GEMAR - The GEM-Archiver ¾ Steffen Engel 1992-94 Version 2.20, dated 03/05/94 GEMAR is a program which drives SCSI-Streamer at Atari ST/TT. AA TTTTTT TTTTTT EEEEEE NN NN TTTTTT IIII OOOO NN NN AAAA TT TT EE NNN NN TT II OO OO NNN NN AA AA TT TT EE NNNNNN TT II OO OO NNNNNN AA AA TT TT EEEEE NNNNNN TT II OO OO NNNNNN AAAAAA TT TT EE NN NNN TT II OO OO NN NNN AA AA TT TT EE NN NN TT II OO OO NN NN AA AA TT TT EEEEEE NN NN TT IIII OOOO NN NN PLEASE READ THIS TEXT VERY CAREFULLY!! ====================================== IF YOU ALREADY FEEL FAMILIAR WITH GEMAR, YOU SHOULD AT LEAST READ THE SECTION 'HISTORY' AND 'RESTRICTIONS AND KNOWN ERRORS'. THERE YOU WILL FIND SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS ABOUT MODIFICATIONS OF GEMAR. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ATTENTION PLEASE: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Due to minor changes, the tapes with a version number greater than 1.10 cannot be recognized by GEMAR versions smaller 1.10. However, version 1.10 recognizes the tapes of older versions. There will be no loss of data, they will be save on the tape. Nonetheless, such a tape must be read by new versions. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** List of contents: Volume of delivery Liability Checked systems GEMAR under multitasking Restrictions and known errors Future outlook History VOLUME OF DELIVERY: The following files belong to the public version of GEMAR: README.1ST Present data file GEMAR.APP Main Program GEMAR.RSC Resource of GEMAR GEMAR.STR Report listings of GEMAR GEMAR.HLP Help texts of GEMAR ICON.RSC One icon for GEMINI/DESKTOP DOCS\FEATURES.TXT A brief overview on the capabilities of GEMAR DOCS\1ST_STEP.TXT 1st steps with GEMAR, installation and first backups DOCS\FRAGEN.TXT Some questions and their answers about GEMAR DOCS\UPLOAD.TXT Brief description about Upload; please keep in mind: only the public version in the mail box PAR\*.PAR Parameter files for different streamers PACKER\*.PAK Parameter files for different packers ENGLISH\ English documentations as well as RSC and STR-file XFS\* the XFS/Device-Driver for MiNT/MTOS Read the information given there. GEMAR is a shareware product, which means that GEMAR may be copied and used freely by private users under the prerequisite that all data files remain unchanged. I'm sorry GEMAR has not all functions in the public Version. In Germany most users do not pay for Shareware, so I decided to make differences between the registered and the public version to get those users to pay the fee. Persons who use GEMAR frequently, must be registered and have to pay: 1.) Registration for $ 60 A complete version of GEMAR, updates upon sending the original disc as well as an envelope including sufficient postage - alter- natively upon paying $ 10. 2.) Registration for $ 90 A complete version of GEMAR, three updates automatically after publication. Please take care for any charges for order checks, so these amounts will arrive me! The registered version has a few extended capabilities: -Image-Backups of non TOS partitions (OS9, Spectre, Minix ...) -Batch-capabilities for automation of repeating actions In addition, the registered user will receive a printed manual with a detailed documentation on GEMAR. THE REGISTERED VERSION MUST NOT BE GIVEN TO THIRD PERSONS !! Right now the registration fees for professional users is $ 180. Also available are special discounts for multi-users. Please use the form in the file REGISTER.TXT for registration. A commercial trade can only be done if a written permisson has been given. This also includes Public-Domain discs. After sending a 3.5" disc and an envelope with sufficient postage you will receive the latest version of GEMAR. LIABILITY Me, Steffen Engel, cannot take any liability for direct or indirect problems due to the use of GEMAR. GEMAR has been programmed and tested with maximum care, but I cannot give warranty for GEMAR to be free of errors. ALREADY TESTED SYSTEMS: Atari TT, Tandberg TDC 3620, SCSI-Port Atari TT, Tandberg TDC 3660, SCSI-Port Atari TT, Tandberg TDC 3880, SCSI-Port Atari ST, Tandberg TDC 3620, c't-ALIA Atari ST, Tandberg TDC 3660, c't-ALIA Atari ST, Tandberg TDC 3620, ICD Advantage Atari ST, TEAC MT 2-ST/N50, Laadap Atari ATW 800, TDC 3660, c't ALIA Atari TT, Archive Viper VP 2150S, SCSI-Port Atari TT, Cipher 540S, ACSI-Port Atari ST, Cipher ST150 S2/90, ICD-Advantage+ Atari ST, Archive Python, ICD-Advantage Atari ST, Archive Python, ICD The Link Atari TT, GIGATAPE MultiDAT, SCSI-Port Atari ST, GIGATAPE MultiDAT, c't-ALIA Atari TT, Wangtek ES 5525, SCSI-Port Atari TT, Wangtek ES 5150, SCSI-Port Atari TT, Wangtek ES 5150, ICD-The Link Atari Mega STE, Wangtek ES 5150, ICD-The Link Atari TT, Tandberg TDC 4100 / TDC 4200, SCSI-Port Atari Falcon, Wangtek ES 5150, SCSI-Port It is possible to adjust GEMAR such, that only the commands of the corresponding streamer will be used according to the SCSI norm. Just in case: If the streamer does not work with GEMAR, it might be possible for me to modify GEMAR properly. Therefore, I would need to have the manual with the SCSI-commands. If a new configuration file exits which is not according to GEMAR I would like to ask you to send me the used parameters. With this I can also attache the right parameter file so that not everybody has to identify his new adjustment. Basically it is sufficient to send the file 'Streamer Adjustments' as well as the 'Data Rate' and 'Max. Read' from the file 'Backup Adjustments'. GEMAR UNDER MULTITASKING: Principally GEMAR works under Atari Multi-Tasking Extensions (MiNT, MultiTOS, MultiGEM, Mag!X). However, Backup/Restore should never be done while another process is running. There are three significant reasons for that: 1.) Speed: All available computing power is necessary to supply data to the streamer and simultaneously read data from the hard disk. For this it is completely unimportant whether an ST, TT, Falcon, or anything else is used. 2.) Need for Storage: In order to carry out an efficient buffering of the data, GEMAR need quite some storage. Only this way the streamer can be fed with data. 3.) Data Protection If another program modifies the data on the hard disk, while GEMAR is working, a consistent backup cannot be guaranteed. Hence, because of reasons of data protection no other program should be running that may save, delete, or modify files. As soon as there is a possibility of refusing an access of other programs while GEMAR is working, it will be implemented in GEMAR. RESTRICTIONS AND KNOWN ERRORS: The english version is not english at all, I'm sorry. Some internal Strings are in german, due to the concept of MAGIC. Never mind, they are not so hard to read. I'm thinking about a way to transfer the internals Strings to the used language without changing MAGIC's concept. The hard disk software made by LACOM does not create Atari-compatible partitions within version 3.2a. Therefore problems may occure during Image-backups. A backup, stored at the very end of a tape can only be carried over to another tape if the tape was saved with Quick-File-Access capabilites. Some users have problems with backups that have been restored with Quick File Access (Seek). In this case the Quick File Access should be turned off during the restore procedure. Unfortunately, until now it has been impossible for me to reproduce this error, hence there is no repair mechanism known to me. GEMAR should work with virtuall memory quite well. But I must say, that this memory has to be located over phystop. With OUTSIDE it's possible to add the virtual RAM below phystop. In this case, GEMAR's program-flags should be set to 'Load to TT-RAM' and 'Malloc from TT-RAM' off. GEMA uses TAS to check the Semaphor Flock. This Opcode may cause Problems on some Versions of the GE-Soft HyperCache due to an error of the Hypercache. I cannot see a way to replace this opcode so on Problems with your HyperCache please contact GE-Soft for correction. FUTURE OUTLOOK: HISTORY: -2.0 dated 10/15/93 -first english release -2.2 dated 03/05/94 -Hypertext Helppages -PlugIns -Image-Backups of whole Harddisks can be performed. -Cut/Copy/Paste in Editables (thanks to Dirk Steins) -For the HyperCache GEMAR can be set to no use of TAS, when a cookie 'nTAS' ist installed. Install SET_NTAS in your AUTO-Folder for this -For the User there is no more differantiation between Falcon and TT-SCSI -When a tape ist loaded, parameterfiles can't be loaded due to security for the actual parameters -several Bugfixes (TAR-Headers are correct again, disabled icons where selectable in GEMAR 2.01, no more crashes under MultiTOS, ...) Braunschweig, March 94 Steffen Engel Kroeppelstr. 2 FRG-38100 Braunschweig MAUS-Net Steffen Engel @ PE Use-Net Steffen_Engel @ pe.maus.de Bank connection: Dresdner Bank Braunschweig Bank-No. 270 800 60 Account-No. 140027700