phil@amdcad.AMD.COM (Phil Ngai) (09/30/88)
I'm mainly a Unix user who uses a 286 AT clone to run applications
such as Microsoft Word and OrCAD's schematic entry program. My problem
is that most such programs are memory hogs. When I use Sun's PC-NFS
with Microsoft Word, I can't run the spelling checker because 640K is
not enough memory. And most of the programs I use don't understand
extended or expanded memory.
Having heard of the 80386's virtual 8086 mode, I wonder if I could use
a 386 clone to give each of my applications the bare 640K machine they
seem to require. What kind of software do I need? VM/386 sounds like
the right thing. Windows is more than I need. I've also heard of
DESQView. Which one will let me run my applications without running
out of memory? What do they do if I run out of physical memory? Do any
of them know how to swap or page?
Would PC-NFS work with any of the above?
--
I speak for myself, not the company.
Phil Ngai, {ucbvax,decwrl,allegra}!amdcad!phil or phil@amd.comlupin3@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (-=/ Larry Hastings /=-) (09/30/88)
+-In article <23061@amdcad.AMD.COM>, phil@amdcad.AMD.COM (Phil Ngai) wrote:- +---------- | | I'm mainly a Unix user who uses a 286 AT clone to run applications | such as Microsoft Word and OrCAD's schematic entry program. My problem | is that most such programs are memory hogs. When I use Sun's PC-NFS | with Microsoft Word, I can't run the spelling checker because 640K is | not enough memory. And most of the programs I use don't understand | extended or expanded memory. | | Having heard of the 80386's virtual 8086 mode, I wonder if I could use | a 386 clone to give each of my applications the bare 640K machine they | seem to require. What kind of software do I need? VM/386 sounds like | the right thing. Windows is more than I need. I've also heard of | DESQView. Which one will let me run my applications without running | out of memory? What do they do if I run out of physical memory? Do any | of them know how to swap or page? | | Would PC-NFS work with any of the above? | | Phil Ngai, {ucbvax,decwrl,allegra}!amdcad!phil or phil@amd.com +---------- I've used both VM/386 and DesqVIEW, and I am currently trying to get DesqVIEW to work with PC-NFS. You've hit one RIGHT up my alley... First of all, I haven't used VM/386 with PC-NFS, but I suspect it might work alright. You'd have PC-NFS (telnet, etc.) in one virtual machine, and Word in another. You would have to work at it to spool Word print files to the PC-NFS print spooler, but that'd be liveable. But I don't like VM/386, because it takes lots of memory, it slows down disk drive access LOTS (a huge overhead, which gets worse the more machines you add), and it asks what kind of hard drive you have. Anything that works on such a nasty level as having to know what kind of _hard_drive_ you have scares me... DesqVIEW and PC-NFS are kind of allergic, though. I can reliably crash my machine by doing any "net" function ("net name", "net print", the possibilities are endless...). But the network drives work, and that's the crucial part. Also, PC-NFS Lifeline Mail and Backup don't work. Telnet crashes the machine no question. But, the GOOD news... I'm working with Sun ECD to make PC-NFS less DesqVIEW allergic. We're gonna try some stuff, as soon as the package from Quarter Deck arrives. -- /|\ /|\ .. . . . . . . . . . . | |\| |\| .. . . . . . . . . . . |/|\|/|\|/|| _ _ _ _ |_| _ _ |_ -__ _ _ARPA: lupin3@ucscb.ucsc.EDU | |/| |/|L_ (_\( ( (_/ | |(_\_) (_ || )(_)_)UUCP: *!ucbvax!ucscc!ucscb!lupin3 \|/ \|/ larry / hastings _/ WORK: sun!acad!metaware!funkster MetaWare "I'm hovering like a fly, waiting for the windshield on the freeway." IncorporateDisclaimer:[MetaWare, UCSC]->opinion!=lhastings->opinion\\\Genesis
brown@nicmad.UUCP (Mr. Video) (09/30/88)
In article <23061@amdcad.AMD.COM> phil@amdcad.AMD.COM (Phil Ngai) writes:
<
< [...] And most of the programs I use don't understand
<extended or expanded memory.
MS-DOS program do not understand extended memory at all. I have never found
a program that will use extended memory. Lotus 1-2-3 can use expanded
memory though. The ProBas QuickBASIC programming utilities have calls
that allow detection and use of extended memory. I haven't used them yet.
Also, one shouldn't try in virtual 8086 mode. There would probably be some
conflict of interest.
<Having heard of the 80386's virtual 8086 mode, I wonder if I could use
<a 386 clone to give each of my applications the bare 640K machine they
<seem to require. What kind of software do I need? VM/386 sounds like
<the right thing. Windows is more than I need. I've also heard of
<DESQView. Which one will let me run my applications without running
<out of memory? What do they do if I run out of physical memory? Do any
<of them know how to swap or page?
I am a current user of VM/386. It is a great (well, I like it anyway)
multitasking program. Each DOS partition looks exactly like a 640K
machine, whereby each machine can be booted with it's own operating system.
If you press ALT-CTL-DEL in a partition, it only reboots that partition.
I have yet to lock up VM/386. I have locked up partitions tighter than
a drum, but not VM/386. If you do lock up a partition, you just enter the
VM/386 manager and reboot it that way.
Basically, you want to have 1MB for each partition that you want to run.
There is screen management overhead. Also, you can allocate expanded
memory for things like Lotus 1-2-3.
The only problem I have had is with RBBS-PC. For some reason it tends
to just die, when some data displaying is being done. The ALT-CTK-DEL
still works, but RBBS-PC just stops. IGC (the VM/386 company) and I
haven't been able to find a pattern yet to narrow it down. They seem
to be a great place to call and get help.
<Would PC-NFS work with any of the above?
There are hooks provided for networking. I don't have a board in yet,
so I can't discuss that issue.
--
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