HYPERDSK.TXT
HyperDisk(R)
Disk Accelerator
by
HyperWare(TM)
Shareware Version 4.30
Installation and User's Guide
December 2, 1991
Program and Document Copyright (C) 1987-1991 by Roger Cross.
HyperWare
RR#1 Box 91
Pall Mall, TN 38577
Sales/Administration: (615) 864-6868
Technical Support: (615) 864-6869
FAX (Group II, III): (615) 864-6870
BBS, 8N1 (HST, V.32, V.22bis): (615) 864-6871
MasterCard / Visa / COD Cashiers Accepted
Scope of This Document
This document contains information on HyperWare's: Shareware
License, product disclaimer, additional license plans, order
methods, product line brief, company address, FAX, BBS and voice
phone numbers.
The balance of this document is an installation and user's guide
for the HyperDisk disk caching product. It explains disk caching,
outlines the procedure for installing HyperDisk, and includes
additional information for customization.
HyperWare Shareware License Agreement
This software and documentation is protected by both United States
copyright law and international treaty provisions. This "Shareware"
version of HyperDisk is NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN NOR FREE SOFTWARE. Users
are granted a limited license to make and use an evaluation copy
for trial use on a private, non-commercial, non-governmental basis,
for the express purpose of determining whether HyperDisk is
suitable for their needs. At the end of this trial period you
should either register with HyperWare or discontinue using
HyperDisk.
You may make copies of the software and documentation only for your
own use or for the use of others in conducting their own trial use,
however all materials relating to this license statement, software,
documentation, order information, copyright and trademark
statements must remain intact as supplied in the original shareware
package. You may not distribute, rent, sublicense, integrate or
lease the software or the documentation. You may not alter, modify,
or adapt the software or documentation, including but not limited
to translating, decompiling, reverse assembling, or creating
derivative works.
What Does This Mean?
If, after a reasonable trial period, you continue to use this
product you should pay for the service provided by HyperWare.
HyperDisk is not free nor is HyperWare giving away free software.
We are giving you the opportunity to try HyperDisk, without risk,
before you pay for it. It is just that simple. Try it; either
purchase a registered license or quit using it. There is no risk or
refund problems.
How long is the trial period? You should be able to determine that
HyperDisk meets your needs within 3 months. If you require a longer
period, please consider your motives: a registered license is very
inexpensive. This is a great offer, there is no need to abuse it.
All corporate, business, government, organization, or other
entities require a commercial license! ONLY PRIVATE USE is
permitted by this "Shareware" license.
If you license a copy of HyperDisk, you will receive a professional
manual, discounts on future versions, free technical support; and a
registered version of HyperKey which does not display the opening
Shareware panel. In addition, your purchase will help HyperWare
support, upgrade and development new products.
You may make copies of the original Shareware package. The original
package is archived and will fit on one 360K floppy. If you operate
a BBS, please place a complete package copy in your public download
sections, (BBS operators may receive a special discount if you
display in your opening BBS panel that you are using HyperDisk!).
Disk Vendors MUST obtain written permission from HyperWare before
distributing any HyperWare product. Generally, ASP approved vendors
will be granted permission; others are handled on a case-by-case
basis. Contact HyperWare for details.
HyperWare currently offers several different licenses plans:
A Non-Commercial Use License is provided for direct upgrade of
Shareware users; it is ideal for private users. $49.00 is a small
price for the increased performance you receive!
A Commercial Use License provides commercial and governmental
interest with the highest performance utilities available! $69.00
is insignificant when compared to the increase in productivity
HyperWare SpeedKit provides! Call your standard software supplier
or order direct from HyperWare.
A Commercial Site License for large commercial and governmental
users can provide the most cost effective means for your
organization to enjoy the benefits of using HyperDisk with the
minimum of cost. Site fees are based on the number of users.
Special discounts are also available for Non-Profit, Educational
and Charitable organizations. Call HyperWare for details.
ALL PRICES, TERMS AND DISCOUNT PLANS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT
NOTICE. Discounts are not cumulative; they apply to single orders
of like products only. Unit prices are the same as for individual
users.
Shareware Disclaimer
HyperWare specifically disclaims all warranties, expressed or
implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect
to defects in the software and documentation, and the program
license granted herein in particular, and without limiting
operation of the program license with respect to any particular
application, use, or purpose. In no event shall HyperWare be liable
for any loss of profit or damage, including but not limited to
special, incidental, or consequential damages. This statement shall
be construed, interpreted, and governed by the laws of the State of
Tennessee.
Trademark Information
HyperWare, HyperDisk, HyperKey, HyperScreen, Touch-Shifting and
SpeedKit are trade-marks of Roger Cross.
MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft Windows is copyrighted by Microsoft Corporation.
Qualitas and 386MAX are trademarks of Qualitas, Inc.
SpeedStor is a trademark of Storage Dimensions.
Disk Manager is a trademark of Ontrack Computer Systems, Inc.
Other programs and/or equipment mentioned herein are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective publishers and/or
manufacturers.
Available HyperWare Products
SpeedKit Version 4.30
HyperWare's family of enhancement utilities for your IBM and MS-DOS
operating systems, HyperDisk, HyperKey, and HyperScreen, are
included in one cost effective package.
HyperDisk, Version 4.30
HyperDisk is the ultimate disk caching utility that increases your
computer disk drive's performance by implementing advanced features
including support for Conventional, Extended, and Expanded Memory
usage, interrupt-driven I/O for both read and write caching, and
support for PC, XT, AT, 80386, and 80486 type computers. It also
features advanced options such as Shadow RAM loading of all
overhead memory. Conventional RAM requirements vary from 10K to 35K
depending on the model and size of cache selected.
HyperKey, Version 4.14
HyperKey is a powerful keyboard enhancement package that allows
each user to customize completely all keyboard functions including
type-ahead buffer, repeat rates, keyboard clicking, and Touch
Shifting(TM).
HyperScreen, Version 2.17
HyperScreen is a screen utility that accelerates video output in
all text modes and a versatile screen blanker that supports both
text modes and all graphic modes. Free with registeration.
Order Information
To order call or use the enclosed order form for MAIL or FAX.
We accept Visa or Mastercard, company or personal check.
International orders should be payable in U.S. dollars (Visa or
Mastercard preferred). Orders outside Canada, Mexico or the United
States should include an additional $8.00 U.S. for shipping and
handling.
HyperWare
RR#1 Box 91
Pall Mall, TN 38577
Sales/Administration: (615) 864-6868
FAX (Group II,III): (615) 864-6870
Technical Support
Registered users may obtain direct Technical Support for this
product Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Central Time.
Technical Support: (615) 864-6869
Registered and Non-Registered users may obtain Technical Support by
accessing HyperWare's BBS.
BBS (USR-HST/V.32bis/V.32/V.22bis; 8N1): (615) 864-6871
Hyperware's BBS
Obtain the latest updates, registration information, general
utilities and services. Available, online 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. Asynchronous format: 8 Data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit.
Modem is U.S. Robotics Dual Standard, supporting: USR: HST; CCITT:
V.32bis, V.32, V.22bis, V.22, V.21; Bell: 212A and 103; MNP error
control protocol Service Classes 1-5.
You MUST use your real name and telephone number.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction to HyperDisk.........................................1
What is Disk Caching?.....................................1
How is HyperDisk Different from a RAM Disk?...............2
Other Benefits of HyperDisk...............................2
Chapter 2
Installing HyperDisk..............................................4
Backup Your System........................................4
HyperDisk Models..........................................4
The Install Program: INST_DSK.EXE.........................5
Special Note for Staged Write Users.......................6
<Ctrl><Left-Shift><Alt>...................................7
Manual Installation.......................................7
Chapter 3
Technical Information.............................................9
HyperDisk Parameters......................................9
Controlling HyperDisk via the Keyboard...................15
Technical Control Options................................17
Advanced Models Only: HYPER286.EXE or HYPER386.EXE.......19
Notes for Extended Model HyperDisk: HYPERDKX.EXE.........20
HyperDisk Limitations....................................22
Chapter 4
Caches Explained.................................................23
Disk Controller Caches...................................24
Disk Caching vs. Other Caching Systems...................24
Appendix A
Installation of Near Compatibles.................................25
Appendix B
HyperDisk Error Messages.........................................27
Appendix C
STAGED WRITE Feature.............................................29
Appendix D
Microsoft Windows and The Keyboard...............................31
Appendix E
Borland's Reflex Package.........................................31
Appendix F
Hard Disk Integration Packages...................................31
HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
Chapter 1
Introduction to HyperDisk
Welcome to the ultimate disk performance utility for your personal
computer system. Disk caching has been used for years in the
computer industry to improve disk performance in many mainframe
computer systems and is now available for your personal computer.
With HyperDisk, hard disk system performance will generally
increase 300% to 1000%, while simultaneously prolonging the
lifetime of your drive by reducing the wear and tear caused by
frequent access. HyperDisk will improve the performance of any PC,
XT or AT based system. New computers based on the 80386 and 80486
microprocessors will be incomparable in performance.
HyperDisk uses either Conventional, Extended (also XMS), or
Expanded (EMS) memory. It may be installed a DOS Device Driver (DD)
or as a Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) program. Most operating
parameters may be changed easily without requiring you to reboot
your computer. For computers based on Chips and Technologies NEAT
210 or 300 Series Chip sets, all of the program may be loaded in
special Shadow RAM using none of the lower 640K.
What is Disk Caching?
What is Caching? Caching is simply keeping often-read items
readily accessible in memory.
Why is a disk not "readily" accessible? It is a matter of relative
comparison: disks are very fast compared to file cabinets, but your
computer's internal Random Access Memory (RAM) is far faster than
disk memory.
How can the small amount of RAM I have improve my disk performance?
Some of your computer's RAM can be used to store the data you use
most often. This is known as buffering.
What happens when the buffer is full? A cache maintains a history
of data usage. When space is needed to store new data, the oldest
data in the buffer is replaced. You never run out of space, because
it is automatically reused to hold your most recent requests.
Why does replacing the oldest data with new data improve
performance? Because in many cases data is reused frequently. For
example, consider the usage of items in your kitchen. Do you have
some favorite items used more often than others? If your kitchen is
like most, you have some items used ever day, others less
frequently, and some only a few times each year. You probably store
the frequently used items in the most accessible places. This is
the way caching works.
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HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
How is HyperDisk Different from a RAM Disk?
HyperDisk is similar to a RAM disk in that both programs transfer
data to and from RAM. A RAM disk user must first copy all the
needed files to the RAM disk and remember to copy them back to the
hard disk after processing has finished. The entire file must be
placed in RAM, even if only part of the file is active. If you find
you need additional files, processing is interrupted again, while
you copy the necessary files to the RAM disk. If the RAM disk
becomes full, you must decide which files to copy back to your hard
disk, and then delete them from the RAM disk. If you need more
files for a given task than the RAM disk can hold, you cannot use
the RAM disk. If a power failure occurs or your computer crashes,
all your work in the RAM disk must be done again. And if you forget
to copy the data back to your disk or diskette, all your efforts
are again wasted. HyperDisk eliminates all these shortcomings.
When your application issues a disk read operation, HyperDisk
intercepts the request, copies the data from the disk to its buffer
memory, and then passes the data on to the requesting application.
All subsequent requests for the same data are copied by HyperDisk
from its buffer memory to the requesting application.
When your application issues a disk write operation, HyperDisk
compares the new data to the data already in the cache memory. If
it is the same data, the disk update is bypassed, and valuable time
is saved. HyperDisk copies only active data (data you are actually
using) to the buffer; thus providing much more efficient use of the
valuable RAM in your machine.
Other Benefits of HyperDisk
Optionally, HyperDisk can delay immediate updating of the disks and
diskettes to provide much greater disk and diskette efficiency.
Delaying or staging the update allows HyperDisk to optimize the
process by coalescing and sorting operations. In this way,
HyperDisk minimizes the number of disk rotations and head movements
required to update the disk. Additionally, for AT, PS/2, 386, 486,
and some XT class computers, updates are performed in the
background asynchronously (Advanced Update Mode), providing your
application with even more computing power for faster execution. No
longer must you wait while the data is being written to the disk
and diskette drives.
HyperDisk is fully automatic. If the cache memory is full when any
application issues a new disk request, HyperDisk will make space
available to hold this new data. The least recently used data
(oldest data) is eliminated from the cache, and free memory is then
used for the new data. HyperDisk is continually updating your disk
with changes you have made. The updating is done in the background
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HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
at times when your computer is idle, to avoid interrupting your
processing. HyperDisk automatically writes all new data to disk
(even if you issue a "warm-reboot" via the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> key
sequence), so you cannot lose your important updates. No user
intervention is necessary.
When you change diskettes, HyperDisk automatically updates the
cache for the new diskette and beeps to let you know it recognizes
the new diskette.
HyperDisk prolongs the life of your drive by reducing the amount of
access and eliminating redundant access to the drive.
HyperDisk is meant to be installed as a set-it-and-forget-it
utility. The benefit of the program will be your day to day
improvement in total system performance. We have taken every step
to ensure compatibility and reliability of our product. However, it
is impossible to test every combination of hardware and software.
For this reason, our technical support department is standing by
ready to assist you, at no charge, with any questions, comments, or
installation problems.
Thank you for purchasing HyperDisk. All of us hope you enjoy using
HyperDisk and all other HyperWare products.
HyperDisk the Disk Accelerator by HyperWare......................3
HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
Chapter 2
Installing HyperDisk
This chapter contains both the automatic and manual procedures for
installing HyperDisk. Before you actually install HyperDisk on your
system, read all of Part I of this manual and any READTHIS files on
the disk. This manual has been intentionally written in a brief and
concise format so that you may read it quickly. The manual with
index is available on the package diskette by running:
READ_DSK.BAT.
To successfully install HyperDisk, you will need an IBM PC, XT, AT,
PS/2, or 100% compatible computer system and PC-DOS or MS-DOS
version 2.0 or greater.
Backup Your System
It is a good idea to backup your hard disk before installing any
new program. This is especially true if you have a particularly
complex or non-standard system.
HyperDisk Models
The HyperDisk model you install will be determined by the memory on
your system.
HYPER286.EXE - Advanced 286 Mode
Uses proprietary Extended memory management for RAM
transfers. This model provides the fastest possible
transfers but still allows other programs to interrupt
when needed. If you have an 80286-based computer with
Extended memory, try this model first. If you experience
compatibility problems, use the Extended model.
HYPER386.EXE - Advanced 386 Mode
Same as the Advanced 286 model, but optimized for 80386
machines. If you have an 80386-based computer, use this
model. If you experience compatibility problems, use the
Extended model.
HYPERDKX.EXE - Extended
Uses the memory above 1 megabyte as cache memory. Normally
you should use either the Advanced 286 or 386 Mode models.
However, if your system uses one of the 80386-based EMS
emulators such as Qualitas 386Max, Quarterdeck QEMM,
Compaq EMM, etc., you should use this model. The 286 and
386 models are compatible with these products, but most of
the advanced mode support is not allowed while operating
under the above systems. Therefore, you may save a small
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HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
amount of Conventional memory by using the smaller code
size provided by the Extended model. (Technical note: This
model supports two transfer protocols, XMS and INT 15h-
87h. INT 15h is generally faster than XMS and is the
default mode.)
HYPERDKE.EXE - Expanded
Uses bank-switched memory like that provided by the Intel
Above Board (LIM EMS), AST Research's EEMM products, and
their 100% compatibles. You can finally put this memory in
your computer to work, speeding up all your programs all
the time, instead of having only a few special
applications customized to use LIM EMS. You can install up
to 8 megabytes of expanded memory for LIM EMS 3.2 and up
to 32 megabytes for LIM EMS 4.0 and EEMM 3.2.
HYPERDKC.EXE - Conventional
Uses the memory between 0 and 640KB. This is also the
memory used by DOS and your programs. If you do not have
Extended or Expanded memory, use this model. The best
compromise (with the Conventional model only) is achieved
with a cache size between 128K to about 256K. Default is
128K.
HYPERDK.EXE (for batch files)
The purpose of this file is to change options for a copy
of HyperDisk already installed on your computer. Include
this program name in any batch files rather than the above
program names. For example, if you start your computer
with HyperDisk enabled, but at some point you want to
disable the cache, you can do so in a batch file by adding
the command:
hyperdk D
The Install Program: INST_DSK.EXE
To install HyperDisk on your hard disk, run INST_DSK.EXE.
Place a backup of the HyperDisk diskette in Drive A: and type:
A:INST_DSK <Enter>
Note: <Enter> means that you press the <Enter> key.
1. You will first be asked if you want to install HyperDisk.
If you have a complete system backup, enter "Y." When
INST_DSK prompts you for a response, enter only the first
letter of your choice.
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2. If you do not have a backup, you will be given a second
chance to abort the installation. If you want to proceed
with the installation, press the Space Bar.
3. The next three screens help you decide which HyperDisk
memory model to use. See Page I-5 for an explanation of
the five HyperDisk models.
4. You will be asked whether you want to install HyperDisk as
a device driver or as a TSR. We recommend the device
driver method, which uses less Conventional memory. If you
have DOS version 2.xx, you must use the TSR method.
5. Enter the letter of the disk drive where you plan to keep
the HyperDisk files. This will typically be Drive C:, but
your configuration may differ.
6. Enter the amount of memory to use as cache. The amount you
enter corresponds to 1,024 byte (1K) increments. For
example, 2048 will create a 2-megabyte cache size. If the
size of the cache you enter here is not available on your
computer, all available memory will be used. The default
size is recommended for first-time users. Press <Enter> to
select the default response.
7. You may now specify any HyperDisk options. Please refer to
the section on command line parameters in Part I, Chapter
3, "Technical Information." Generally, for first-time
users no extra parameters are necessary. However, to
improve your performance, you are encouraged to read the
"Technical Information" chapter and discover which options
will likely fine-tune your system.
8. After completing INST_DSK, modify your CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files on your boot drive. In the CONFIG.SYS
file, either add the line BUFFERS=5, or modify your
existing BUFFERS statement to set BUFFERS=5. In the
AUTOEXEC.BAT, add the line VERIFY=OFF. Edit these files
using EDLIN (see your DOS manual) or with some other
editor.
9. Reboot your computer to complete installation of
HyperDisk. Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Alt><Del>.
Special Note for Staged Write Users
With HyperDisk installation, you should always press
<Ctrl><Alt><D> before powering off your computer (or if
provided, pressing the reset button). This will insure that
HyperDisk has copied all data to your disk. HyperDisk will
beep twice to inform you the cache is being disabled. If
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HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
any updates are pending, they will be copied to disk
immediately. After your disk access light goes out, feel
free to power off.
<Ctrl><Left-Shift><Alt>
When booting your computer, but before device drivers
load, pressing <Ctrl><Left-Shift><Alt> will cause
HyperDisk to suspend loading and prompt you with a choice
to continue or abort HyperDisk installation.
Manual Installation
For users who are familiar with the DOS operating system, this
section provides a quick review of procedures to manually install
HyperDisk. We strongly suggest that you familiarize yourself with
the HyperDisk parameters specified in Part I, Chapter 3, "HyperDisk
Parameters," of this manual. For the automatic installation
procedure, see the previous section, "The Install Program:
INST_DSK.EXE." For a more thorough understanding of how HyperDisk
works, see Part I, Chapter 4, "Caches Explained."
1. Run the ID program, which will place your serial number ID
on your program disk. This must be done on the original
floppy disk. The HyperDisk program files will not run
until the ID program has been executed. The ID program
needs to be run only once.
2. Check to make sure that no other disk caching software is
installed. HyperDisk works fine with hardware cache
controllers, but it may conflict with other software
caches. Below is a list of the most popular software
caching products and the associated program names:
Product: Called from Called from
AUTOEXEC.BAT CONFIG.SYS
Super PC Qwik SUPERPCK PCKWIK.SYS
Flash FLASH n/a
Speed Cache + SCPLUS n/a
Speed Cache SC n/a
Vcache CACHE or n/a
CACHE-AT or n/a
CACHE-EM or n/a
VKETTE n/a
SmartDrive n/a SMARTDRV.SYS
PC Cache PCACHE n/a
FAST! FAST???.EXE FAST???.EXE
HyperDisk the Disk Accelerator by HyperWare......................7
HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
If any of these programs are installed, you must remove them before
attempting to install HyperDisk. Running two or more caching
programs simultaneously may result in the loss or damage to your
data and program files.
3. Copy all the "EXE" files from the diskette to your hard
disk. You may place the files in the root directory or in
any subdirectory.
4. Choose whether to install HyperDisk as a device driver or
as a TSR. We recommend a device driver unless you wish to
uninstall HyperDisk later in your session. If uninstalling
is required, use the TSR method.
5. As a device driver, HyperDisk should be installed after
any special disk device drivers, such as:
Disk Manager - DMDRVR.BIN
SpeedStor - HARDRIVE.SYS or SSTOR.SYS
DOS - DRIVER.SYS
*** W A R N I N G ***
Do Not use HyperDisk with Golden Bow's VFEATURE Deluxe
VFEATURE is a non-compatible INT13 device driver.
6. Install the HyperDisk device driver line at the end of
the CONFIG.SYS file. If you placed the HyperDisk files
in a subdirectory, you should specify a fully qualified
path in the "DEVICE =" statement.
The following example of a 512K EMS Cache device driver shows the
files placed on a C: drive subdirectory named "TOOLS" :
device=EMS40.SYS { ems driver }
device=C:\tools\hyperdke.exe C:512
{ HyperDisk driver }
7. As a TSR, HyperDisk should be placed at the beginning of
the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The following example of a 512K EMS
Cache TSR shows the files placed on a C: drive
subdirectory named "TOOLS" :
C:\tools\hyperdke C:512
8. Now reboot your machine, and HyperDisk will be installed
and ready to use.
HyperDisk the Disk Accelerator by HyperWare......................8
HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
Chapter 3
Technical Information
The following technical information is provided for users to
customize HyperDisk to their own system requirements. We strongly
recommend that you read this section before specifying any
installation options. Although most users readily install and use
HyperDisk with no options at all, your system's performance may be
optimized by specifying various parameters. You will want to be
aware of how the selection of different options may affect your
system's operation.
HyperDisk Parameters
You can control the operating characteristics of HyperDisk via the
command line parameters you specify during installation. Some
parameters may be specified for installation only and may not be
altered later. These are noted as "installation only." Other
parameters may be changed at any time at the DOS command line or
using batch files. When you enter:
hyperdk [parameters]
the selected parameters will be set to the new specifications.
Parameters which are not respecified on this command line will
remain unchanged. The parameters listed as "default setting" are
automatically selected by HyperDisk upon installation unless you
specify an alternate option.
Parameter Definition
H HARD DRIVES ONLY
Sets to cache only hard (fixed media) drives.
F FLOPPY DRIVE CACHING
Sets to cache all drive types. Default setting.
E ENABLE/UPDATE HYPERDISK
Enables caching of the selected drive types. If
caching is already enabled, any modified data will
be written to the disk/diskette. Default setting.
D DISABLE HYPERDISK
Disables caching of all drive types. You may enable
it later via hotkey or command line.
V VERIFY READ
Verifies the disk and/or diskette after each disk
and/or diskette write. This replaces the DOS Verify
command. Do NOT use DOS Verify with HyperDisk.
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HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
N NO VERIFY
Does not verify the disk and/or diskette after each
write. Default setting.
C:nn SIZE of HyperDisk
Specifies the amount of memory (in Kbytes) to
initially install for the HyperDisk cache. For
example, a value of 2048 means 2 megabytes. The
cache size may be varied after installation using
the XC, XD, and XA options, but the size cannot
become larger than the value set with the C:nn
option upon installation. Default value for 286
Advanced, 386 Advanced, Extended and Expanded
models is all the remaining memory. Default value
for Conventional model is 128K.
W WRITE THROUGH HARD
Writes all data through to the hard disk
immediately rather than wait for the TIMER DELAY or
BACKGROUND UPDATE. HyperDisk performance will be
somewhat less than STAGED WRITE mode since
HyperDisk must write data to the disk immediately,
instead of waiting until the system is idle or the
cache is full. Default setting.
Q WRITE THROUGH FLOPPY
Same as above, for floppy drives. Default setting.
S STAGED WRITE HARD
Delays writing hard drive data changes until the
computer is idle; then writes all changes to disk.
WARNING: See Appendix C before selecting this
option.
A STAGED WRITE FLOPPY
Same as above, for floppy drives. WARNING: See
Appendix C before selecting this option.
T:nn TIMER DELAY
When using STAGED WRITE, this parameter specifies
the computer idle time before writing the modified
HyperDisk cache data to disk. You may specify a
value of zero (0) for a 500 millisecond delay.
Units are in seconds.
K HOTKEY ENABLE
Enables or disables the use of HyperDisk's Hotkeys.
K or K:+ enable the Hotkey functions. K:- disables
the hotkeys.
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HyperDisk Shareware Version 4.30 December 2, 1991
K:aclr HOTKEY SHIFT STATES
Allows you to alter HyperDisk's Hotkey shift
states. Normally, the <Alt> and <Ctrl> keys must
be depressed before you select a Hotkey letter.
However, any combination of <Alt>, <Ctrl>, <Left
Shift> and <Right Shift> may be used. Use only the
first letter of the shift name. For example, to
select <Ctrl> and <Left Shift> specify: K:cl.
M:nn MEDIA CHECK RATE
Specifies the time period for floppy diskette media
verification. Removable media devices (floppies)
are checked periodically to confirm that the media
in the drive still matches the media image in the
cache. Default value is 3 seconds. Units are in
seconds.
Z:nn SECTORS per BUFFER
Specifies the number of sectors per cache buffer. A
track is mapped to one or more buffers. This value
is auto-selected by default. Z:0 specifies full-
track caching. You may respecify this parameter
after installation, but for the extended memory
models, you cannot increase the sectors per buffer
beyond that specified at installation. If you wish
to experiment, install with full track buffering.
Generally the auto-selected value will provide the
best overall performance.
XC:nn RESIZE CACHE BUFFER
Resizes the cache buffers to nnK bytes. You cannot
specify more memory than originally installed. XC
without a numeric parameter will restore the cache
to its start-up value.
XD:nn DELETE CACHE BUFFERS
Deletes nnK of memory from the current cache
buffer. Use this parameter in conjunction with XA
or XC to adjust the cache buffer size for the best
utilization of your system memory. Note for
Conventional model: To obtain the best
configuration of your system memory allocation map,
install with the XD parameter selected; also,
specify the largest cache size (C:nn) you will
desire at any time during the session. After the
system has "booted" (all your device drivers and
TSRs are installed), run:
D:>hyperdkc XC
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This procedure allows you to install HyperDisk
before any other TSRs, such as FASTOPEN. XD without
a parameter will allocate no memory to the cache
buffers.
XA:nn ADD CACHE BUFFERS
Adds nnK of memory to the current cache buffer. You
cannot specify more memory than originally
installed. Use XA in conjunction with XD:nn to
adjust the cache buffer size for the best
utilization of your system memory.
XF:file EXECUTE COMMAND FILE
Directs HyperDisk to execute the commands contained
in the designated "file," where "file" is a
standard DOS path and file name. You can use this
function to store common procedures or personalized
caching properties. Create a file that contains the
command line and parameters desired for a specific
user or application. The command file may contain
multiple lines, and comments may be delimited by a
semicolon.
Example: d:>hyperdkc XF:C:\anyfile.ext
Example of "anyfile.ext" format:
EH:0 ;comment: enable only first hard drive
OT OC ;comment: disable tone and change line
XB:9 ;update disk every 1/2 second
XU UNINSTALL CACHE
Attempts to uninstall HyperDisk from memory. After
writing any pending updates to the disk, HyperDisk
will release the cache buffers, restore the system
interrupt vectors to the same as before it was
installed, and release the memory used by the
program code and tables. If you installed other
device drivers and/or TSRs that use the same
vectors as HyperDisk after the HyperDisk
installation, the uninstall operation will fail.
Only the cache buffers will be released, and the
cache will shutdown (i.e XU acts the same as XD).
I:n FLUSH INDICATOR
Allows you to select a "beep" indicator tone
whenever HyperDisk is updating the modified data to
disk. This is useful if you have a system that does
not have a drive indicator light. Select a tone
frequency, nn (in Hz) that you prefer. Default is
disabled, I:0. Also see the "P" parameter.
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P:nn FLUSH INDICATOR PERIOD
Allows you to specify how frequently the FLUSH
INDICATOR should sound, where nn is seconds.
Example: P:5 will beep every 5 seconds during the
update flush operation.
R RESET HyperDisk HIT
Resets the HyperDisk Cache Hit percentage after the
report is displayed.
OR OVERRIDE REPORT
Allows you to disable the output report that is
normally generated whenever you execute HyperDisk
from the command line. This option is useful if you
are running HyperDisk from batch files and do not
want the report to fill the screen. Also,
specifying OR:- will disable the installation
report delay.
OT OVERRIDE TONE
Disables the acknowledgment tone. OT or OT:+
disables the tone; OT:- restores the tone.
OK OVERRIDE DISPLAY METHOD
Allows you to select the display method. HyperDisk
normally displays data directly via the Video BIOS.
OK or OK:+ forces I/O directly to the Video BIOS,
while OK:- forces DOS I/O. Alternatively, the
standard output device may be redirected to any
device or file. Default is direct to Video BIOS.
In the following example, HyperDisk will display
the report via DOS Standard Output device:
C:>hyperdk OK:-
In the following example, output is
redirected to CON (console) device:
C:>hyperdk >CON
OK:nn OVERRIDE COLORS/ATTRIBUTES
Allows you to select the Colors/Attributes for the
current display. Color displays provide 16
foreground (text) colors to be applied on either 8
(CGA) or 16 (EGA/VGA) background colors. Monochrome
display provides a variety of display attributes.
Some allow 2 or more intensities, underlining,
blinking, etc. For CGA displays there are 120
useful combinations. EGA/VGA displays 240.
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Monochrome displays vary and are generally less
than CGA. Value nn may be entered in either decimal
or hexadecimal formats.
Decimal example: C:>hyperdk OK:30
Hexadecimal Example: C:>hyperdk OK:X1E
Both examples select yellow text on blue
background. Alternatively, you may select the
colors manually by specifying the following:
C:>hyperdk OK:0.
OKC:nn OVERRIDE COLORS ONLY
Same as OK:nn, except only Color Display attributes
are affected. Useful for systems with both
monochrome and color displays.
OKM:nn OVERRIDE ATTRIBUTES ONLY
Same as OK:nn, except only Monochrome Display
attributes are affected.
XI ENABLE ADVANCED UPDATE
For AT, PS/2, and some XT class computers. Enables
asynchronous update of the disk and diskette
modifications. XI:+ enables function; XI:-
disables. Default is enabled.
XIH ENABLE ADVANCED HARD DISK UPDATE
Same as above XI, except affects hard disk drives
only.
XIF ENABLE ADVANCED FLOPPY UPDATE
Same as above XI, except affects diskette drives
only.
XP:nn BACKGROUND UPDATE PERCENT
Specifies an upper limit on the percentage of
modified buffers before updating the disk and
diskette on every access. The oldest data (LRU
data) will be updated on each cache access until
the modified buffer percentage falls below nn.
Default is 75%.
XB:nn BACKGROUND UPDATE TIME
Specifies an upper limit on the age of the oldest
modified buffer. After nn system timer ticks (55
milliseconds), updates the oldest modified buffer
to disk. The background update functions are most
useful in systems that are seldom idle, such as
network servers. Default is disabled (XB:0).
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XW CHECK REDUNDANT WRITE
Checks for redundant disk/diskette write operation.
This function compares the write data to the
current image held in cache memory. If it is the
same, the update operation is not performed. Only
diskette drives that support media change signaling
are supported (720K, 1.2M, 1.44M, etc.). XW or XW:+
enables redundancy checking; XW:- disables. Default
is enabled. Note: HYPERDKX Model does not support
this function.
XWH CHECK REDUNDANT HARD WRITE
Same function as XW, except affects hard disk
drives only.
XWF CHECK REDUNDANT FLOPPY WRITE
Same function as XW, except affects diskette
drives only.
XS SHADOW RAM LOADER
Loads HyperDisk in Shadow RAM memory. If you have a
Chips and Technologies NEAT 210 or 300 Series Chip
Set based computer, or use an XMS type product that
supports Upper Memory Blocks (UMBs) such as 386Max
4.30+, HyperDisk will load in this special memory
using none of the lower 640K of conventional
memory. Note for Chips & Technologies computers:
HyperDisk attempts to load high in the E000:0000-
FFFF memory area; therefore, this area must not be
used by other programs, adapters, ROMS, or EMS
memory banks.
Additional options that relate to more system specific settings may
be selected. These options are listed below under the section,
"Technical Control Options."
Controlling HyperDisk via the Keyboard
Press the various key combinations listed to execute the
accompanying HyperDisk functions. For further explanation of each
function, see above, "HyperDisk Parameters."
ABORT INSTALLATION: <Ctrl><Left-Shift><Alt>
When booting your computer, but before the device drivers
load, pressing <Ctrl><Left-Shift><Alt> will cause
HyperDisk to suspend loading and prompt you with a choice
to continue or abort HyperDisk installation.
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WARM-BOOT: <Ctrl><Alt><Del>
Warm-restart the computer system. HyperDisk first writes
any modified data to disk. If any data must be written,
you will hear two tones, and HyperDisk will begin writing
to your disk. After the copying is complete, press
<Ctrl><Alt><Del> again, and the system will warm-restart.
If you have other resident programs (TSRs) that also
monitor <Ctrl><Alt><Del>, they may restart the computer
without allowing HyperDisk to update your disk. In these
cases, first disable caching via <Ctrl><Alt><D> and then
warm-restart the computer. If you are unsure of the
behavior of other resident programs, you may test this
condition by writing files to a test diskette. First, set
HyperDisk to STAGED WRITE using the <Ctrl><Alt><A>
sequence. Insert a newly formatted disk in Drive A: and
copy a large number of files to it with "COPY *.* A:".
When the copy finishes (or fails due to insufficient
space), immediately issue the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> warm-
restart command. If you hear two tones, and your system
begins to write to the floppy, you are safe and may issue
warm-restarts without fear of losing any data. If your
system immediately restarts, you would have lost data, and
your disk integrity would be in question. Possible
remedies are to (1) remove the other offending resident
program, (2) always disable HyperDisk before you warm-
restart, or (3) use the WRITE THROUGH mode feature in your
installation of HyperDisk (the default setting, no extra
parameters required). For the following keystroke
commands, the speaker will beep once to acknowledge
completion of the command. If the caching process is
disabled, the speaker will beep again. In other words, one
beep means the command was accepted and caching is
enabled, while two beeps mean the command was accepted and
caching is disabled.
DISABLE HYPERDISK: <Ctrl><Alt><D>
Disables the caching process. Your computer operates as if
HyperDisk were not present. It may be appropriate to use
this command prior to loading a program from a copy-
protected disk. Several copy protected programs have been
tested, and no problems are known. NOTE: Always select
HyperDisk DISABLED when you (1) run disk diagnostics or
other system test or (2) run any program that directly
accesses the disk and/or diskette adapter hardware.
ENABLE/UPDATE HYPERDISK: <Ctrl><Alt><E>
Enables the caching process. If HyperDisk is in the
disabled state, this command will enable caching.
Additionally, if caching is already enabled, any modified
data will be written to the disk/diskette.
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MANUAL DISKETTE CHANGE: <Ctrl><Alt><C>
Changes diskette media indication. If two diskettes have
identical file allocation tables, HyperDisk cannot detect
the diskette change. Use this command to force HyperDisk
to recognize the media change.
STAGED WRITE HARD DISK: <Ctrl><Alt><S>
Enables the STAGED WRITE HARD drive feature. WARNING: See
Appendix C before activating this option.
STAGED WRITE FLOPPY DISKETTE: <Ctrl><Alt><A>
Enables the STAGED WRITE FLOPPY drive feature. WARNING:
See Appendix C before activating this option.
WRITE THROUGH HARD DISK: <Ctrl><Alt><W>
Enables the WRITE THROUGH on HARD DRIVE feature. NOTE:
Always select WRITE THROUGH on HARD DRIVE when you (1)
test or install new programs, (2) debug programs of
uncertain integrity, or (3) perform any operation that may
"crash" your computer.
WRITE THROUGH FLOPPY DISKETTE: <Ctrl><Alt><Q>
Enables the WRITE THROUGH on FLOPPY DRIVE feature. See
note above for WRITE THROUGH on HARD DRIVE.
FORCE UPDATE BEFORE PROGRAM LOADS: <Ctrl><Alt><F>
Updates all changes to disk/diskette before executing the
next program load request. Provided for development and
testing systems.
RESUME STANDARD UPDATE: <Ctrl><Alt><R>
Resume normal update conditions. Provided for development
and testing systems.
Technical Control Options
Parameter Definition
U EXPANDED MEMORY BUFFERING
If you are using an EMS Emulator that does not
support Direct Memory Access (DMA) to the EMS
Memory Page Frame, or you are using a product that
accesses the EMS memory asynchronously (some
Networking products, some Print Spoolers, etc.), do
not alter the default configuration. However, if
you are sure that no other products access EMS
asynchronously and do not wish to use the Advance
Update mode (XI), you can save some conventional
memory (normally 8.5K) by deselecting this option
U:-. Default is enabled, installation only.
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EH:n:.. ENABLE SPECIFIC HARD DRIVES
Allows you to enable only specified hard drives. n
refers to the physical drive number starting with
0. You may specify as many drives as needed, each
delimited by a colon.
EF:n:.. ENABLE SPECIFIC FLOPPY DRIVES
Same as above, for floppy drives.
DH:n:.. DISABLE SPECIFIC HARD DRIVES
Allows you to disable the specified hard drives. n
refers to the physical drive number starting with
0. You may specify as many drives as needed, each
delimited by a colon.
DF:n:.. DISABLE SPECIFIC FLOPPY DRIVES
Same as above, for floppy drives.
OH:nn HOTKEY VECTOR METHOD
Provides direct control of the Hotkey Vector
method. If your machine is an AT type machine, you
may select either interrupt 09 or 15. Interrupt 15
is compatible with foreign keyboard support. If
your application has conflicting key assignments,
you may disable HyperDisk hotkeys by selecting K:-.
OB:nn BYPASS SECTOR SIZE
Allows you to fine tune performance when using a
small (32K) to medium (384K) cache size. Normally,
this value is disabled by HyperDisk. Specify nn, in
sectors, range: 0 to 128, to restrict the maximum
sized block to be stored in the cache. For example,
if you set ob:10, all transfer requests greater
than 10 sectors will be passed on to the system
BIOS and will not be stored in the cache. This
option is useful if you are moving a large amount
of data through a small cache, which would
immediately be flooded with new data before the
previous data could be reused. Setting ob:0 will
disable this option (default).
OC MEDIA CHANGE SIGNAL
Allows you to disable the diskette drive media
change signal test. All diskette drives, other than
160/320/360K types, support a media change
detection function. Basically, a signal from the
drive indicates that the media latch has been
opened or the diskette has been removed from the
drive. By default, HyperDisk uses this signal to
detect when a diskette has been changed. Use this
option if you suspect that your diskette drive has
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an unreliable media change signal. OC or OC:+ will
disable Change Media signal testing; OC:- enables
it.
Y DIAGNOSTIC DUMP
Creates a diagnostic file on the current disk and
directory of the resident HyperDisk program memory.
The function is to aid in problem determination.
Advanced Models Only: HYPER286.EXE or HYPER386.EXE
The following parameters are only available on 80286/80386 based
machines using the Advanced 286/386 Extended Memory Models of
HyperDisk:
Parameter Definition
G:n ADVANCED A20 GATE TYPE
Installation only. In order for HyperDisk to access
extended memory in the most effective way, a system
address control signal, A20 Gate, must be
controlled. The IBM AT used the 8042 keyboard
processor for this task, but this method proved to
be interminably slow. Consequently, several
computer manufacturers (including IBM when they
introduced the PS/2 line) developed other methods
to control the A20 Gate signal. Normally, HyperDisk
will automatically search your system to determine
the A20 Gate control method. If for some reason
HyperDisk cannot recognize the system, you may use
this parameter to tell HyperDisk what type of
computer you have. Specifying G:0 will disable the
search and use the system BIOS transfer routines.
Normally, these values are auto-selected by
searching the machine for identifying features. If
the identity is unclear, a system hang may result.
If you encounter such problems, first try method
G:2 (FastA20). If this method fails, use G:0, or
switch to the Extended model HYPERDKX.EXE. The
following table of values is applicable:
0 None, use BIOS
1 Standard AT-8042 method
2 Fast A20-8042, usable on most machines
3 PS/2 series
4 Dell 300 series, and others
5 Chips and Technologies Neat 212 Chip Set
6 QuadramXT
7 Inboard 386/PC
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8 AT Micro-Channel Model 6
9 HP Vectra
Methods are searched automatically from high (9) to
low (0). See READTHIS file for additions.
OG OVERRIDE A20 GATE EXIT (only for types 2 and 9,
above)
Specifies that HyperDisk should only open the A20
Gate when it is being used. OG:+ selects open A20
on demand, close on exit; OG:- selects open on
demand, leave open. If your application "Wraps 1
Megabyte" you should select OG:+. This parameter is
used with CP/M applications. Default is to leave
A20 Gate open.
XM XMS MEMORY ALLOCATION MODE
Requests HyperDisk to use the Extended Memory
Manager for allocating extended memory buffers. If
your system uses HIMEM.SYS (an XMS of Lotus-Intel-
Microsoft-AST), HyperDisk will allocate and
deallocate memory using XMS. However, the memory
transfer method itself will not use XMS unless you
select the XT parameter as well. XM:- will deselect
XMS memory allocation and return HyperDisk to the
default method, INT 15h Function 88.
XT XMS MEMORY TRANSFER MODE
Requests HyperDisk to use the Extended Memory
Manager (XMS) allocation and memory transfer
method. See the XM parameter, above. Recommended
for AT&T PCs.
Notes for Extended Model HyperDisk: HYPERDKX.EXE
Extended memory is only available in 80286 (IBM-AT) and 80386
computers. This memory is above 1 megabyte and is normally not
accessible from MS-DOS (Real Mode) applications. HyperDisk uses
special BIOS functions (INT 15, Extended Memory Block Move) to
access this memory.
The Extended Memory BIOS functions have some side effects that
should be considered:
1) Interrupts may be lost. Interrupt processing is suspended
while the Extended memory is being accessed. High speed
communications programs are the most likely to encounter
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problems. Should you require both caching and high speed
interrupt processing simultaneously, switch to the
Advanced 286/386 model, the Expanded model, or the
Conventional model.
2) Pfix and Pfix-Plus (possibly others) may hang when using
INT 15 Extended Memory Block Move functions with the Intel
Inboard 386/AT. This problem is related to the PC-AT ROM
BIOS. Test your system carefully. (Intel's Inboard 386
Utility Software Version 1.2 corrects this problem.)
Disable caching (via <Ctrl><Alt><D>)
while these products are being used.
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HyperDisk Limitations
HyperDisk supports disk and diskette drives accessed by BIOS INT 13
services. Up to 16 drives may be cached, 8 hard disks and 8
floppies. To be cached, disk and diskette media must be formatted
as 512 bytes per sector with 8 to 63 sectors per track.
HyperDisk supports hard drives with up to 256 heads and 1024
cylinders maximum (or 64 heads maximum and 4,096 cylinders,
accessible with special software such as SpeedStor, Disk Manager,
or AMI/OMTI BIOS compatible controllers). Supported diskette
systems include: 5.25-inch single and double sided, double and high
density (8, 9 and 15 sectors per track); 3.5-inch drives single and
double sided; double and high density formats (9 and 18 sectors per
track).
HyperDisk supports partitioned hard disk systems (multiple logical
drives per physical drive) and should be installed AFTER the device
driver provided by the disk supplier. PC-DOS Version 3.30 and
greater directly support multiple logical drives. No additional
device drivers are required.
If a diskette is removed from a drive and placed in another
computer where it is changed slightly (no change in the File
Allocation Table) and then returned, HyperDisk may not detect the
media change and fail to update the buffers to reflect the new
changes. Therefore, if you remove, alter, and replace a diskette,
take notice if HyperDisk issues a media change tone. If no tone is
heard, issue the manual change via the hotkey sequence
<Ctrl><Alt><C>. See the section above, "Controlling HyperDisk via
the Keyboard."
Some products that use copy-protected media may require that the
caching function be disabled during the media verification period.
NEVER install HyperDisk while operating under one of the DOS
enhancement or extender type software packages, e.g., Microsoft
Windows, Desqview, Double DOS, PCMOS, etc. HyperDisk is compatible
with these systems but must be installed BEFORE these systems are
invoked. HyperDisk operates by intercepting a number of system
interrupts (8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 19, 21, and 28) and redirecting their
actions accordingly. DOS enhancement packages such as those above
often change the system interrupts on a per task basis and create a
situation in which a disk cache cannot maintain a coherent image of
the system's disk and diskette devices.
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Chapter 4
Caches Explained
In recent years the technology of "caching" has become a common
buzz word in the PC industry. The origins of caching techniques are
ancient. However, old or new, caching does the same thing: it keeps
often-used items readily accessible. Surprisingly, the science of
caching is quite recent, with most of the fundamental work dating
in the 1960's. The Belady replacement algorithm, published in 1967,
provides the baseline by which all caching techniques may be
measured and compared. This algorithm, known as "The Greatest
Forward Distance," is not realizable due to its non-causal nature
(It requires perfect knowledge of the future!). Consequently, the
Belady algorithm may only be applied to systems that have already
completed operations or are perfectly cyclic in behavior (Not very
useful in an applications environment!). Once a realizable
algorithm is implemented, Belady's algorithm may be applied to the
request list (or reference string) history to assess how close to
optimum the test algorithm performs. It is this comparison on which
the fundamental science of caching rests.
Many caching algorithms have been published and compared to
Belady's baseline performance. Leading are the Least Frequently
Used (LFU) algorithms, followed closely by the Least Recently Used
(LRU) algorithms. Differences in performance are less than 8% on
the average. However, LFU algorithms are more complex to implement,
and most systems yield better performance using LRU (executing
complex algorithms requires time and space). Common algorithms for
CPU instruction caches are: Direct, Two-Way Associative, and Four-
Way Associative. Programming systems that support overlay loading
commonly use Least Recently Loaded (LRL). For more information on
caching in computing systems, see the journals of the Association
for Computer Machinery or The Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers.
HyperDisk uses a modified LRU algorithm, which is simple and fast
to execute. Simply: when new data needs to be copied to the buffer
and no space is available, the Least Recently Used data is removed,
and the new data is moved to this space. Weak points in LRU
performance appear when data is retrieved from the disk in such a
fashion that the data is replaced after only being used once. This
type of behavior, which occurs in disk caching, is termed over-
commitment or thrashing. To avoid over-commitment, HyperDisk uses a
proprietary combination of linear and random access predictors to
identify the onset of the condition.
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Disk Controller Caches
Many manufacturers now offer disk controllers that feature onboard
caching functions. These controllers generally provide excellent
performance. However, due to cost and space limitations, most
controllers provide only a small buffer to hold the buffered data
(typically less than 512K bytes). In addition, access to the
controller buffer is slower than normal system RAM memory. If your
system is a 386 or 486 32-bit system, the IO-channel speed is very
slow when compared to system RAM. Buffer memory on the controller
is dedicated and cannot be used in any other way.
For maximum system performance when using a caching disk
controller, we recommend a modest buffer size on the controller
(16K to 128K bytes). Install HyperDisk as you would with a normal
controller, using either extended or expanded memory. The
combination of HyperDisk and a caching controller will provide
unbeatable performance.
Disk Caching vs. Other Caching Systems
Caching techniques were invented long before the use of computers.
Mainframe computer systems have been implementing caching
techniques for some time, and now caching is used in the PC
marketplace. There are many types of caches, all unique and
different. Memory caches usually allow the use of slower memory
chips on new high speed machines. Many 386 and 486 machines on the
market today implement a memory cache design. They place a small
amount of high speed memory (usually 64K of static RAM), and then
use that to cache up to 16 megabytes of slower dynamic RAM chips.
This allows the machine to use the full speed of the processor but
maintain a very economic memory system.
CPU caches are implemented to allow the "stacking" of instructions
waiting for the processor, thus increasing the computing speed of
the system.
Print spoolers are another type of cache. In a print spooler you
are using memory or disk to cache the information being sent to the
printer, freeing the machine to continue with other work.
None of these types of caches is the same as disk caching. Often
people assume that if they have one type of cache in a system they
don't need any other. In fact, the best system performance is
obtained by having a cache built into every area of the machine,
maximizing its performance.
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Appendix A
Installation of Near Compatibles
Procedures for installation testing on near compatibles:
1. Make a complete backup of your hard disk, if you have one.
2. Put a copy of hyp???.exe (where ? is cache model to test)
on a newly formatted diskette.
3. If testing the EMS version, make sure the EMS Driver
supplied with the EMS board has been installed. (See EMS
user instal-lation guide supplied with EMS product).
4. With a copy of the HyperDisk floppy in Drive A:, enter the
file name of the HyperDisk model under test at the DOS
prompt.
5. Try DOS operations (DIR, COPY) on the floppy diskette
first, followed by the hard disk.
6. If you have an EMS emulator program that allows extended
memory to be used as expanded memory, and HyperDisk fails
to operate (i.e., disk or diskette is not cached; system
crashes or hangs), try the HyperDisk /U option. Normally
this will work for any EMS emulation method.
7. Enable STAGED FLOPPY WRITE (via d:>HYPERDK a) and test
modifying the floppy diskette as follows:
A:\>copy A:*.* A:test <ENTER>
8. Immediately, using type-ahead, type "DIR" and <ENTER> to
display the diskette directory. If after the directory is
displayed, the drive continues to update, the STAGED WRITE
feature is funct-ioning.
9. Next test the reboot control by repeating Step 7, followed
momentarily by a warm-boot (<Ctrl><Alt><Del>). You should
hear two tones indicating the cache is shutdown, and the
diskette should continue to update. However, if the system
begins rebooting, you may not use STAGED WRITE reliably.
Some EMS emulators currently fail this test. Additionally,
if you use any program to reboot your PC other than the
above keys, disable HyperDisk BEFORE executing the reboot
program.
10. When the diskette drive becomes inactive, remove the
diskette from the drive and again issue the warm-boot key
sequence <Ctrl><Alt><Del>. The computer should immediately
begin the reboot sequence.
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11. After the computer has rebooted, replace the test diskette
and run "CHKDSK A:" to be sure the diskette has been
updated correctly.
12. If no problems were encountered, return to the section
"Installing HyperDisk" and follow the instructions.
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Appendix B
HyperDisk Error Messages
Already Installed!
HyperDisk has already been installed. The program type and
version of the resident program is displayed, followed by
the above error message.
Invalid Parameter
HyperDisk found an invalid command line parameter. Check
your command line parameters against the definitions in
the section above, "HyperDisk Parameters." Inserting a
delimiter (/,:,-, etc.) between parameters will insure
that only the invalid character is chopped; other
following valid parameters will be installed.
Extended Memory not Supported (INT 15)
HyperDisk could not find the Extended Memory BIOS software
(INT 15). Your computer does not support INT 15 extended
memory functions. You should use either the Expanded model
or the Conventional model.
No Extended Available
HyperDisk could not find any free memory in the Extended
memory manager. You should use either the Expanded model
or the Conventional model.
Insufficient Extended Memory
HyperDisk could not find enough free memory in the
Extended memory manager. A minimum of 128K bytes is
required to use HyperDisk.
Expanded Memory Manager not Found
HyperDisk could not find the EMS memory manager software.
Either you omitted the EMS device driver statement in your
CONFIG.SYS file, or you placed the HyperDisk device driver
statement before the EMS device driver statement in your
CONFIG.SYS file.
No Expanded Memory Available
HyperDisk could not find any memory in the EMS memory
manager.
Insufficient Expanded Memory
HyperDisk could not find enough free memory in the EMS
memory manager. A minimum of 128K bytes is required to use
HyperDisk.
Insufficient Conventional Memory
HyperDisk could not find enough free memory in the DOS
memory manager. HyperDisk requires a least 400K bytes free
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before installation begins. A minimum of 144K bytes is
required by HyperDisk.
Incorrect DOS Version
An incorrect version of DOS is loaded. HyperDisk requires
DOS version 2.0 or later.
Error [drive]#:n: - [text]: Retry, Skip or Abort:
An error was detected during a disk write operation. The
error code will be either an Extended, EMS or BIOS error.
If the error code is "ABxx" then "xx" is the EMS error
code in hexadecimal (see your EMS manual error
definitions). For an EMS error ("ABxx"), the EMS software
has been corrupted and the "Retry" option will most likely
continue to fail. If the error code is "EDxx" then "xx" is
the extended memory error code in hexadecimal (see the IBM-
AT Technical Reference [1502243] BIOS Listing, Section:
BIOS 1, Error Code Definitions). For an extended memory
error, the memory has been corrupted and the "Retry"
option will most likely continue to fail. If the error is
a disk BIOS error on a diskette drive, the error condition
usually indicates that the diskette latch is open. If this
is the case, replace the diskette and/or close the
diskette latch before giving the "r" response. Retry: "r"
will retry the same disk request. Skip: "s" will skip this
disk write and continue with the next write. Abort: "a"
will remove the active drive data from the HyperDisk
buffers without updating the disk. Warning: This response
should be used only for floppies you are going to discard
due to defective and unacceptable media. (This response is
not the same as multiple "Skips.")
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Appendix C
STAGED WRITE Feature
When HyperDisk accepts data to be written to the disk, it stores
that data in a buffer. Later when the system is idle (no disk,
keyboard, or mouse activity), the modified data is written to the
disk. This feature increases your computer's performance, since
disks are updated only when your computer is not being used by you
for other tasks. For removable media, you should wait until the
diskette has completely updated before removing it. If you remove
the diskette before the update has completed, HyperDisk will
interrupt your current foreground process and indicate that an
error has occurred. Just replace the diskette in the drive and
press "r" for retry.
*** W A R N I N G ***
STAGED WRITE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.
NEVER power off or hit Reset Switch
without first disabling HyperDisk!
If your computer is operated under any of the following conditions
do NOT use the STAGED WRITE feature:
1) Do NOT activate STAGED WRITE if the computer user is not
familiar with the HyperDisk STAGED WRITE feature. An
example is if the computer is shared by several people who
expect "standard" system behavior. With STAGED WRITE, your
disks will not be updated immediately, and an unfamiliar
user may become confused. After all users are aware of
STAGED WRITE and the changed behavior of the computer,
STAGED WRITE may be selected.
2) Do NOT use if the computer "crashes" frequently due to
poor software and/or hardware.
3) Do NOT use if the power system fails frequently and
unpredictably. For example, bad weather or an overloaded
power network may cause intermittent power failures. Most
users in this category should purchase an Uninterruptable
Power System (UPS).
4) Do NOT use if new software is being tested or developed
that may "crash" the system.
5) Do NOT use if you use a software package that does not
support the "warm-boot" <Ctrl><Alt><Del> function
correctly. Qualitas' 386Max version 4.04 and earlier and
several other public domain programs fail this test.
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Additionally, if you use any program to reboot your PC
other than the above keys sequence be sure to disable
HyperDisk before executing the reboot program. See the
Appendix A for testing procedures.
The STAGED WRITE feature may be enabled or disabled easily with the
keyboard HOTKEY commands. HyperDisk has separate controls for hard
and floppy drives. When in doubt, use the WRITE THROUGH modes.
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Appendix D
Microsoft Windows and The Keyboard
Windows 2.0 or greater:
When Microsoft Windows is active, keystrokes cannot be
intercepted in the normal manner. Therefore, a different
method must be used while in the Windows environment. If
you are using Windows 2.0 or greater, first, select the
Keyboard Pause state by entering either <PAUSE> or
<Ctrl><Num-Lock>; then, enter the desired HyperDisk Hotkey
sequence.
Appendix E
Borland's Reflex Package
*** W A R N I N G ***
Reflex provides an asynchronous update mode for disk and diskettes.
You must disable this function via the command line switch "-a"
before operating with HyperDisk. Due to special considerations
necessary for Desqview operation, Reflex and HyperDisk are
incompatible if the Asynchronous option is selected.
Appendix F
Hard Disk Integration Packages
Users of Everex's EverDisk package:
Hyperdisk has no known operating problems in this
environment.
Users of OnTrack's Disk Manager and Storage Dimensions' SpeedStor
packages:
Currently Hyperdisk directly supports Disk Manager
versions 3.10 to 4.30 and SpeedStor versions 5.14 to
6.1. If you have prior versions installed with DOS 2.0
to DOS 3.2, you should have no problems, but for DOS 3.30+
systems you must have one of the above specified version
if your hard drive geometry does not match your system's
pre-configured ROM types (commonly referred to as the CMOS
Drive type). Specifically, the number of heads and the
number of sectors per track must be the same as the CMOS
type; the actual number of cylinders does not matter. If
you have a non-standard disk configuration for which
HyperDisk cannot determine the method of integration, the
STAGED WRITE functions will be disabled for that drive.
Note: Commonly, a non-standard disk will have a very small
C: partition ( <2 megabytes).
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