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- _______
- ____|__ | (tm)
- --| | |-------------------
- | ____|__ | Association of
- tm | | |_| Shareware
- VMiX 386 Version 2.22 |__| o | Professionals
- ----------------------- -----| | |---------------------
- |___|___| MEMBER
-
- Copyright (c) 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
-
- Commercial Software Associates
- Post Office Box 185
- Corona del Mar, California 92625
-
- BBS (714) 721-1228 (24 Hrs.)
- VOICE (714) 721-9953 (8 - 6pm PDT)
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | WHAT IS VMiX? |
- | |
- | VMiX is a multitasking and multiuser environment for |
- | IBM PC's and PS/2's (PC, XT, AT, PS/2) compatibles. |
- | |
- | Version 2.22 configures itself to your processor. If you |
- | have an 8088 or 8086, then your applications must share |
- | the 470 Kbytes available after VMiX loads in low memory. |
- | If you have an 80286, then VMiX can multitask applica- |
- | tions that use expanded memory or can swap applications |
- | to extended memory. Swapped tasks will be swapped back |
- | regularly for a timeslice of the processing or they can |
- | remain suspended until reactivated. |
- | |
- | If you have an 80386, VMiX will multitask in extended |
- | memory. It will execute each task in virtual 8086 mode, |
- | with protected mode pagging, mapping a new 640 Kbytes to |
- | each new task. |
- | |
- | Multitasking is supported at the console, in windows or |
- | full screen. If you do not like windows at your console |
- | you can choose to use terminals or PC's attached to the |
- | COMM ports. |
- | |
- | The VMiX environment uses the best from MSDOS and UNIX |
- | in its implementation of the user control shell and |
- | multitasking. The user has a choice of 2 user interfa- |
- | ces: the VMiX shell, which can talk to the MSDOS shell |
- | (you get both sets of commands), or the VMiX pull-down |
- | menus interface. |
- | |
- | Applications that do not write directly to the video, |
- | like DBASE, TURBO PASCAL, PROCOMM, WSTAR, WORDPERFECT, |
- | OPUS BBS, or BASIC will display correctly at a terminal. |
- | |
- | VMiX co-resides with DOS 2.1 through 4.01 |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | HOW TO INSTALL VMiX? |
- | |
- | VMiX is easy to install. Simply copy the executable |
- | files in the VMiX archive to your directory and execute |
- | the boot module VM_BOOT.EXE |
- | |
- | There are 3 start-up options, if VMiX fails to start |
- | correctly on your computer. VM_BOOT -r will force 8086 |
- | VMiX mode on 80286 or 80386 computers, and VM_BOOT -x |
- | will force 80286 VMiX mode on 80386 computers. Using |
- | VM_BOOT -l or VM_BOOT -lx will inhibit relocation of |
- | portions of VMiX to extended memory. Use of these 3 |
- | options might allow VMiX to execute in your environment. |
- | |
- | Later you will learn how to customize your VMiX start-up |
- | by including command arguments in the VM_BOOT command |
- | line from DOS. |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | HOW TO INSTALL MY APPLICATIONS? |
- | |
- | If you can execute your applications from DOS, they |
- | are already installed for VMiX. VMiX does not use PIF |
- | or other types of application configuration files. |
- | |
- | Applications that write directly to the screen can |
- | coexist with other applications at the console, but |
- | will not display properly at a COMM port terminal or PC. |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | HOW MUCH MEMORY WILL REMAIN AFTER VMiX IS INSTALLED? |
- | |
- | On a 640Kb memory 8088 PC or 80286 AT with DOS 3.1 and |
- | no installed TSR's, there will remain about 470Kb of |
- | memory for applications. On the 80386, each task gets |
- | it's own 640Kb from your extended memory pool. |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | HOW DO I VALIDATE THAT VMIX IS WORKING CORRECTLY ON MY |
- | SYSTEM? |
- | |
- | To test VMiX, we recommend that you perform the two |
- | tests below: |
- | |
- | TEST 1: Validates that VMiX itself is working correctly. |
- | |
- | invoke VMiX as follows: (from the directory where you |
- | copied VM_BOOT.EXE ) |
- | |
- | vm_boot do /debug set |
- | |
- | and PRESS <ENTER> |
- | This will start 2 tasks: |
- | the root shell or main |
- | window, where the key- |
- | board will remain unless |
- | you press <SHIFT><TAB>, |
- | |
- | a VMiX debugger task |
- | displaying information |
- | about the 'set' command. |
- | If all windows display activity, the TEST PASSED. |
- | From the root window type 'quit' and press <ENTER>|
- | to exit VMiX. |
- | |
- | |
- | TEST 2: Validates that VMiX, your version of MSDOS, and |
- | your system's ROM BIOS, all get along fine. |
- | |
- | invoke VMiX as follows: (from the directory where you |
- | copied VM_BOOT.EXE ) |
- | |
- | vm_boot do dir c: /type c:\autoexec.bat |
- | |
- | and PRESS <ENTER> |
- | This will start 2 tasks: |
- | the root shell or main |
- | window, displaying your |
- | autoexec.bat file, where |
- | the keyboard will remain,|
- | |
- | and another task doing a |
- | directory. |
- | If all windows display activity, the TEST PASSED. |
- | From the root window type 'quit' and press <ENTER>|
- | to exit VMiX. |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT VMiX? |
- | |
- | VMiX is supported shareware. In the rapidly developing |
- | multitasking market, VMiX has undergone over 15 new |
- | releases in the last 3 years, each with new and enhanced |
- | features. |
- | |
- | VMiX provides an easy to install and operate environment |
- | that can be used to multitask DOS. It can also be used |
- | to simply task switch applications to extended memory on |
- | an 80286/386 PC. |
- | |
- | VMiX also provides remote access to your multitasking PC |
- | server. |
- | |
- | VMiX gives you more than a multitasker, it gives you an |
- | operating system which gently introduces you to the new |
- | complexities of advanced systems. |
- | |
- | If you can execute your applications from DOS, they are |
- | already installed for VMiX. VMiX does not use PIF or |
- | other types of application configuration files. |
- | |
- | The VMiX command interface is layered, to protect the |
- | casual user who just wants to get maximum utility and |
- | does not need or wants to learn the full system. |
- | For the serious operator or software developer, VMiX |
- | provides an internal 'debug' shell which can be coupled |
- | with a DOS debugger or tool, as a concurrently executing |
- | VMiX task, to examine other live applications, DOS, or |
- | VMiX itself. |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | SAMPLE STARTUP |
- | ----- if your printer, mouse, or modem is on COM1, |
- | then COM2 is available for user logins: |
- | (NOTE the lower case 'L', below) |
- | |
- | C> vm_boot set remote -l2 |
- | |
- | |
- | ----- if your printer, mouse, or modem is on COM2, |
- | then COM1 (VMiX default) is available for logins: |
- | |
- | C> vm_boot |
- | |
- | |
- | ----- if you are using both COM1 and COM2, |
- | then set VMiX to COM3 to avoid interferance: |
- | (NOTE the lower case 'L', below) |
- | |
- | C> vm_boot set remote -l3 |
- | |
- | |
- | ----- if you want to start with the VMiX pull-down |
- | menus: |
- | |
- | C> vm_boot vw |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | QUICK START TO VMiX MULTITASKING |
- | |
- | The VMiX manual is big and spread out, but the last |
- | 2 chapters describe each VMiX command in detail. |
- | |
- | Basically these are the commands that you must master |
- | FIRST, to start using the multitasking features right- |
- | away. |
- | |
- | |
- | ? Pressing '?' will display a list of avail- |
- | able VMiX commands. Typing a VMiX command |
- | that requires additional parameters, will |
- | display usage information. |
- | |
- | |
- | exec This command allows you to partition the |
- | use of your PC's memory between tasks. |
- | By default, VMiX partitions each new MSDOS |
- | task into 224Kb chunks of available memory, |
- | on 8088 and 80286 processors. On the 80386 |
- | the default partition size is 512Kb. |
- | |
- | To override the defaults, you might type: |
- | exec -m128 |
- | |
- | this sets the partition size to 128Kb. |
- | Any new program, after that, will only see |
- | a maximum of 128Kb available, until the next|
- | 'exec -m' reduces or expands the current |
- | limit. |
- | |
- | In 80386 processors, selecting a partition |
- | size smaller than the 512Kb default, will |
- | cause new tasks to use the parent's memory |
- | partition and will not be mapped to their |
- | own 640Kb, from the extended memory pool. |
- | |
- | |
- | do This command allows you to specify a new |
- | MSDOS task. 'do' is short for 'dosjob'. |
- | To execute BASIC in a window, you would |
- | type: |
- | do c:\basic |
- | |
- | To execute BASIC and give it the full |
- | screen, you would type: |
- | do -W c:\basic |
- | |
- | 'do' is the basic VMiX command to start a |
- | new and separate process. |
- | |
- | Shift TAB Once you have started several windows, you |
- | will need to move the keyboard between them,|
- | so that input to each task can be safely |
- | directed to only that task. You move the |
- | keyboard, in round-robin fasion by pressing |
- | the Shift and Tab keys simultaneously. |
- | Shift Tab will also clear any defunct |
- | windows left around, when there remains |
- | only one shell active. |
- | |
- | do /rshell To clone the VMiX command shell into a 2nd |
- | shell, you type: |
- | do /rshell |
- | |
- | The / tells VMiX this is not a command for |
- | MSDOS but for VMiX. VMiX will ask you for |
- | a login name, type: |
- | su |
- | |
- | This is a reserved name for a VMiX operator |
- | with 'kill' process priviledges. |
- | |
- | do . To clone an MSDOS command shell as the 2nd |
- | window, you type: |
- | do . |
- | |
- | To close the window, type from MSDOS: |
- | exit |
- | |
- | NOTE THAT THE VMiX SHELL PROMPT DIFFERS |
- | FROM THE MSDOS SHELL PROMPT IN THE SINGLE |
- | SPACE THAT FOLLOWS THE PROMPT. |
- | From the VMiX Shell |
- | a directory request would look like |
- | C> dir |
- | From MSDOS it would look like |
- | C>dir |
- | |
- | $$ Particularly in 386 mode, you might find |
- | that some programs might crash VMiX or fail |
- | to execute correctly. To provide system |
- | protection, when executing an ill-behaved |
- | program, precede the filename and path |
- | with the characters '$$': |
- | $$[drive:][path]filename |
- | or, |
- | do $$[drive:][path]filename |
- | |
- | |
- | NOW THAT YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO FORGET |
- | ALL ABOUT IT AND USE, INSTEAD, THE VMiX PULL-DOWN MENUS |
- | BY TYPING, AFTER VMiX STARTS: |
- | |
- | C> c:\vmix\vw |
- | |
- | |
- | REMEMBER THAT ANY COMMAND YOU CAN GIVE FROM INSIDE VMiX |
- | CAN ALSO BE STATED IN THE VM_BOOT COMMAND LINE, EACH |
- | COMMAND SEPARATED BY A / |
- | |
- | Congratulations, you are now a certified VMiX SysOp. |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- _______________________________________________________________
- | |
- | WHAT IS AHEAD FOR VMiX? |
- | |
- | Ahead: A larger 80386 partition size. |
- | Virtual 386 mode video screens |
- | A new serial port V.42 data link driver. |
- | A distributed file system: |
- | 'rshell' to allow one VMiX PC to execute as a |
- | client of a server VMiX at another PC. |
- | This will allow one PC to multi-task on its |
- | screen a program executing at a second PC. |
- |_______________________________________________________________|
-
- RELEASE NOTES
-
- * See the revision.log file for enhancements and bug fixes to this version.
- In Summary Version 2.22 provides:
-
- 1. Fixed a major bug which caused VMiX to crash on any 386 AT with more
- than 3 Megabytes of extended memory.
-
- 2. Added code for IBM PS/2 support, but VMiX is still not fully working
- on PS/2s.
-
- 3. VMiX now relocates portions of its system code to extended memory.
- More code will be moved in future releases, to allow larger DOS partition
- sizes. The VMiX start-up program 'VM_BOOT' has a new command line switch
- that controls relocation of VMiX to extended memory. Starting VMiX with
- VM_BOOT -l (lower case 'L') will inhibit relocation of portions of VMiX
- to extended memory.
-
- 4. Fixed a bug with the 286 mode 'swap' command, which had stopped working
- correctly in the previous release.
-
- 5. The VMiX start-up program 'VM_BOOT' has three command line switches
- that control the mode the program runs. Using VM_BOOT -r, will force
- VMiX into real (8086) mode and using VM_BOOT -x, will force VMiX into
- extended (80286) mode. These 2 command line switches, disable 80386
- protected mode operations. (Useful for getting around compatibility
- problems, on certain computers.) Using VM_BOOT -l or VM_BOOT -lx
- inhibits relocation of portions of VMiX to extended memory.
-
- 6. Version 2.22 will operate with DOS 4.01. Since DOS 4.01 can be set to
- use extended memory, conflicts can arise. VMiX must be told how much
- extended memory other programs are using (see 12.d, below).
-
- 7. The VMiX clock tick has been changed from 55msec (18.2 task switches
- per second) to 11msec (90.9 task switches per second). A new command,
- 'set system -c ????' will allow you to tune your multitasking environ-
- ment for maximum efficiency. The command specifies the number of clock
- ticks a running task is guarranteed to be active before preemption.
- (Refer also to the 'chprio' command.)
-
- 8. The Shift-Tab hot key will now swap screens between graphics mode
- tasks and alphanumeric mode tasks. Also, tasks using different video
- pages will be switched correctly. This affects only tasks that were
- started with the 'dosjob -W' (full screen) command.
-
- 9. When using VMiX in 80386 mode, the memory partition size is set auto-
- matically to 512Kb, at boot time. If you use the command 'exec -m' to
- set a partition size less than 512Kb, VMiX will not request extended
- memory for new task partitions until you issue 'exec -m512' again.
- When the partition size is less than 512Kb, VMiX uses memory from the
- parent process for the new task (same as 8088 and 80286 mode).
- The default partition size for all other VMiX modes remains 224Kb.
-
- 10. The new '?' command, lists the available VMiX shell commands.
- The 'set dos -m' command has been removed, since the VMiX shell is
- now always transparent to DOS commands. MSDOS commands are passed
- to 'command.com' and VMiX commands are passed to VMiX.
-
- 11. The new command 'examine status' displays information about a task,
- including available memory. Other memory status commands include
- 'examine mcb' and 'monitor -p'.
-
- 12. IMPORTANT NOTICE: We have found that the following reasons are the
- most frequent causes of VMiX 386 failure:
-
- a) Running on a PS/2 without the VMiX '-r' command
- line option (ie., VM_BOOT -r). The '-r' switch
- will disable VMiX advanced features, allowing it
- to execute in real mode (640Kb) on a PS/2.
-
- b) This bug has been finally fixed, hopefully.
-
- Cable connected to COM1 port which causes VMiX port
- test to hang. Recommend to test VMiX with serial
- cable disconnected during vm_boot process. Make
- a new cable as described in the VMiX manual.
-
- c) Failure to reassign VMiX's default port for user
- logins, COM1, to another port number, when COM1 is
- already in use (modem, mouse, etc.). Recommend to
- start VMiX with a non-existent port for logins:
- (NOTE the lower case 'L', below)
-
- vm_boot set remote -l4 (ie., COM4)
-
- d) Using 'swap' with an extended memory cache program
- installed, when VMiX has not been told to reserve
- in-use extended memory with the debugger shell
- command:
-
- 'assign memory ????'
-
- where ???? is number of bytes to reserve above
- 1 Megabyte (ie., 500000 bytes will be rounded
- up to the nearest multiple of 4Kbytes).
-
- e) Using and ANSI.SYS driver that does not support
- discreet window scrolling, but instead, always
- scrolls the entire screen. Quarterdeck Office
- System supplied DVANSI.COM (for DESQview) works
- correctly with VMiX 386.
-
- f) Using VMiX with DOS 4.01 on some 386 computers
- will boot OK, but multitasking will be erratic
- or lock the system.
-
- g) The following vendor's 386 computers are known
- to crash (incompatible) or not crash (compatible)
- VMiX during 386 protected mode start-up:
-
- Incompatible Compatible
- --------------- -------------------
- COMPAQ 386 SX AST Premium 386
- Hauppauge 386-16XT AT&T 386
- HP Vectra 386 Cheetah cAT 386-20
- *IBM PS/2 70-80 COMPAQ 386-25
- Zenith 386 Everex 386-16
- Everex Step 386-25
- Gateway 2000 386-20
- Micronics 386
- * partially working Monolithic 386-16
- Northgate 386
- Olivetti 386-20
- Tandy 5000
-
-
- IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
- --------- --------- ---------
-
- N O T I C E
-
- The manual included in the non-registered distribution diskette is the
- last ASCII version of the VMiX manual. This manual, describes the use of
- VMiX Versions 1.4X. It should be sufficient to allow you to fully test
- VMiX. All changes to VMiX, since its introduction April 1987, are logged
- in the revision.log file, including the new features in Version 2.22.
- The VMiX COMMAND LOOK-UP - QUICK REFERENCE, shown below, is the current
- list of all VMiX Version 2.22 commands and syntax. VMiX provides built-
- in help, as described in the 1.4X manual.
-
- If you decide that VMiX is the way to go, please register, and we will
- ship to you the new printed manual for version 2.XX, and the source code
- to the VMiX utilities and Application Programmer's Interface to VMiX.
- Additionally, you will receive the eight user version and a version
- optimized for the 80386 instruction set.
-
- We appreciate the comments and help of all the users, who through
- various BBS's helped debug VMiX. Thanks!
-
-
-
- QUICK OVERVIEW
-
-
- * VMiX is not presently a full operating system. It provides the services
- of a multiuser operating system supervisor. The VMiX kernel ties tightly
- between the host operating system I/O services and the user applications.
- The eventual goal of the VMiX kernel is to arbitrate the use of system
- resources by individual tasks with either or both UNIX I/O or DOS I/O,
- in an environment providing up to 16 megabytes of physical memory.
-
- * The console screen can be automatically partitioned into up to four
- windows, for a total of 4 tasks executing from the console. The active
- task controls and responds to the console keyboard. The active task
- can be switched, at any time, by pressing the hot key, Shift-Tab.
-
- * VMiX does not need to operate in protected mode to multitask. Hence, it
- can be used in 8088 PCs. In 80286 mode, VMiX ocassionally needs to use
- protected mode for swapping. In 80386 mode, VMiX operates in protected
- mode at all times. System services are provided in SYSGATE.ASM to execute
- your own functions in protected mode. The debugger "assign gdt" method
- allows entries to the VMiX GDT. This can also be done with the memory
- manager system service.
-
-
- * REMOTE permits a user to call a remote PC running VMiX, and teleoperate,
- as if he were at the console of the remote PC. Useful for remote customer
- support of application programs, offsite login and operations. VMiX
- terminal drivers provide full CGA text mode emulation at a COMM port.
-
- * With VMiX you can run programs like WINDOWS, LOTUS 123, XTALK, BASIC,
- DBASE, or WORD at the console and BASIC, DEBUG, TURBO PASCAL, WORDSTAR 3.2,
- WORDSTAR 4.0, WordPerfect 4.X, PROCOMM, or DBASE II/III at a COMM terminal.
- Multiple BASIC or GWBASIC interpreter sessions are supported.
-
- * Supports a maximum of five users (only because of COMM port limitations),
- each with multiple processes up to a maximum of 8 total.
-
- * SPAWN or '&' permits a script of VMiX shell commands to be submitted to a
- background process executing the VMiX shell. This allows for background
- jobs like compiling or printing by a concurrent child process.
-
- * DOSJOB permits keyboard interactive applications to be partitioned and
- managed as concurrent video display tasks.
-
- * Loadable character fonts, 33 line CGA display and 43 line EGA/VGA display.
- Version 2.22 provides support for EGA/VGA video modes and up-to 58 line
- display, with VMiX font type 1.
-
- * As explained in the manual, there are (4) four ways to execute a .BAT,
- .COM, or .EXE program:
- with 'exec' (now optional),
- with a command line trailling '&',
- with 'spawn',
- or (the easiest way) with the 'dosjob' command.
-
- When VMiX starts, unless you issued an 'exec -m<size in Kbytes>' at the
- command line, VMiX will use memory partitions of 224Kb for (8088/80286)
- programs or partitions of 512Kb in 80386 processors.
-
- The 'exec -m ????', memory partitioning command, is intended for use
- mainly on 8086 and 80286 computers, which can not use the VMiX 386 virtual
- memory manager. This command guarantees that a second or third program
- will find some memory available. The user can select, from the shell,
- the partition size for any single program. If your system has 640Kb
- memory, then the command 'exec -m192' will only let programs grab memory
- to a maximum of 192Kb each. If you need to execute DOS commands like
- 'exec type <filename>' or 'exec dir', then setting 'exec -m128' should
- provide enough memory for about 4 DOS shells in non-80386 systems.
-
-
- * To use 'dosjob' to execute a VMiX shell command(s) in a separate console
- window, precede the command with a / (ie., 'dosjob /debug' or 'dosjob
- /rshell'). The / must not be used if the command is for DOS, for example
- 'do basica' or 'do dir'.
-
- To use 'dosjob' to run a program that requires access to the full screen,
- use the '-W' option (ie., 'dosjob -W [drive:][path]filename').
-
- * The VMiX scheduler can provide interrupt corruption protection to multiple
- executing tasks. This prevents, to some degree, changes effected by one
- task to the system interrupt table from interferring with the interrupts
- handlers expected by a second task. To request protection for an ill-
- behaved program, precede the filename and path with the characters '$$'.
-
- Programs using protection will execute slower. Some programs like
- BASIC/BASICA and WINDOWS, automatically receive protection without '$$'.
-
- The command syntax is:
- exec $$[drive:][path]filename
- or,
- dosjob $$[drive:][path]filename
-
- * VMiX can be started with the command line switches -r, -x, -l, or -lx.
- These switches affect the mode that VMiX executes in and overrides internal
- configuration defaults. This option allows VMiX to be downgraded and used
- with some compatibles, which can not run VMiX protected mode functions.
-
- The command syntax is:
- VM_BOOT [-l] [-r] [-x] [ [ command ] /... ]
-
- where,
-
- the '-r' option forces 8088 (real mode) operation on 80286/386 cpu's.
- the '-x' option forces 80286 (real/protected mode) operation on 80386.
- the '-l' option inhibits relocation of VMiX code to extended memory.
- the '-lx' option is a combination of the above.
-
- * Console operator status line 'set video -s'
-
- * Built-in debugger 'debug' 'monitor -r'
-
- * Memory manager and memory mapper 'monitor -m' 'monitor -p' 'examine mcb'
-
- * User specified windows at either the console or VT-100 COMM terminal.
-
- * Assembly and High Level Language interface.
-
- * Interrupt 15h VMiX System Services.
-
-
- Today VMiX is 90Kb of code and 20Kb of Kernel data.
- 75% Microsoft C and 25% MASM.
- VMiX is (C) Copyrighted 'try before you purchase software'. This gives us
- wide distribution for a low cost, thus keeping your purchase price also low.
-
- When you are ready to register your version, or require:
- pricing for support, the programming interface documentation, the new full
- printed manual, the source code, corporate pricing, or other information,
- please contact us.
-
- Enjoy exploring VMiX and thanks
- for supporting its development,
-
- Tony Borras
-
-
- Commercial Software Associates
- Post Office Box 185
- Corona del Mar, California 92625
-
- BBS (714) 721-1228 (24 Hrs.)
- VOICE (714) 721-9953 (8 - 6pm PST)
-
-
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The VMiX 386 System consists of the 29 files described below.
- These files reside in the three self-extracting distribution archives:
-
- VMIX???.EXE (Shareware distribution ??? version id)
- VMIX386.EXE (Registered Owners ONLY)
- VMIXUTL.EXE (Registered Owners ONLY)
-
-
- EXECUTABLE or OBJECT FILES
-
- - VM_BOOT.EXE -
- The VMiX start-up program. To start, type VM_BOOT from DOS's C>
- prompt and press <ENTER>.
-
- - VM_BSML.EXE -
- A smaller version of VMiX, if your applications do not need graphics
- support.
-
- - DPATH.EXE -
- Utility executed by user to set the directory search PATH for data files.
- Use DOS 'PATH =' or 'SET PATH =' for executable files.
- Use VMiX 'DPATH =' or 'SET DPATH =' for data files.
-
- - DSTAT.EXE -
- Utility executed by user to view device and channel status.
-
- - MONITOR.EXE -
- Debugging utility executed by user to examine memory and processes.
-
- - OUTSIDE.EXE -
- Outside MSDOS shell spawning utility for BBS operators.
-
- - PS.EXE -
- Utility executed by user to view process status.
-
- - VW.EXE -
- Utility executed by user to add a pull-down menu interface to the VMiX
- shell.
-
- - SYSGATE.OBJ -
- Link object file for VMiX API (Application Programming Interface).
-
-
- SOURCE FILES DOCUMENTATION FILES
-
- SYSGATE.ASM READ.ME
- DSTAT.C VMiX.DOC(this file)
- DPATH.ASM REVISION.LOG(upgrade history)
- MONITOR.C DPATH.DOC
- OUTSIDE.C MANUAL.DOC(version 1.4X)
- PS.C
- VW.C
- C_BIOS.H
- $_KERNEL.H
- $_CONFIG.H
- $_MEM.H
- $_PROC.H
- IO_CHAN.H
- IO_IRP.H
- IO_OBJ.H
-
-
-
- I N S T R U C T I O N S
- -----------------------
-
- 1) Upon receipt of your SHIPPING
- Diskette, copy the six files:
-
- VM_BOOT.EXE, DPATH.EXE, DSTAT.EXE,
- MONITOR.EXE, PS.EXE and VW.EXE onto
- your own System Diskette or hard
- disk.
-
- 2) Using your editor, create a file
- named CONFIG.SYS. Include the
- following two lines:
-
- BUFFERS = 15 (or more)
- FILES = 20 (or more)
-
- and, save the file to your system
- boot disk.
-
- 3) To execute the VMiX 386 program
- requires MSDOS Version 2.22 or
- above, and 256Kb of memory. A color
- graphics card, CGA is recommended
- for the console display.
-
- If you have a Monochrome Adapter,
- VMiX will sense it.
-
- Release 2.22 does not operate in
- 386 protected mode at all times, so
- it will execute properly in PCs
- with 8088 processors.
-
- Start VMiX by typing:
-
- C> VM_BOOT <ENTER>
-
- After VMiX starts, typing a '?'
- will display all the available
- commands.
-
- Try: debug <ENTER>
- (note the prompt changes to - )
- then, try 'set' or 'exam' and
- VMiX will display how to complete
- the command. VMiX will prompt
- for most command line arguments,
- when not included in the command
- line:
-
- Try: set video -m <ENTER>
- to see the video modes available,
- or
- set term -t <ENTER>
- to see the terminals supported.
-
-
-
- 4) To start VMiX 386 with pull-down
- menus:
-
- Start VMiX by typing:
-
- C> VM_BOOT VW <ENTER>
-
- When VMiX starts, the top screen
- line will display the available
- menus. Move to the desired menu
- by pressing right or left arrow
- keys. Select a menu by pressing
- the down arrow key or by typing
- the CAPITALIZED letter of the
- menu name. Select a menu option
- with the down arrow and press
- <ENTER>.
-
- Exit from the vw utility or pull-
- down menu with the <Esc> key.
-
- From a terminal running VW.EXE,
- use <Ctrl><F> to turn function
- key emulation ON, then backspace
- becomes left arrow, <Ctrl><J>
- and <Ctrl><K> will act as down
- and up arrow.
-
- 5) The RS232 cabling for COM1 and/or
- COM2 should be constructed
- depending on whether the host PC
- will be connected to a dumb
- terminal or to another PC acting as
- a terminal.
-
-
- PIN PIN
-
- H 1 1
- O
- S 2 -- - _ _ _ - -- 2
- T -_ __ - -
- 3 __ _ - - - - _ __ 3 T
- S E
- e 4 4 R
- r M
- i --5 5 I
- a -| N
- l | --6 6 A
- | L
- P | 7 ------------------------- 7
- o |
- r | --8 8
- t -|
- --20 20
-
-
- See Part II, Using VMiX 386, for
- detailed instructions regarding the use
- of VMiX 386 commands and options.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- VMiX COMMAND LOOK-UP - QUICK REFERENCE
-
-
- |ROOT |DEBUG |
-
- |LEVEL..|LEVEL..|LEVEL............................|
- | 0 | 1 | 2 |
- ---------------------------------------------------
- |[debug] |
- | |set |
- | |baud |
- | -c " sets communications: chan|
- | baud, parity, word, stop"|
- | |dos |
- | -n " sets DOS INT21 function |
- | maximum nesting level" |
- | -p " sets DOS current process |
- | PSP: nuPSP(seg)" |
- | |font |
- | -t " sets font type: (0 - 3)" |
- | |pool |
- | -a " adjusts program memory: |
- | MCB(seg), nusize(para)" |
- | -m " sets program partition |
- | size: (0 - 1024Kb)" |
- | -o " sets program memory |
- | owner: MCB(seg), |
- | nuPSP(seg)" |
- | |process |
- | -b " sets process shell buffer|
- | size: (0 - 127)" |
- | -e " toggles system evironment|
- | protection ON/OFF" |
- | -h " toggles process hardware |
- | priviledge ON/OFF" |
- | -p " sets process priority: |
- | (0 - 31)" |
- | |remote |
- | -c " sets remote channel" |
- | -l " sets polled terminal |
- | login channel" |
- | |system |
- | -c " sets duration of task |
- | slice: tickcnt - 1" |
- | -m " toggles manager message |
- | displays ON/OFF" |
- | -s " toggles scheduler swapped|
- | processing ON/OFF" |
- | -t " toggles scheduler clock |
- | processing ON/OFF" |
- | -w " sets shutdown wait delay:|
- | seconds" |
- | |terminal |
- | -t " sets terminal type: |
- | (0 - 9)" |
- | |video |
- | -c " sets video bg/fg colors" |
- | -C " sets window bg/fg colors"|
- | -m " sets video mode:(0 - 16)"|
- | -s " toggles status line |
- | display ON/OFF" |
- | -w " sets root window size: |
- | row0, col0, row1, col1" |
- | -W " auto partitions (1 - 4) |
- | task windows |
- | (Shift-Tab toggles kbd)" |
- | |init |
- | |comm |
- | -c " sets communications: chan|
- | baud, parity, word, stop"|
- | |print |
- | -p " inits parallel port:chan"|
- | |examine |
- | |mcb |
- | |status |
- | |assign |
- | |gdt |
- | |deassign |
- | |gdt |
- | |memory |
- | |quit |
- |rshell |
- |remote |
- | -c " sets remote channel" |
- | -l " sets polled terminal login channel" |
- |swap |
- | | process id |
- |chprio |
- | | process id and new priority level |
- |[exec] |
- | -a " adjusts program memory: MCB(seg), |
- | nusize(para)" |
- | -m " sets program memory partition size: |
- | (0 - 1024Kb)" |
- | -o " sets program memory owner: MCB(seg), |
- | nuPSP(seg)" |
- | |path " utility displays/sets |
- | program file search path"|
- | |dpath[.exe] " utility displays/sets |
- | data file search path" |
- | -v " sets verbose mode (default)" |
- | -q " sets quiet mode" |
- | -r " allows data read only" |
- | -w " allows data read/write (default)"|
- | -h " help" |
- | |dstat[.exe] " utility displays all |
- | VMiX objects" |
- | -a " selects only assigned objects" |
- | -r " selects only free objects" |
- | |monitor[.exe] " utility monitors process/|
- | system" |
- | | process id |
- | -m " displays 1 megabyte memory map" |
- | -p " displays VMiX memory pool" |
- | -r " monitors process registers: |
- | process id" |
- | |ps[.exe] " utility displays all |
- | processes" |
- | |vw[.exe] " VMiX pull-down menu |
- | utility" |
- | | MSDOS command... |
- |dosjob |
- | [-W] " gives process the full screen" |
- | | MSDOS command or /VMiX command... |
- |spawn |
- | -c " sets channel for STDIO and executes |
- | command line" |
- |kill |
- | | process id |
- |quit |
- ---------------------------------------------------
-
-
- [ ] indicates optional
-
-
- VMiX TERMINAL - IBM FUNCTION KEY EMULATION
-
- ---------------------------------------------------
- |Press ^F (1 beep) emulation ON |
- |Press ^F again (2 beeps) emulation OFF |
- | |
- | |
- | for press |
- | |
- | IBM PC KEY TERMINAL KEY |
- | |
- | [F1] 1 |
- | [F2] 2 |
- | [F3] 3 |
- | [F4] 4 |
- | [F5] 5 |
- | [F6] 6 |
- | [F7] 7 |
- | [F8] 8 |
- | [F9] 9 |
- | [F10] 10 |
- | |
- | <Ctrl>[Break] ^C |
- | <Ctrl>[NumLock] ^S |
- | <Ctrl>[F3] ` |
- | [PgUp] + |
- | [PgDn] - |
- | [Ins] ^I |
- | [Del] ^D |
- | [End] ^E |
- | [Home] [Home] |
- | <Alt> <Shift> |
- | |
- | |
- | |
- | NOTE: The <Ctrl> key symbol for the terminal |
- | keyboard has been abbreviated as ^. |
- | |
- ---------------------------------------------------
-
-