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The Configuration Manager Version 1.00
Configuration Selection and Boot Control Program
Copyright (C) 1992 by McAfee Associates.
All Rights Reserved.
Documentation by Aryeh Goretsky
McAfee Associates (408) 988-3832 office
3350 Scott Blvd. Bldg. 14 (408) 970-9727 fax
Santa Clara, CA 95054-3107 (408) 988-4004 BBS
U.S.A. USR HST/v.32/v.42bis/MNP1-5
CompuServe GO VIRUSFORUM
Internet mcafee@netcom.COM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SYNOPSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
- What is The Configuration Manager (TCM)?
- Configuration Control Program (CCP)
- Multiple Configuration Manager (MCONFIG)
- System requirements
AUTHENTICITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
- Verifying the integrity of TCM
CCP OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
- General description of CCP
CCP INSTALLATION and OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
- Detailed description of CCP's options
CCP EXTRA PRECAUTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
- Back up system before installation
- Back up CCP restore disks
- Disable caching hard disk controllers before installation
MCONFIG OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
- General description of MCONFIG
MCONFIG INSTALLATION and OPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
- Options for use with MCONFIG
MCONFIG MENU ITEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
- How to insert Configuration Selection Menu items
MCONFIG DISPLAY ITEMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
- How to change MCONFIG's colors
MCONFIG SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
- How to use the ASK, PAUSE, and ECHO device drivers
MCONFIG EXAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
- Sample CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files
MCONFIG TUTORIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
- Learn how to use MCONFIG
NOTES ON MCONFIG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
- DOS 3.3 and DOS 5.0 considerations
APPENDIX A: Advanced MCONFIG Features . . . . . . . . . . 21
- How to use the ENVIRON and SET device drivers
- How to use the MCON-ERR, MCON-SET, and CREM programs
Page 1
TCM Version 1.00 Page 2
SYNOPSIS
The Configuration Manager (TCM) is a suite of utilities
designed to provide system access, boot, and configuration
control while allowing multiple configurations for flexibility.
TCM is for IBM PC and compatible computers using MS-DOS, PC-DOS
operating systems. TCM provides secure access, boot protection,
configuration locking, optional hard disk password protection,
and up to 14 different multiple configuration setups inside the
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.
TCM consists of two parts: CCP (Configuration and Control
Program) for access, boot, and configuration locking; and
MCONFIG (for Multiple CONFIGuration Manager) for selecting
multiple configurations.
The CCP installation program installs a new master boot
record (MBR or partition table) on the hard disk. The original
MBR is copied to a hidden file on the hard drive and to a
floppy diskette for recovery purposes.
The new MBR prevents access to the hard disk when the
system is booted from a diskette, password-protects the hard
disk on boot-up, and/or prevents booting if changes have been
made to the CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files without supervisor
approval -- a feature for standardizing configurations in
corporate environments. The supervisor selects which features
the new MBR will have.
MCONFIG is a device driver that loads through the
CONFIG.SYS file. MCONFIG presents the user with a menu of the
different configurations available. After selecting one,
MCONFIG modifies the in-memory copy of CONFIG.SYS so that only
the commands for the selected configuration are executed.
TCM Version 1.00 works on any system with 256Kb of
memory and DOS 3.3 or greater. One floppy disk is required
for each system CCP is installed on. CCP is not compatible
with DOS 2.nn systems or PC's with a 'dual boot' partition,
such as DOS-Unix or DOS-OS/2. MCONFIG requires MS-DOS or
PC-DOS 3.30 or above. It is not compatible with DR-DOS.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 3
AUTHENTICITY
TCM is packaged with the VALIDATE program to ensure the
integrity of the TCM files. The VALIDATE.DOC file tells how
to use VALIDATE. VALIDATE can be used to check subsequent
versions of TCM for tampering.
The validation results for Version 1.00 should be:
FILENAME SIZE DATE CHECK METHOD
ASK.SYS S:4,057 D:08-19-92 M1: 6E41 M2: 146B
CCP.COM S:9,499 D:07-21-92 M1: E5E3 M2: 17FC
CCP.MBR S:37,585 D:08-13-92 M1: B6C7 M2: 12E8
CREM.EXE S:15,372 D:08-21-92 M1: 6D59 M2: 1EC8
ECHO.SYS S:1,700 D:08-19-92 M1: CE25 M2: 0C88
ENVIRON.SYS S:298 D:08-19-92 M1: AB32 M2: 1504
MCONFIG.SYS S:13,651 D:08-21-92 M1: 6CF3 M2: 1061
MCON-ERR.COM S:71 D:07-23-92 M1: 51EE M2: 1EEC
MCON-SET.EXE S:10,098 D:07-23-92 M1: 935D M2: 0400
PAUSE.SYS S:1,890 D:08-19-92 M1: 4D46 M2: 10AA
SET.SYS S:2,518 D:08-19-92 M1: 5ED3 M2: 17AF
If your copy of TCM differs, it may have been damaged (or the
CCP.MBR file may have been pre-configured by the system
administrator). Always obtain TCM from a known source, such as
McAfee Associates, its Agents, or the person responsible for
computer security in your organization. The latest version of
TCM and validation data for its programs can be obtained from
McAfee Associates' bulletin board system at (408) 988-4004 or
from the CompuServe Computer Virus Help Forum (GO VIRUSFORUM).
All of McAfee Associates' programs have been archived
with PKWare's PKZIP Authentic File Verification. If you do
not see an "-AV" after every file is unzipped and receive
the "Authentic Files Verified! # NWN405 Zip Source: McAFEE
ASSOCIATES" message then do not use them.
If your version of PKUNZIP does not have verification
ability, then this message may not be displayed. Please
contact us if you believe tampering has occurred to the .ZIP
file.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 4
CCP OVERVIEW
CCP installs a custom Master Boot Record (partition table)
onto the first five sectors on the hard disk, an area of the
disk that typically remains unused.
The MBR installed by CCP can be configured to perform
several functions: It can prevent access to the hard disk when
the PC is booted from a floppy, prompt the user for a password
when the system is booted from the hard disk, and lock the
system when changes have been made to the CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files.
The MBR will also prevent accesses to the first five (5)
sectors of the hard disk which contain its code. Access to
this area while CCP is active will show the original (pre-CCP
installation) MBR. CCP will prevent any changes from being
made to this part of the disk.
NOTE: When CCP's custom MBR is installed and running, it will
reduce the amount of total conventional memory available
to the system by 1,024 bytes. Thus, a system with 640Kb
of memory (655,360 bytes) will report that it has 639Kb
of memory (654,336 bytes) available.
When CCP is installed, it will save the original MBR to
a floppy diskette as a backup. The floppy disk should be
clearly labeled as a CCP RECOVERY DISKETTE and write protected.
Be sure to write the user's name, department, PC serial number
and any other important information on the label. CCP will
also create a hidden file in the root directory of the disk
containing the first five sectors of the hard disk. The file
is named ▒≡DISK≡▒.IDN.
NOTE: Do not install or run CCP while disk caching software or
hardware is in use. CCP performs direct writes to the hard
disk which may not be handled correctly by disk caching
algorithms. Use of disk caches while installing CCP via
the CCP.COM program may result in the loss of all data on
the hard disk. Disk caches can be used AFTER CCP has
been installed, reconfigured, or removed.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 5
CCP INSTALLATION and OPERATION
NOTE: If MCONFIG and CCP are to be used together, then MCONFIG
must be installed first. Please refer to the section on
installing MCONFIG for more information.
To install CCP onto your hard disk, run the CCP.COM
program. The main menu will appear. Main menu items are:
Set Access - Configure CCP's functions
Install - Install (or reinstall) CCP
Recover - Restore CCP after virus infection or disk crash
Remove - Remove CCP from hard disk
Exit - Save configuration and return to DOS
SET ACCESS
Selecting 'Set Access' brings up the 'Access Password' and
'Configuration' items.
'Access Password' selects and changes the SuperUser's
(system administrator) password. After selecting a SuperUser
password, be sure to write it down and store it in a safe
location. The SuperUser password is required to reconfigure
CCP.
Selecting 'Configuration' brings up the Configuration
menu. This menu allows you to select which items require
SuperUser approval. Configuration Selection Menu items are:
Recover hard disk protection
Remove hard disk protection
(Re)Install hard disk protection
Set boot password
Move between options with the cursor keys. Select options with
the space bar. Options that have been selected will have a
check-mark (ASCII 251) character in front of them. All selected
items will be set as "unavailable" to end users. The SuperUser
password will be required to gain access to these functions.
INSTALL
Selecting 'Install' brings up the 'Available Options' menu.
This menu allows you to select which items the CCP MBR is
installed with. Available Options menu items are:
Require password to boot the operating system
Check CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT at system boot
Prevent access to hard disk if system booted from floppy disk
Selecting 'Require password...' allows the user to select a
password that will be requested by CCP each time the system is
booted from the hard disk.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 6
NOTE: The 'Require password to boot the operating system' item
appears only if 'Set Boot Password' is not restricted by
the Set Access menu.
Selecting 'Check CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT at system
boot' enables a check of the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files
when the system is booted from the hard disk. Any changes made
to these files will result in the message
AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or CONFIG.SYS has been modified.
Enter SuperUser password.
being displayed when the system is booted. The hard drive will
be locked until the SuperUser enters the password and reinstalls
CCP or replaces the original configuration files.
Selecting 'Prevent access to hard disk if system booted
from floppy disk' disables access to the hard disk when the
system is booted from a floppy. Attempts to access the hard
disk will result in an "Invalid Media Specification" error
being displayed.
RECOVER
Selecting 'Recover' allows you to restore CCP after a disk
crash or virus infection that has corrupted the Master Boot
Record. After selecting 'Recover' CCP will prompt the user to
insert the CCP MBR recovery disk to reload the CCP MBR from.
When finished, CCP will reboot the system.
REMOVE
Selecting 'Remove' allows you to unload CCP from the hard
disk and restore the original Master Boot Record. After
selecting 'Remove', CCP will restore the original MBR and
reboot the system.
EXIT
Selecting 'Exit' allows you to return to DOS. If CCP has
been reconfigured, it will prompt the user to save changes
before exiting.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 7
CCP EXTRA PRECAUTIONS
BACK UP
Before installing CCP, it is recommended that the system be
backed up. After installing CCP, it is recommended that one or
more backup copies of the CCP recovery diskette be made and
stored in a safe location. The DOS DISKCOPY command can be used
to make copies of CCP MBR backup diskettes.
NOTE: The CCP recovery diskette will appear unreadable to
normal DOS programs, including the DIR command. Only
CCP can access the diskette.
CACHING HARD DISK CONTROLLER CARDS
If you are installing CCP on a PC equipped with a caching
hard disk controller card, it is recommended that you disable
the disk cache before installing CCP. After CCP has been
installed, the disk cache can be returned to normal operation.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 8
MCONFIG OVERVIEW
MCONFIG is a device driver that allows the selection of
different configuration set ups. At boot up, MCONFIG
displays a menu listing available configurations. After
selecting a configuration, MCONFIG modifies the in-memory copy
of the CONFIG.SYS file so that only the configuration selected
will be used. After the selected configuration has been
executed, a single AUTOEXEC batch file or multiple AUTOEXEC
files can be executed.
MCONFIG comes with a number of supplementary device drivers
to simplify the creation of multi-configuration environments.
These device drivers are explained in appendix A.
MCONFIG works by placing Menu Items within the CONFIG.SYS
file, followed by the different "selection blocks" of CONFIG.SYS
entries to be used when each Menu Item is selected. Menu Items
display the actual text to appear on the Configuration Selection
menu; these are followed by the CONFIG.SYS entries associated
with each Menu Item.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 9
MCONFIG INSTALLATION and OPTIONS
MCONFIG is normally placed at the beginning of the
CONFIG.SYS file. When initially executed, MCONFIG reads in
the rest of the CONFIG.SYS file and displays a Configuration
Selection menu based on the Menu Items found.
NOTE: There will be several entries for MCONFIG in the
CONFIG.SYS file: one to initially load MCONFIG,
one for each Menu Item, plus an entry to signal where
MCONFIG stops processing the last menu entry.
Additional entries to set colors and other options may
also appear.
Valid options for MCONFIG are listed below:
DEVICE = MCONFIG.SYS CENTER DEFAULT=n END NOHIGHVIDEO NUMOFF
TIMEOUT=n PASSIVE {left shift key} {right shift key}
Options are:
CENTER - center Menu Items in window
DEFAULT=n - use Menu Item 'n' as default
END - tells where last Menu Item finishes
NOHIGHVIDEO - disable video attributes used on EGA/VGA
monitors
NUMOFF - turn off NumLock
PASSIVE - execute first Menu Item as default
(see below for specifics)
TIMEOUT=n - set delay time in seconds for DEFAULT
{left shift key} - invoke Menu Item 1 at boot-up
{right shift key} - invoke Menu Item 2 at boot-up
NOTE: Use the complete pathname for only the first MCONFIG
entry. For other entries use the statement
"DEVICE = MCONFIG options" with a pathname.
The CENTER switch tells MCONFIG to center Menu Items
in the MCONFIG Configuration Selection menu window. By
default, all Menu Items are left-justified.
The DEFAULT switch tells MCONFIG which Menu Item to
select as the default menu selection. It can be used with the
TIMEOUT switch to invoke a default configuration. Syntax is
DEFAULT=n where 'n' is the Menu Item to select as the default
OR place the DEFAULT switch on the MCONFIG Menu Item line to be
selected as the default Menu Item.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 10
The END switch tells MCONFIG to finish processing menu
entries. Any CONFIG.SYS entries after the END switch will be
executed with all configurations.
The NOHIGHVIDEO switch disables the "high video"
attributes used on EGA and VGA monitors. If you are using a
different type of monitor, you may see blinking characters on
the screen. If so, use the NOHIGHVIDEO switch with MCONFIG.
The NUMOFF switch turns off the NumLock key.
The PASSIVE switch tells MCONFIG to use the first Menu
Item unless you tell it to pop up the menu by pressing the
left SHIFT key. If the right SHIFT key is pressed, MCONFIG
executes the second Menu Item.
In non-passive mode, holding down the {LEFT SHIFT KEY}
during boot-up will automatically start the first Menu Item
without displaying the Configuration Selection Menu.
Holding down the {RIGHT SHIFT KEY} during boot-up will
automatically start the second Menu Item without displaying the
Configuration Selection Menu.
Key pressed │ In ACTIVE Mode │ In PASSIVE mode
at boot-up │ (default) │ (using PASSIVE switch)
════════════╪═════════════════════════╪════════════════════════
none │ MCONFIG menu is always │ First Menu Item is
│ displayed on screen. │ executed without
│ │ displaying the menu.
────────────┼─────────────────────────┼────────────────────────
left SHIFT │ First Menu Item is │ MCONFIG menu is
key │ executed. │ displayed on screen
────────────┼─────────────────────────┼────────────────────────
right Shift │ Second Menu Item is │ Second Menu Item is
key │ executed without │ executed without
│ displaying the menu. │ displaying the menu.
MCONFIG MENU ITEMS
Menu Items tell MCONFIG what text to insert into the
Configuration Selection Menu. The syntax is:
DEVICE = MCONFIG "text \TEXT\ \T\ext" DEFAULT TIMEOUT=n
When MCONFIG sees the double quote in the CONFIG.SYS file
after MCONFIG, it adds that Message Line to the Configuration
Selection Menu.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 11
The operating system displays all lines in the CONFIG.SYS in
UPPER CASE. To make messages more readable, MCONFIG switches
between cases. This is done by placing a backslash character
"\" in the Message Line text. Example:
DEVICE = MCONFIG "T\his is a \TEST\ \M\essage."
would be displayed on the screen as:
"This is a TEST Message."
The DEFAULT and TIMEOUT switches can be used with Message
Lines (See MCONFIG INSTALLATION and OPERATIONS for more
information).
After each Menu Item, place the CONFIG.SYS entries to use
with it. At the end of the multi-configuration area of the
CONFIG.SYS file, place a "DEVICE = MCONFIG End" statement.
A commented example of a CONFIG.SYS:
COMMENTS │ CONFIG.SYS Contents
═════════════════════╪══════════════════════════════════════════
invoke MCONFIG │ device = C:\MCONFIG\MCONFIG.SYS
│
option 1 on the menu │ device = MCONFIG "M\enu entry number 1"
│ ........
│ statements to execute if selected
│ ........
│
option 2 on the menu │ device = MCONFIG "M\enu entry number 2"
│ ........
│ statements to execute if selected
│ ........
│
mark the end │ device = MCONFIG End
│
These lines are used │ DOS = High, UMB
with all selections │ Files = 30
since they are after │ Stacks = 0,0
the MCONFIG = END │ Buffers = 10
statement. │ Break = OFF
Using the above CONFIG.SYS file, the following
Configuration Selection menu will be displayed:
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ ║
║ Menu entry number 1 ║
║ Menu entry number 2 ║
║ ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
TCM Version 1.00 Page 12
The first entry is highlighted by the "selection bar".
Choosing Entry 1 causes the statements immediately following
the first selection block to be executed, and statements in
the other selection blocks will be ignored by the system.
MCONFIG DISPLAY ITEMS
NOTE: MCONFIG automatically detects monochrome monitors
and will adjust screen colors appropriately.
Display Items allow you to change MCONFIG's default
colors. Display items follow the following syntax:
DEVICE = MCONFIG displayitem = color
Where "displayitem" is the item to change the color of and
"color" is the color to use. Display Items are as follows:
DISPLAY ITEM COLOR
═══════════════════╤═══════════════════════════════════════
BannerBorder │top and bottom lines of screen
│
BannerBackground │copyright background color
│
BannerForeground │copyright foreground color
│
BackgroundFill │background screen color
│
DialogBorder │border color around Configuration
│Selection menu dialog box.
│
DialogBackground │background color of Configuration
│Selection menu dialog box.
│
DialogForeground │foreground color of Configuration
│Selection menu dialog box.
│
SelectionBarBackground│background color used when displaying
│the moveable selection bar.
│
SelectionBarForeground│foreground color used when displaying
│the moveable selection bar.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 13
Valid color values are:
═════════════╤══════════════════════════════
Blue │ LightBlue (BrightBlue)
Green │ LightGreen (BrightGreen)
Cyan │ LightCyan (BrightCyan)
Red │ LightRed (BrightRed)
Magenta │ LightMagenta (BrightMagenta)
Brown │ Yellow (BrightBrown)
DarkGray │ LightGray (BrightGray)
White │
MCONFIG SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS
ASK.SYS DEVICE DRIVER
The ASK.SYS device driver is a device driver that can be
used to ask simple, one-line Yes/No questions at boot-up and
then selectively load other device drivers based upon the
response. Questions can be placed in Menu Item "selection
blocks". The syntax for ASK is:
DEVICE = ASK.SYS "Question" DEFAULT=x TIMEOUT=n
DEVICE = YES
(lines to execute if YES)
...
DEVICE = NO
(optional lines to execute if NO)
...
DEVICE = END
For information on the DEFAULT and TIMEOUT switches, please
refer to the MCONFIG INSTALLATION and OPERATIONS section.
An example of the ASK.SYS device driver:
device=c:\Ask.Sys "L\oad mouse driver?" default=Y timeout=10
device=YES
device=c:\mouse\mouse.sys
device=END
The same caveats that apply to MCONFIG for DOS 3.3 and DOS 5.0
exist for ASK (see NOTES ON MCONFIG for more information).
PAUSE.SYS DEVICE DRIVER
The PAUSE.SYS device driver performs identically to the
DOS PAUSE batch file command. It displays an optional message
TCM Version 1.00 Page 14
and waits for any key to be pressed. The syntax for PAUSE is:
DEVICE = PAUSE.SYS message
where "message" is an optional message to display. If no
message is given, PAUSE will display:
Press any key when ready...
Otherwise, PAUSE will display the optional message.
An example of the PAUSE.SYS device driver:
DEVICE = C:\PAUSE.SYS P\ress any to continue \CONFIG.SYS
would display the following message:
Press any key to continue CONFIG.SYS
and pause until a key was pressed.
ECHO.SYS DEVICE DRIVER
The ECHO.SYS device driver performs identically to the
DOS ECHO batch file command. It is useful for debugging the
CONFIG.SYS file. The syntax for ECHO is:
DEVICE = ECHO.SYS message
where "message" is a message to display.
An example of the ECHO.SYS device driver:
DEVICE = C:\ECHO.SYS L\oading \MOUSE\ driver now.
DEVICE = C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.SYS
DEVICE = C:\ECHO.SYS MOUSE\ has loaded successfully.
DEVICE = C:\PAUSE.SYS
would display the message "Loading MOUSE driver now.", load
the mouse driver into memory, display the message "MOUSE has
loaded successfully." and pause until a key is pressed.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 15
MCONFIG EXAMPLES
Following are a sample CONFIG.SYS file and two sample
AUTOEXEC.BAT files. The CONFIG.SYS has three different
configurations for booting without network drivers, booting
with LAN Manager, and booting with Novell NetWare drivers.
NOTE: The first and last four lines of the CONFIG.SYS file are
outside of the "DEVICE=C:\MCONFIG.SYS" and "MCONFIG End"
lines are shared across all selections and will ALWAYS
be run.
__ SAMPLE CONFIG.SYS FILE ______________________________________
DOS = high,umb
device = c:\dos\himem.sys
device = c:\emm386.exe ram noems i=b000-b7ff
shell = c:\command.com /p /e:512
DEVICE = c:\mconfig.sys Center NumOff
device = MCONFIG SelectionBarBackground=RED
device = MCONFIG "N\o network" Default Timeout=30
devicehigh = c:\mouse\mouse.sys /y /s30
devicehigh = c:\dos\ansi.sys
devicehigh = c:\dos\setver.exe
device = c:\MCONFIG\Ask.Sys "L\oad the \MOUSE\ driver?"
device = YES
devicehigh = c:\mouse\mouse.sys /y /s30
device = END
device = MCONFIG "LAN M\anager \N\etwork"
devicehigh = c:\netlib\dxma0mod.sys 001
devicehigh = c:\netlib\dxmc0mod.sys
devicehigh = c:\netlib\dxmt0mod.sys s=32 c=32
devicehigh = c:\dos\ansi.sys
devicehigh = c:\dos\setver.exe
device = MCONFIG "N\ovell \N\etwork"
devicehigh = c:\mouse\mouse.sys /y /s30
devicehigh = c:\netlib\dxma0mod.sys 001
devicehigh = c:\netlib\dxmc0mod.sys
devicehigh = c:\netlib\dxmt0mod.sys s=32 c=32
devicehigh = c:\dos\ansi.sys
devicehigh = c:\dos\setver.exe
device = MCONFIG End
buffers = 20
files = 50
STACKS = 0,0
lastdrive = E
TCM Version 1.00 Page 16
The first sample AUTOEXEC.BAT file shows how to use the
MCONFIG environment variable to login to a Novell network from
a single AUTOEXEC file, using the results from the sample
CONFIG.SYS above.
NOTE: These SAMPLES make use of the MCON-SET.EXE program used
for setting DOS environmental variables from MCONFIG.
For information on using this and the MCON-ERR.COM DOS
ERRORLEVEL-setting program, please refer to APPENDIX A.
__ SAMPLE FIRST AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE _____________________________
REM Run the MCON-SET program to set the environment variable
REM "MCONFIG" to the selection made from the menu.
C:\MCONFIG\MCON-SET.EXE
set comspec=c:\command.com
path c:\dos;c:\bat;c:\utils
set prompt=$p$g
C:\MCAFEE\VSHIELD.EXE /CHKHI /CV /LH /M
mode con rate=30 delay=1
if NOT "%MCONFIG%" == "3" goto no_novell
c:\netware\wsgen\ipx
c:\netware\wsgen\route
c:\netware\wsgen\netx
f:
C:\MCAFEE\VSHIELD.EXE /RECONNECT
login mcafee_server_1/John_M
path %path;c:\netware
:no_novell
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
This example shows how to use the MCONFIG environment
variable to have 3 separate AUTOEXEC files. Depending upon
the selection made from the MCONFIG menu, either AUTO-1.BAT,
AUTO-2.BAT, or AUTO-3.BAT will execute.
__ SAMPLE SECOND AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE ____________________________
REM Call the MCON-SET program to set the environment variable
REM "MCONFIG" to the selection made from the menu. Then call
REM the matching AUTO-n.BAT file.
C:\MCAFEE\VSHIELD.EXE /CHKHI /CV /LH /M
C:\MCONFIG\MCON-SET.EXE
C:\AUTO-%MCONFIG%.BAT
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
TCM Version 1.00 Page 17
__ SAMPLE AUTO-1.BAT FILE _____________________________________
set comspec=c:\command.com
path c:\dos;c:\bat;c:\utils
set prompt=$p$g
mode con rate=30 delay=1
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
__ SAMPLE AUTO-2.BAT FILE _____________________________________
set comspec=c:\command.com
path c:\dos;c:\bat;c:\utils
set prompt=$p$g
mode con rate=30 delay=1
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
__ SAMPLE AUTO-3.BAT FILE _____________________________________
set comspec=c:\command.com
path c:\dos;c:\bat;c:\utils
set prompt=$p$g
mode con rate=30 delay=1
c:\netware\wsgen\ipx
c:\netware\wsgen\route
c:\netware\wsgen\netx
f:
C:\MCAFEE\VSHIELD.EXE /RECONNECT
login mcafee_server_1/John_M
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
TCM Version 1.00 Page 18
MCONFIG TUTORIAL
The easiest way to get familiarized with MCONFIG is to
create a two-selection CONFIG.SYS file. Option one is your
existing CONFIG.SYS file. Option two will be a minimum
"bare-bones" configuration.
Load the CONFIG.SYS file into your text editor or word
processor and make the following changes to the current
CONFIG.SYS file:
NOTE: When editing the CONFIG.SYS file with a word processor
be sure to save it as an ASCII text file, not a word
processor document.
Add the following two lines to the top of the CONFIG.SYS file
(change the pathname if MCONFIG is located elsewhere):
device=C:\MCONFIG\MCONFIG.SYS CENTER
device=MCONFIG "S\tandard \C\onfiguration" Default Timeout=30
Next, go to the end of the CONFIG.SYS file and add:
device=MCONFIG "M\inimal \C\onfiguration"
files = 20
buffers = 30
device=MCONFIG End
Save the CONFIG.SYS file and re-boot the computer. The MCONFIG
Configuration Selection menu will appear with two configuration
options. Selecting the first option loads the original
CONFIG.SYS. Selecting the second option loads the minimal
configuration.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 20
NOTES ON MCONFIG
USING MCONFIG with DOS 3.30
MCONFIG is designed to work seamlessly with DOS Version
4.00 and above. It can be used with DOS 3.3x with the
following considerations:
- DOS 3.3x does not allow a "REMark" statement in the
CONFIG.SYS file. MCONFIG adds a REM to comment-out
un-needed lines so this will cause a problem with DOS 3.3.
To get around this, MCONFIG precedes unwanted lines
with "BREAK=OFF" statements. This is done automatically
by MCONFIG if run under DOS 3.3x.
- To set BREAK=ON in the CONFIG.SYS, place the "BREAK=ON"
statement after the "DEVICE = MCONFIG End" statement.
- Lines with less than three characters after the equals "="
sign will not be correctly proceeded with a "BREAK=OFF"
statement.
For example, "BUFFERS = 5" is not long enough and
will give an "Invalid Command?" error when executed in
the CONFIG.SYS file. This does not affect the operation
of MCONFIG or the CONFIG.SYS file.
To get around this, add spaces to the right
of short entries. For example, changing "BUFFERS = 5" to
"BUFFERS = 5 *" allows MCONFIG to change the line to
a "BREAK = OFF" statement, removing the "Invalid Command?"
error message from DOS.
USING MCONFIG with DOS 5.00
The only command that can NOT be selectably configured is
the "DOS =" statement. This is because DOS 5.0 checks the
CONFIG.SYS file for "DOS =" entries before executing any device
drivers and uses the last "DOS =" statement found to set itself
up to load high. This means that the following will NOT work:
MCONFIG "L\oad \DOS\ \L\ow"
DOS=LOW
...rest of configuration...
MCONFIG "L\oad \DOS\ \H\igh"
DOS=HIGH,UMB
...rest of configuration...
MCONFIG End
In the above example, the DOS=HIGH,UMB will always be used as
this is the last setting DOS sees. DOS will then load itself
high before MCONFIG is executed.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 21
APPENDIX A: Advanced MCONFIG Features
ENVIRON.SYS DEVICE DRIVER
The ENVIRON.SYS device driver, when used with the SET.SYS
device driver, allows environmental variables to be set from
within the CONFIG.SYS file. Environmental variables set in
this manner are retrieved by the MCON-SET program (normally run
in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file).
The ENVIRON.SYS device driver remains memory resident and
stores up to 128 bytes of environmental variables. The syntax
for ENVIRON is as follows:
DEVICE = ENVIRON.SYS
There are no options. The ENVIRON.SYS device driver uses 280
bytes of RAM.
SET.SYS DEVICE DRIVER
The SET.SYS device driver stores an environmental variable
and value for later retrieval by the MCON-SET program. The
syntax for SET is:
DEVICE = SET.SYS variable = value
where "variable" is the environmental variable to store and
"value" is the value to store with it.
NOTE: ENVIRON.SYS must be loaded before SET.SYS is used.
MCON-SET.EXE PROGRAM
MCON-SET is a program that reads the environmental
variables stored by SET and ENVIRON and places them into DOS
environmental space. There are no options for MCON-SET. It is
usually placed at or near the beginning of the AUTOEXEC.BAT
file.
MCON-ERR.COM PROGRAM
MCON-ERR is a program that sets the DOS ERRORLEVEL to the
same number as the Menu Item selected at boot-up. For example,
the first menu item would set the ERRORLEVEL to 1, the second
to 2, and so forth.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 22
CREM.EXE PROGRAM
CREM (Configuration REMarker) prevents memory managers
such as QEMM-386, 386^MAX, and BlueMAX from optimizing
MCONFIG's Menu Item "Selection Blocks". Memory managers may
not recognize MCONFIG and change its settings so it no longer
runs correctly. CREM modifies the CONFIG.SYS file so that
only one selection block is visible to the optimization
program.
Valid options for CREM are listed below:
CREM block_number REMOVE
Options are:
block_number - REMark out MCONFIG-specific lines and
all selection blocks EXCEPT "block_number"
REMOVE - Restore MCONFIG-specific lines and all
selection blocks
"Block_number" tells CREM to process the CONFIG.SYS file
commenting out all MCONFIG-specific lines and all Menu Item
"selection blocks" EXCEPT the specified "block_number". This
option is not compatible with REMOVE.
REMOVE tells CREM to remove all REMarks from the
CONFIG.SYS file placed there by a previous invocation of CREM
(other comments will remain untouched). This option is not
compatible with "block_number".
TCM Version 1.00 Page 23
An example of a CONFIG.SYS file before processing by
CREM:
__ SAMPLE CONFIG.SYS FILE _____________________________________
DOS = High
device = c:\qemm\qemm386.sys noems
shell = c:\command.com /e:512 /p
device = c:\utils\MCONFIG.SYS Center NumOff
device = MCONFIG SelectionBarBackground=RED
device = MCONFIG "C\onfiguration with cache"
device = c:\mouse\mouse.sys /y /s30
device = c:\cache\cache.sys 4096
device = c:\DOS\ansi.sys
device = c:\DOS\setver.exe
device = MCONFIG "C\onfiguration with \RAM\disk"
device = c:\mouse\mouse.sys /y /s30
device = c:\DOS\ramdrive.sys 4096
device = c:\DOS\ansi.sys
device = c:\DOS\setver.exe
device = MCONFIG "M\inimal configuration"
device = c:\DOS\ansi.sys
device = c:\DOS\setver.exe
device = MCONFIG End
buffers = 5
files = 60
break = on
STACKS = 0,0
lastdrive = E
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
TCM Version 1.00 Page 24
If CREM was invoked with "CREM 2", the CONFIG.SYS file
would be modified as follows:
__ SAMPLE CONFIG.SYS FILE AFTER CREM 2 PROCESSING _____________
DOS = High
device = c:\qemm\qemm386.sys noems
shell = c:\command.com /e:512 /p
REM {!!}device = c:\utils\MCONFIG.sys Center NumOff
REM {!!}device = MCONFIG SelectionBarBackground=RED
REM {!!}device = MCONFIG "C\onfiguration with cache"
REM {!!} device = d:\mouse\mouse.sys /y /s30
REM {!!} device = c:\cache\cache.sys 4096
REM {!!} device = c:\DOS\ansi.sys
REM {!!} device = c:\DOS\setver.exe
REM {!!}
REM {!!}device = MCONFIG "C\onfiguration with RAMdisk"
device = c:\mouse\mouse.sys /y /s30
device = c:\DOS\ramdrive.sys 4096
device = c:\DOS\ansi.sys
device = c:\DOS\setver.exe
REM {!!}device = MCONFIG "M\inimal configuration"
REM {!!} device = c:\DOS\ansi.sys
REM {!!} device = c:\DOS\setver.exe
REM {!!}
REM {!!}device = MCONFIG End
buffers = 5
files = 60
break = on
STACKS = 0,0
lastdrive = E
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
Note that the second Menu Item "selection block" is
available to DOS (and the optimization program). Now that
CREM has modified the CONFIG.SYS, the QEMM OPTIMIZE or
386^MAX MAXIMIZE programs can be safely run.
After optimization, execute the following:
CREM REMOVE
to remove the comments placed in the CONFIG.SYS file by CREM.
This restores the MCONFIG Menu Item "selection blocks" (with
an optimized second item).
TCM Version 1.00 Page 25
There is no specific way to process the AUTOEXEC.BAT with
CREM since there are many different ways AUTOEXEC.BAT files can
be processed with MCONFIG. Because of this, the AUTOEXEC.BAT
files will have to be processed manually.
If only one AUTOEXEC.BAT file is used, then processing is
simplified. For example, if the AUTOEXEC.BAT file is as
follows:
__ SAMPLE AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE __________________________________
C:\MCONFIG\MCON_SET
C:\MCAFEE\VSHIELD /CHKHI /CV /LH /M
GOTO CONFIG_%MCONFIG%
:CONFIG_1
(first configuration)
:CONFIG_2
(second configuration)
:CONFIG_3
(third configuration)
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
Given the previous CONFIG.SYS example run with "CREM 2", edit
the AUTOEXEC.BAT file as follows:
__ SAMPLE AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE AFTER EDITING ___________________
C:\MCONFIG\MCON_SET
SET MCONFIG=2 <--- add this line
GOTO CONFIG_%MCONFIG%
:CONFIG_1
(first configuration)
:CONFIG_2
(second configuration)
:CONFIG_3
(third configuration)
________________________________________________ END OF FILE __
After the optimization program has been run, edit the
AUTOEXEC.BAT to remove the "SET MCONFIG=2" line.
NOTE: CREM will ALWAYS operate on C:\CONFIG.SYS.
TCM Version 1.00 Page 26
Following are the steps necessary to optimize an MCONFIG
configuration with three different Menu Item "selection
blocks" using QEMM's OPTIMIZE in this example:
1. run "CREM 1"
2. Change AUTOEXEC.BAT for first configuration
3. run "OPTIMIZE"
4. run "CREM 2"
5. Change AUTOEXEC.BAT for second configuration
6. run "OPTIMIZE"
7. run "CREM 3"
8. Change AUTOEXEC.BAT for third configuration
9. run "OPTIMIZE"
10. run "CREM remove"