed. Assigns ======= This type of structure assigns a logical name to a directory. If you assign the directory dh0:data/documents the logical name texts:, you will also be able to choose a file filename in that directory with the path `texts:filename'. Column items ------------ Address Address of the assign structure. Name Logical name of a directory Path Here you will find the path of the directory. Actions ------- Update Selecting this gadget updates the list of assigns. Print This function allows you to send the list of Assigns to printer or a selected file. Remove The selected assign will be removed with this function. Exit The Assigns window will be closed. BoopsiClasses ============= BOOPSI classes are object oriented classes. The classes in this list are all classes that are publically available from intuition. Column items ------------ Address This is the address of the IClass structure, which contains all data of this class. Objects Shows the current amount of objects constructed by this class. Subclasses Shows the current amount of sub classes (public and private) which are derived from this class. Superclass A pointer to the IClass structure of the parent class. Dispatcher A pointer to the dispatcher code, which realizes all methods of the class. Name The name of the class. Actions ------- Update The list will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list to printer or a selected file. Remove Removes the selected class from the system. This is only possible if neither objects nor sub classes exist from this class. More Opens a window with further information. Exit Closes the window. Commodities =========== Commodities are small utilities. Most of them react on the input stream, or manipulate it. You can find some commodity examples in the Tools drawer of your Workbench. Column items ------------ Address Points to the CxObj structure of the commodity, containing all data about it. ln_Type Structure type. Usually, it will be Broker. ln_Pri Priority of the commodity broker. Flags Flags describing the broker. Port All messages of the broker are sent to this MessagePort. Name Name of the commodity. Actions ------- Appear Disappear Let the selected commodity's GUI pop up or disappear. Some commodities do not have a GUI. Enable Disable The commodity will be enabled or disabled. Kill Let the selected commodity remove itself in a clean way. ListChg Unique The commodity is notified that the list has been changed or that another commodity with the same name was about to be added. This is only useful for programmers to test out their commmodities. Update The list will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list to printer or a selected file. Priority This function allows you to change the priority of a commodity. Remove Removes the selected commodity from the system. Please try a frienly remove before, using Kill. Maybe the commodity removes itself voluntarily. =;^) More Opens a window with further information. Exit Closes the window. Devices ======= A device is -- like a library (see Libraries) -- a collection of functions/procedures, which have to do certain jobs. E.g. the trackdisk.device includes functions for the floppy disk handling. Column items ------------ Address Address of the device structure ln_Name Name of a device ln_Pri Priority of a device OpenC This element shows how often the device was opened. RPC RPC means RAM Pointer Count and shows how many jump addresses of the device point into RAM. In this way many programs -- like the setpatch command from Commodore -- patch the system. Many viruses patch the system in this way too, but don't panic now. If you check your system in regular intervals with a current virus killer, it should be out of danger. If the whole program code of the device is located in RAM, you will find a dash (minus sign) here, because in this case it's unimportant how many jump addresses point into RAM. ln_Type Type of this structure (usually device) Actions ------- Update If you select this gadget, the list of devices will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Devices to printer or a selected file. Remove The selected device will be removed with this function provided that no program uses this device anymore and the OpenC is zero. Priority Herewith the priority of the device can be changed. A little window will be opened, that asks you for a new priority. Through the new priority it can happen that the device gets a new place in the device list. More Another window will be opened and you will see more informations about the selected device. You will have the same effect, if you doubleclick an element of the device list. Functions All device function offsets and addresses are shown up in a subwindow. If an appropriate .fd file exists and an FD: assign points to its directory, then you will also see the function names. Exit The Devices window will be closed. Expansions ========== IMPORTANT: All Scout releases before 2.10 are not compatible to this release! So if you want to read this list using TCP/IP, make sure that the remote system runs the latest version as well! This window shows a list about all your expansion boards (graphic boards, memory expansions and so on) too. Column items ------------ Address The address of the expansion structure. BoardAddr Usually you will find the ROM of the card here. If this address points into RAM, the card is a memory expansion. Type Information about the board. See the More window for further information. Manufacturer Name of the board manufacturer. Product Name and class of the product. Additional information ---------------------- If you select one item from the list, the text field below shows up some additional information: Size If the entry belongs to a memory expansion, the size of the memory is displayed here. Otherwise it's the ROM size of the card. Flags See the More window. ID ManufacturerID, assigned by Commodore, followed by the Productnumber, assigned by the manufacturer of the board. SN Serialnumber of the card (usually unused) Actions ------- Print This function allows you to send the list of Expansions to printer or a selected file. More Now a window will be opened, that includes more informations about the selected expansion board. Doubleclick an element of the Expansions list and you will have the same effect. Exit The Expansions window will be closed. Unknown expansion boards ------------------------ If you select an expansion board by selecting its list item, you will get the name of the manufacturer and the card in the textfield you find below the list, provided that the installed version of identify.library knows about these data. If no information is available in this textfield or the given information is wrong, you should send me the following data, please. 1. ManufacturerID (Manufacturer) 2. ProductID (Product) 3. Name of the company 4. Name of your expansion card 5. Function of your card If you send me these data, the next version of Identify will include your expansion boards. Please be as precise you can. Fonts ===== This function will show you all fonts existing in your system. Column items ------------ YSize Vertical size of the font Count Here you can see how many programs use the font. Type ROMFONT means the font is located in ROM and DISKFONT means the font was loaded from disk/harddisk. Name Name of the font Actions ------- Update The list of fonts will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Fonts to printer or a selected file. Close The font will be closed by using this function. Remove It is possible to remove a font from system, provided that no program uses it and it's no ROMFONT. Exit The Fonts window disappears. InputHandlers ============= Input handlers take care of all user input arriving in system (pressed keys, mouseclicks, inserted disks, etc.). They stand one behind the other like on a production line and analyze the user input. The input handler with the highest priority gets the `events' first and if it doesn't know how to react on these `events', the second input handler gets them, and so on. Usually the system input handler has a priority of 50. Every input handler, that wants to get the user input before the system, must have a higher priority. Column items ------------ ln_Name Name of the input handler ln_Pri Its priority is_Data This address points to some data needed by the input handler. is_Code The program code starts here. If the code is located in RAM, the address is of different color. Otherwise you can find the code in ROM. Some viruses install an input handler in system. In this case the is_Code address points into RAM, but many other programs uses input handlers, too. Don't panic! Actions ------- Update The list of input handlers will be updated when you select this gadget. Print This function allows you to send the list of InputHandlers to printer or a selected file. Remove Removes an input handler from system. Priority Changes the priority of an input handler. Exit The window will be closed. Interrupts ========== Interrupts are important events the computer system has to react on. It exists a list of interrupt routines for each interrupt type. If a certain interrupt occurs, all these interrupt routines will be called. During their execution the running program will be interrupted. Column items ------------ ln_Name Name of the interrupt ln_Pri Its priority is_Data At this address you find the data of the interrupt. is_Code Address of the interrupt code. If this address points into RAM, it's of a different color. NUM This number represents the type of event the interrupt routine is called on. The IntName you find in the interrupt detail window gives you a little bit more information about it. Example: Number 5 means that the interrupt is called at every vertical blank interval. Actions ------- Update The list of interrupts will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Interrupts to printer or a selected file. Remove If the interrupt is a server you can remove it from system. An interrupt handler can't be removed by Scout. If you call avail flush and the audio.device isn't used, the interrupt handlers of the audio.device will be removed. More Now a window will be opened that includes more details of the interrupt. Exit Selecting this gadget will close the Interrupts window. Libraries ========= A library is a collection of functions/procedures, which have to do certain jobs. E.g. the `graphics.library' includes routines for graphical display. Column items ------------ Address Adress of the library structure ln_Name Name of a library ln_Pri Priority of a library OpenC Here you see, how often the library was opened. RPC RPC means RAM Pointer Count and shows how many jump addresses of the library point into RAM. In this way many programs -- like the setpatch command from Commodore -- patch the system. Many viruses patch the system in this way too, but don't panic now. If you check your system in regular intervals with a current virus killer, it should be out of danger. If the whole program code of the library is located in RAM, you will find a dash (minus sign) here, because in this case it's unimportant how many jump addresses point into RAM. ln_Type Type of this structure (usually library) Actions ------- Priority Herewith the priority of the library can be changed. A little window will be opened, that asks you for a new priority. Through the new priority it can happen that the library gets a new place in the list of libraries. Close A library must be closed by all programs, if you want to remove it from system. In this case the OpenC is zero. If you select this function, you will be asked, how often you want to close it. You can choose between Once and All. Select All and the library will so often be closed till the OpenC is zero. Remove The selected library will be removed with this function provided that no program uses this library anymore and the OpenC is zero. Some libraries can't be removed from system without a reset. So you shouldn't wonder about it, if this happens. Functions All library function offsets and addresses are shown up in a subwindow. If an appropriate .fd file exists and an FD: assign points to its directory, then you will also see the function names. Update The list of libraries will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Libraries to printer or a selected file. More A window will be opened that includes more details of the library. Exit Selecting this gadget will close the library window. Locks ===== A lock structure shows you, that a program reads from or perhaps write into a file or a directory. With this type of structure the system prevents, that a file will be deleted while another program gets some data from it. Column items ------------ Access Here you can see the type of access. This could be READ, WRITE or OWN. OWN stands for a lock Scout created to get the elements of this list. Path Path of the file or directory Actions ------- Update The list of Locks will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Locks to printer or a selected file. Remove A lock will be removed through dos.library's `UnLock()' function. Pattern If you give Scout a pattern, only the locks with a matching path will be shown. Exit The Locks window will be closed. LowMemory ========= This list contains all low memory handler known to the system. These handlers are called in their sequence if a memory allocation is about to fail due to missing resources. The handlers try to free as much unused memory space as possible. `ramlib' is such a low memory handler removing unused libraries and devices from the system's memory. It is always present. Note: Low memory handlers are only available since AmigaOS 3.0. On older systems this list will always be empty. Column items ------------ Address Address of the low memory handler structure. ln_Name Name of the handler. ln_Type Type of the handler. ln_Pri Priority of the handler. All handlers are called in their priority sequence. is_Data A pointer to some handler's private data. is_Code A pointer to the low memory handler code. Actions ------- Update The list will be actualized. Print This function allows you to send the list to printer or a selected file. Remove The low memory handler will be removed from system. Priority Changes the priority of the selected handler. Exit The window will be closed. Memory ====== In this list you will find the segments of your memory. At least you will find an entry for your chip memory. Column items ------------ ln_Name Name of the memory segment (e.g. chip memory) ln_Pri Priority of memory mh_Lower First address of memory mh_Upper Last address of memory Actions ------- Print This function allows you to send the list of the memory segments to printer or a selected file. Priority This function allows you to change the priority of a memory segment. The memory segment with the highest priority will be preferred from system, provided that no certain type of memory is demanded. More Another window will be opened. This window includes more information about the memory segment. Exit The window will be closed. Mounted Devices =============== In this list you will find all your devices like disk drives, printer devices, etc. Column items ------------ Name Name of the device Unit Unit number Heads Number of heads Cyl Number of cylinders State The state shows you for example, if a disk is in drive. DiskType Type of a disk (e.g. OFS (OldFileSystem), FFS (FastFileSystem), ...) Handler or Device The handler or the device you find here has to manage the stream of data from and to the device. Actions ------- Update The list will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Mounted Devs to printer or a selected file. Exit The window will be closed. Ports ===== Programs are able to communicate together through ports. Column items ------------ Address Here you will find the port structure. ln_Name Name of port ln_Pri Priority of port mp_SigTask The task is communicating through the port. Actions ------- Update The ports list will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Ports to printer or a selected file. Remove The port will be removed. Priority Herewith the port priority can be changed. Exit The Ports window will be closed. Resident Commands ================= This list includes all resident commands. That means all commands you find in ROM and the commands you made `resident' through the resident command. Positions and sizes of their hunks you will find here, too. Column items ------------ Name Name of the command UseCount Here you can see, how often a command was being executed at the time the list was build. Lower First address of hunk in memory Upper Last address of hunk in memory Size Size of hunk (upper - lower - 8 bytes overhead) Actions ------- Update The list of Resident Commands will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Resident Commands to printer or a selected file. Remove The selected command will be removed with this function provided that no program uses this command anymore and the UseCount is zero. Exit The window disappears. Residents ========= Resident modules are reset-protected segments (code and data). In the list of Residents you usually find libraries, devices and resources. A programmer has the possibility to make his own programs reset-protected. He has to initialize a resident structure for it and then he can link the program through the kick-vectors (see Vectors) to the list of the resident modules. The residents you linked to system are usually located in RAM and are of a different color. If you find a resident module that points into RAM and you don't know which program has created it, you should start your favourite virus detector and let it check your memory. Many viruses prefer this way to travel around. Column items ------------ Address At this address the resident module is located. ln_Name Name of the resident module rt_Pri Priority rt_IdString Identity string of the resident module. Actions ------- Update The list of Residents will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Residents to printer or a selected file. More Selecting this gadget opens a new window with more information about the selected resident module. Exit The Residents window will be closed. Resources ========= Usually a resource is -- like a library (see Libraries) -- a collection of functions/procedures, which have to do certain jobs. E.g. the `filesystem.resource' includes functions for the filesystem handling. Column items ------------ Address Address of the resource structure ln_Name Name of a resource ln_Pri Priority of a resource OpenC This element shows how often the resource was opened. RPC RPC means RAM Pointer Count and shows how many jump addresses of the resource point into RAM. In this way many programs -- like the setpatch command from Commodore -- patch the system. Many viruses patch the system in this way too, but don't panic now. If you check your system in regular intervals with a current virus killer, it should be out of danger. If the whole program code of the resource is located in RAM, you will find a dash (minus sign) here, because in this case it's unimportant how many jump addresses point into RAM. ln_Type Type of this structure (usually resource) Actions ------- Update The list of Resources will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Resources to printer or a selected file. Remove The selected resource will be removed with this function, provided that no program uses it anymore and the OpenC is zero. Priority Herewith the priority of the resource can be changed. A small window will be opened, that asks you for a new priority. Through the new priority it can happen that the resource gets a new position in the list of resources. More Select this gadget and you get a new window with more information about the selected resource. Functions All resource function offsets and addresses are shown up in a subwindow. If an appropriate .fd file exists and an FD: assign points to its directory, then you will also see the function names. Note that some resources do not have functions. Exit The Resources window will be closed. Please note: If you should find three dashes (minus signs) at OpenC and/or RPC, the resource has no typical library structure. This happens for example at the `FileSystem.resource'. ScreenMode ========== Screen modes define all monitor resolutions that the system is able to show up. You surely have already selected a screen mode before. In this list, you will find all available modes. Most of the programs filter out some of them when they do not meet their purpose. Column items ------------ ModeID An identification number, unique to each mode. Width Nominal width of the resolution in pixeln. Height Nominal height of the resolution in pixeln. Depth Maximum number of planes. The amount of colors which can be simultaneously displayed depends on this. ScreenMode Name of the screen mode. Some modes do not have a real name, so Scout will generate it. Then it might differ from the name generated by other programs or screen mode requesters. Actions ------- Update The list will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list to printer or a selected file. More Further information about the screen mode are displayed in a subwindow. This includes the overscan resolutions and the frequencies. Due to an inaccuracy of the operating system, the real frequencies might be a little bit different to those displayed. Exit The window will be closed. Semaphores ========== The use of semaphores is a way of single-threading critical sections. For example only one program is allowed to use the printer at one time, otherwise the texts would be mixed. Column items ------------ ln_Name Name of a semaphore Nest This item counts how often the semaphore has been obtained by the owner task. Queue This counter shows you, how many programs want to obtain the semaphore. Owner Here you will find the name of the task that owns the semaphore. Actions ------- Update The list of Semaphores will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Semaphores to printer or a selected file. Obtain This function is used to gain access to a semaphore. The NestCnt will be increased at one by this call. Release Herewith you can make a signal semaphore available to others. Exit The Semaphores window will be closed. System ====== Actions ------- Print This function allows you to send the list to printer or a selected file. Exit The window will be closed. Entry items ----------- In this window you will find some (partially technical) information about your computer. Please excuse the ordinary look of the window, but it is very easy to add more lines this way. Tasks ===== In this window you find a list of all tasks and processes being in system. Each program you start will be executed as a task or process. Column items ------------ ln_Name Name of the task/process ln_Type Type of the structure (task or process) ln_Pri Priority of the task/process NUM If a non detaching program was started from shell, you will find here the number of the process. Programs you started from Workbench have a dash here. State Here you see the state of the task or process. You will find Scout's own process on the top of the list with a run at this place, because this process is always running when it gets the task list. ready means the task wants to work, but it's interrupted by the execution of another task. A task that is waiting for a certain signal is in the state wait. In this case it doesn't need processing time. SigWait Signalmask the task is waiting for. Actions ------- Print This function allows you to send the list of Tasks to printer or a selected file. Freeze With this function you freeze the selected task. It can still be found in the list of tasks, but it gets no processing time from system. Warning: If you try to freeze tasks essential to the system like `input.device', you should have saved all important data, cause a RESET is the only way out! Activate A frozen task can be activated here. CPU Here you will find a text field and a cycle gadget. This text field displays -- dependent on the state of the cycle gadget -- the CPU load in percent. For the cycle gadget you can choose between three states: off In this case the CPU load won't be displayed. If you select another state, Scout will patch some system functions to calculate the CPU load of all tasks. full If you select this state, Scout sets the real cpu load to 100%. That means the total of the CPU loads of all tasks and processes will be 100%. Therefore nothing will be displayed in the text field. in % Scout starts a task named « Scout's cheat task » to calculate the real CPU load and it will be displayed in the text field. Secs This string gadget allows you to set the intervall time for updating of the CPU load display. Update The list will be updated. Remove A task will be removed from the list. You should prefer the freeze function, if you perhaps need this task again. See also Break! Signal If you select a signal mask, it will be send to the task. Break A signal mask that includes the signals CTRL-C and CTRL-D will be send to the task you selected. Many tasks and processes end, if they receive these signals. Priority The priority of a task can be changed with this function. More Selecting this gadget will open another window that displays more informations about the task or the process. Exit The window will be closed. Timer ===== This window lists all current requests of the timer.device. Column items ------------ Address Address of the IO request structure. ReplyPort Address of the port the request will be replied to. Time Time that this request will stay in this list. Unit There are two different measures: VBlank (which has less overhead) and MicroHz (which is more accurate). Task Name of the requesting task. Actions ------- Print This function allows you to send the list to printer or a selected file. Update The list will be updated. Exit The window will be closed. Vectors ======= Actions ------- Update The displayed vectors will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Vectors to printer or a selected file. Exit The window will be closed. Reset Vectors ------------- A program can make itself reset-protected by using the reset vectors. If the vectors are unused, they have a value of zero. The programs which use the Kick-Vectors (KickTagPtr, KickMemPtr and KickCheckSum) can also be found in the list of resident structures. See also Residents. Auto Vector Interrupts ---------------------- In a computer system with a MC68000 processor you will find the seven Auto Vector Interrupts from address $64 to address $7c. Higher processors (MC68010, etc.) have the VBR (Vector Base Register) that allows you to move the interrupt table to FAST-MEM. The system will be a little bit faster then. Scout uses the VBR if it exists. Interrupt Vectors ----------------- Here you see 16 interrupt vectors (IntVecs). These vectors are located in the `ExecBase' (base structure of the exec.library). Windows ======= All screens with the windows opened on them are listed here. Screens are of a different color as windows. Column items ------------ Pos(x,y) x and y position of the screen/window Size(x,y) x and y size of the screen/window Title Title of the screen/window Actions ------- Update The list will be updated. Print This function allows you to send the list of Windows to printer or a selected file. Close With this function it is possible to close screens and/or windows. If you close a screen, all windows on it will be closed too. To Front The selected screen/window will be popped to front. More If you select this gadget another window will be opened that displays more informations about the window or the screen. Exit The window will be closed. Scout and AmiTCP ================ This section will show you what you have to do for using Scout as a TCP/IP service through AmiTCP. Nearly all functions of Scout can also be used via AmiTCP. Now some knowledge will be assumed. If you don't know, what kind of program AmiTCP represents, you should read AmiTCP's user's manual before. (See also AmiTCP.) If you have installed AmiTCP, you can use Scout as client and server. Except the installed programs of AmiTCP you don't need another program for using Scout on networks. If you want to make your computer available for other systems on the network, you have to do following two steps: 1. Add the line scout 6543/tcp to file AmiTCP:db/services. 2. Now please add the line scout stream tcp nowait root dh0:scout to file AmiTCP:db/inetd.conf. Make sure that the path at the end of this line is the right path for scout. That's it! If you start AmiTCP now, your computer is available for other systems through using the options HOST, USER and PASSWORD. Example: If I want perform some actions on some system structures of my own system for example, I have to start Scout through something like: 1> scout HOST crash.north.de USER atte PASSWORD secret If you leave out option PASSWORD, you will be asked for the correct password through the password: prompt. In this case nobody can see your password, because it won't be displayed in shell. If you don't use option USER, AmiTCP takes the username that is actually available in system. The usage of AmiTCP doesn't provide the installation of MUI. All of Scout's shell commands (see also Commands) can be used via network through AmiTCP. Example: If I want to get the task list of my system, I have to use something like: 1> scout HOST crash.north.de USER atte PASSWORD secret Tasks You and all other users must always identify themselves through their usernames (option USER) and their passwords (option PASSWORD). It's also possible to allow or deny certain systems the usage of some services through the file AmiTCP:db/inet.access. See also the user's manual of AmiTCP. If you want to get more informations about the implemented options and commands, you should also see Options and Commands. NOTE: Please take care that the remote system runs the latest Scout version as well, to avoid incompatibilities. Scout without MUI ================= Nearly all through the graphical user interface available functions of Scout are also available via shell. Therefore you don't really need MUI for using Scout. But if you want to use Scout's graphical user interface, you must have MUI in your system. Options ******* There are some options for Scout which you can use, when you start the program. The following options are available from shell and as tool types from Workbench. ICONIFIED Usage: ICONIFIED If this option is activ, Scout starts iconified. PORTNAME Usage: PORTNAME=portname The name of Scout's ARexx port can be changed into portname. Without this option the ARexx port is called `SCOUT.X'. The X stands for a decimal number that will be incremented, if a so called port already exists. TOOLPRI Usage: TOOLPRI=value This option allows you to change the priority of Scout's process into value. STARTUP Usage: STARTUP=command The variable command should be an ARexx script or a single ARexx command. Both (script or command) will be executed, when Scout will be started. In this way you can open more than only the main window by starting. Try for example the command OpenWindow Tasks and you will get two windows by starting (the main window and the task list window). (See also Commands.) INTERVALTIME Usage: INTERVALTIME=seconds This options allows you to save your preferred update time for the list of tasks. (See also Tasks.) CPUDISPLAY Format: CPUDISPLAY=value Through the variable value you can select the state of the CPU cycle gadget you find in the Tasks window. (See also Tasks.) * 1 means CPU: full * 2 means CPU: in % HOST Format: HOST=hostname This options allows you to specify the system (hostname) you want to manipulate via network through AmiTCP. USER Format: USER=username You have to use this option to identify yourself by using Scout as a TCP/IP service. PASSWORD Format: PASSWORD=password Without a password Scout can't connect to another system via network. This option allows you to set the correct password. COMMAND Format: COMMAND=commandline Nearly all of Scout's implemented functions are available from shell through this option. You don't need the COMMAND key to use this option. (See also Commands.) SINGLEWINDOWS Format: SINGLEWINDOWS Some users don't like to handle the many windows of Scout. This option solves the problem of too many windows. If this option is selected, only one list window and only one detail window is opened at a time. SORT#?TYPE Format: SORT#?TYPE=number Many of Scout's lists have a cycle gadget below themselves. With these gadgets you can select, how a certain list will be sorted. SORT#?TYPE stands for each of the following options: SORTLIBRARIESTYPE, SORTDEVICESTYPE, SORTRESOURCESTYPE, SORTTASKSTYPE, SORTPORTSTYPE, SORTCOMMANDSTYPE, SORTASSIGNSTYPE, SORTLOCKSTYPE, SORTCOMMODITIESTYPE, SORTSCREENMODETYPE and SORTCLASSESTYPE. SORT#?TYPE should follow a decimal number, which selects the kind of sorting. Here are some examples for the list of tasks: SORTTASKSTYPE=1 the tasks will be sorted by their names. SORTTASKSTYPE=2 the tasks will be sorted by their priorities. Scout's commands via ARexx and shell ************************************ Scout supports two kinds of commands: 1. commands only available from shell 2. commands available from ARexx and shell ARexx port ---------- It's a feature of MUI to give each application its own ARexx port. Therefore Scout also has an ARexx port that usually has the name SCOUT.X. The X stands for a decimal number that will be incremented, if a so called port already exists. You will find the name of Scout's ARexx port in the window you get, if you select the Project/About menu. Using tasknames: ---------------- If a task or a process was started from shell and hasn't detached itself, you will find the name of the command being executed, where usually the taskname is displayed. The real name of those tasks usually is something like Background CLI, but such a taskname isn't useful. Example: If you start a non detaching task like DH0:Debug/Sushi from shell, you will see DH0:Debug/Sushi as taskname. Some ARexx commands need a taskname as parameter. You have to select those from CLI started self detaching tasks by using their command names like Scout displays them in the lists of tasks. Commands only available from shell ================================== Help Format: Help This command is the most important one and it doesn't need parameters. If you try Help, Scout prints a list of all available commands to shell. =:^) Now 18 commands follow. These commands allow the user to get all lists of system structures from shell. Therefore you only need to install MUI for using Scout's graphical user interface. Each of the following commands has a shortened form that stands behind the command in parentheses. Allocations (a), BoopsiClasses (b), Commands (c), Devices (d), Timer (e), Fonts (f), Assigns (g), InputHandlers (h), Interrupts (i), LowMemory (j), Commodities (k), Libraries (l), Memory (m), Mounts (n), Locks (o), Ports (p), Residents (r), Semaphores (s), Tasks (t), Resources (u), Vectors (v), Windows (w), Expansions (x), System (y) and ScreenMode (z). Example: To get the list of ports, you only have to use scout ports or scout p from shell. Commands available from ARexx and shell ======================================= FindTask Usage: FindTask task This command allows you to check, if task task exists in system or not. The result is the address of the task task, if it has been found. task can be the name or the address of a task. FreezeTask Usage: FreezeTask task The task taskname will be frozen. After that it will still be found in system's task list, but then it doesn't need processing time. You can choose the name or the address of a task for task. ActivateTask Usage: ActivateTask task If task task was frozen, it will be activated, otherwise an error occured. task is again a task's name or an address. RemoveTask Usage: RemoveTask task This command removes the task task. It's lost forever. BreakTask Usage: BreakTask task Scout sends the task task a certain signal mask that includes the signals CTRL-C and CTRL-D. Many programs support these signals and finish themselves, if they receive one of them. SignalTask Usage: SignalTask task hexsignal This command allows you to send a signal hexsignal to the task task. The signal must specified as a hexadecimal number. Example: SendSignal 'scout' 0x001000 sends task scout a CTRL-C and after that Scout ends. SetTaskPri Usage: SetTaskPri task priority The task task gets a new priority (priority). RemovePort Usage: RemovePort port The port port will be removed from Scout. port can be the name of a port or its address. GetLockNumber Usage: GetLockNumber lockpattern This command returns the number of locks which have paths matching to the pattern lockpattern. Example: Use the command GetLockNumber 'WORK:Utilities/#?' and you will know, how many locks are currently used for files in the directory WORK:Utilities/. RemoveLocks Usage: RemoveLocks lockpattern Use this command and all locks which have paths matching to the pattern lockpattern will be removed. (See also GetLockNumber.) RemoveLock Format: RemoveLock lockaddress The lock at adress lockaddress will be removed. FindNode Usage: FindNode nodetype nodename This command allows you to find a certain node. You only have to know its name (nodename) and its type (nodetype). Nodetype can have following values: LIBRARY, DEVICE, RESOURCE, MEMORY, SEMAPHORE, PORT or INPUTHANDLER. Example: If you want to get the address of the disk.resource you must use: FindNode RESOURCE 'disk.resource' GetPriority Usage: GetPriority nodeaddress This command allows you to check the priority of a certain node structure. This includes all following structure types: tasks, libraries, devices, resources, ports, residents, input handlers, interrupts, semaphores and the elements of the memory list. You only have to know the address (nodeaddress) of that structure. Example: The following ARexx commands store the priority of your chip memory in the variable pri: FindName MEMORY 'chip memory' addr = result GetPriority addr pri = result SetPriority Usage: SetPriority nodetype nodename If you want to change the priority of the node nodename, you can use this command. Again nodetype can have following values: LIBRARY, DEVICE, RESOURCE, MEMORY, SEMAPHORE, PORT or INPUTHANDLER. CloseLibrary Format: CloseLibrary library The library library will be closed once. library can be the name of the library or its address. RemoveLibrary Format: RemoveLibrary library The library library will be removed, if no program uses it. RemoveDevice Format: RemoveDevice device The selected device device will be removed. For device use the name or the address of the device. RemoveResource Format: RemoveResource resource The resource resource will be removed. ObtainSemaphore Format: ObtainSemaphore semaphore This command allows you to obtain the given semaphore. semaphore can be the semaphore's name or address. ReleaseSemaphore Format: ReleaseSemaphore semaphore The semaphore semaphore will be once released. RemoveSemaphore Format: RemoveSemaphore semaphore You are able to remove the semaphore semaphore by using this command. RemoveInputhandler Format: RemoveInputhandler inputhandler The input handler inputhandler selected through name or address will be removed. FindResident Usage: FindResident resident This command returns the address of the resident structure resident. FindInterrupt Usage: FindInterrupt interruptname The address of the interrupt interruptname will be returned. RemoveInterrupt Format: RemoveInterrupt interruptname The interrupt you have selected through interruptname will be removed. FlushDevs Usage: FlushDevs All not used devices will be removed. The used memory will be freed. FlushFonts Usage: FlushFonts If a diskfont is in memory, but no program uses it, it will be removed. FlushLibs Usage: FlushLibs All not used libraries will be removed. The used memory will be freed. FlushAll Usage: FlushAll This function includes FlushDevs, FlushFonts and FlushLibs. All not used devices, libraries and fonts will be removed and the used memory will be freed. ClearResetVectors Usage: ClearResetVectors The six reset vectors will be cleared, if you select this function (see Vectors). PopToFront Usage: PopToFront title This command allows you to pop a screen or window to front. You only have to know its (title). CloseWindow Usage: CloseWindow windowtitle This command closes the window that is specified through its title (windowtitle). CloseScreen Usage: CloseScreen screentitle If you select this command, the screen (screentitle) will be closed with all its windows. CloseFont Format: CloseFont address The font at address address will be closed once. RemoveFont Format: RemoveFont address This command removes the font at address address, if it's not used by any program. RemoveCommand Format: RemoveCommand address Scout makes the resident command at address address not resident. RemoveAssign Format: RemoveAssign name With this command you're able to remove the assign name. RemoveAssignList Format: RemoveAssignList name address This command removes the directory at address address from assign name. You will find the address of that directory in the list of assigns. PrintList Format: PrintList listcharacter filename This command allows you to print a list (specified by the listcharacter) into the file filename. Example: PrintList t 'ram:tasklist' will print the list of tasks into the file 'ram:tasklist'. OpenWindow Usage: OpenWindow windowid All windows you get if you select a gadget of Scout's main window, can be opened with this command. The windowid is the same text you find on the main window gadgets. Example: OpenWindow 'Mounted Devs' will open the window with the list of mounted devices. CxAppear CxDisappear CxEnable CxDisable CxKill CxListChg CxUnique Format: Cx... name Sends the command to the commodity named name. RemoveCx Format: RemoveCx commodity Removes the appropriate commodity from the list. Please consider this as `emergency break'. Use it only if CxKill failed. SetCxPri Format: SetCxPri commodity priority Sets the priority of a commodity. RemoveClass Format: RemoveClass class The appropriate BOOPSI class is removed, if no objects and no subclasses are existing. How to get updates ================== The newest version of Scout should always be available on AmiNet or Public Domain collections, which are up-to-date. You can also find the latest version on my home page: http://www.is-koeln.de/einwohner/shred/ Credits ======= Now we have to thank some people for supporting the development of Scout on many different kinds: * Klaus `gizmo' Weber, he was always available to Atte and his many questions (not a few) during the programming of Scout. * Christian `cosinus' Stelter, he gave the permission to use his many manuals. * Stefan Stuntz for his great MagicUserInterface * all (hopefully still) bug reporting and feature requesting people: Kai `wusel' Siering, Martin Hauner, Peter Meyer, Karl `Charly' Skibinski, Michael `Mick' Hohmann, Thore Böckelmann, Bernardo Innocenti, Daniel Lundberg, ... and last but not least * all the others we've forgotten for reporting bugs, sending expansion boards data and so on. How to reach the author ======================= If you have questions, suggestions, bug reports or anything else, you can contact me at: Richard Körber Hornstraße 20 51465 Bergisch Gladbach - Germany - E-Mail: shred@chessy.aworld.de richard.koerber@koeln.netsurf.de Send E-Mails whenever possible.. If you want to contact Andreas Gelhausen, you can reach him at: Andreas Gelhausen Graf Spee Str. 23b 26123 Oldenburg - Germany - E-Mail: atte@crash.north.de Please do not contact him for bug reports, suggestions and similar. But if you feel the urge to send a gift, then he is the right address! That's it! =:^) Index ***** Allocations Allocations AmiTCP AmiTCP ARexx Commands ARexx port Commands Assigns Assigns Author Info Author Info Boards Expansions BoopsiClasses BoopsiClasses Command Commands Command Line Options Options Commodities Commodities Contents Copyright Copying Copyright Copyright Copyright Copyright Copyright Credits Credits Device names, logical Assigns Devices Devices DISKFONT Fonts Distribution Copyright Expansions Expansions Fonts Fonts FreeWare Copyright Handler, LowMemory LowMemory Hardware Expansions Identify Identify Input events InputHandlers InputHandlers InputHandlers Installation Installation Interrupts Interrupts Introduction Introduction Legalities Copyright Liability Copyright Libraries Libraries Limitation Copyright Locks Locks Logical device names Assigns LowMemory LowMemory MagicUserInterface MUI Main Window Using Scout Manufacturer Expansions Memory Memory Mounted Devices Mounted Devs MUI MUI No Warranty Copyright Options Options Ports Ports Processes Tasks RAM Pointer Count Devices Resident Commands Resident Cmds Residents Residents Resource allocation Allocations Resources Resources ROMFONT Fonts RPC Devices ScreenMode ScreenMode Screens Windows Semaphores Semaphores System System System Requirements System Requirements Tasknames Commands Tasks Tasks TCP/IP AmiTCP Timer Timer Tool Types Options Trademarks Copyright Updates Updates Using Scout Using Scout VBR Vectors Vectors Vectors Vertical blank interrupt Interrupts What is Scout? Introduction Windows Windows