[comp.sys.amiga] another 1.4 suggestion

aegnor@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (David C. Powell) (09/24/89)

I have another suggestion for 1.4, I have started using RAD: and VD0:
extensively, and have found *1* thing I MISS using RAD: as opposed to
a 'true' disk.  The ability to 'write protect' the RAD: and/or the VD0:
could this possibly be added via an INFO select in 1.4?  I still use
Transformer, and with RAD: in place, it survives, but SOME of its files
get 'overwritten' making it have R/W errors.  I know Transformer would
probably still do this, but other things (VIRI) would have a semi-hard
time (IMHO) if they 'see' the RAD: as being READ-ONLY.

Am I off base?  Is this impossible?  *I* do not know, anybody from CA
wanna comment on this?

Thanks!


                                  
                                  David C. Powell
                                  M.I.S. Senior
                                  Ball State University
                                  Muncie, Indiana


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ccplumb@rose.waterloo.edu (Colin Plumb) (09/26/89)

In article <10156@bsu-cs.bsu.edu> aegnor@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (David C. Powell) writes:
>The ability to 'write protect' the RAD: and/or the VD0:
>could this possibly be added via an INFO select in 1.4?  I still use
>Transformer, and with RAD: in place, it survives, but SOME of its files
>get 'overwritten' making it have R/W errors.  I know Transformer would
>probably still do this, but other things (VIRI) would have a semi-hard
>time (IMHO) if they 'see' the RAD: as being READ-ONLY.

There already is such a command in 1.3.  CLI-only, at the moment.
You supply a passkey (a 32-bit number) and must supply the same
one to unlock the volume.  I do not believe the protection survives
reboots.  Note that a 1.3-aware virus could extract the key from the
system, and anything could hit the trackdisk.device directly.

I forget the name (I don't have my 1.3 manual handy), but I've implemented
it...
-- 
	-Colin