jmarek@td2cad.intel.com (John Marek) (10/06/89)
Are there any "non-volatile" ram disks for the ST. In general, the way these
work is that periodically (or on command) changes are flushed to a backup disk
file. On power-up/reboot, the contents of the disk file are written to the
memory disk.
On a semi-related question, is there any problem with keeping an ST running
continuously?
Thanks.
John.
--
John Marek jmarek@td2cad.intel.com
Any opinions in the above text are my own but feel welcome to use them.hyc@math.lsa.umich.edu (Howard Chu) (10/06/89)
In article <2466@td2cad.intel.com> jmarek@td2cad.intel.com (John Marek) writes: >Are there any "non-volatile" ram disks for the ST. In general, the way these >work is that periodically (or on command) changes are flushed to a backup disk >file. On power-up/reboot, the contents of the disk file are written to the >memory disk. > The Poly/Mega/Ultradisks from Alpha Systems are nonvolatile - plug into the cartridge port, and use an external power supply. Unless you're specifically doing something crazy with the HDV_ vectors, (like some malicious program tries to write zeros over every sector of a random drive?) there's no way a runaway program on the ST can trash what's on it. I've got a 2meg Ultradisk, and it's worked well for me so far. (However.... [Isn't there always one of these?] There's a catch - I haven't thought too hard about this yet, so the answer may be obvious to any of you reading this... I originally had mine set up as a single partition, 1988K of space, (and 60K for the printer spooler.)but found that things flaked out and I lost my FATs after a point. I've now got it set up as two partitions of near 1meg each, and haven't had any trouble. Hm... It seemed to claim to be a single-sided disk drive. Perhaps that was too much storage to be addressed by a 12 bit FAT entry?) >On a semi-related question, is there any problem with keeping an ST running >continuously? > I usually keep my Mega 4 running all the time. Kept my 1040 running all the time as well. No problems yet, after 2 years or so... usual disclaimer... I don't even know anyone at Alpha Systems...! }-) -- -=- PrayerMail: Send 100Mbits to holyghost@father.son[127.0.0.1] and You Too can have a Personal Electronic Relationship with God!
dnewton@carroll1.UUCP (Dave 'Yes, I'm weird' Newton) (10/07/89)
In article <2466@td2cad.intel.com> jmarek@td2cad.intel.com (John Marek) writes: >Are there any "non-volatile" ram disks for the ST. In general, the way these >work is that periodically (or on command) changes are flushed to a backup disk >file. On power-up/reboot, the contents of the disk file are written to the >memory disk. That would be silly. What if you did some work on a ram-based file right after it had been saved then had a power failure? Or just turned the machine off? If that's what you want, fine, but it would seem like a waste. Maxidisk (PD) is reset-proof and does have an autocopy program with it, but I don't know of any non-cartridge non-volatile ram disks. >On a semi-related question, is there any problem with keeping an ST running >continuously? God I hope not, 'cuz mine's one probably 20 hours a day. And a lot of BBS's use ST's. -- David L. Newton | dnewton@carroll1.UUCP | Quote courtesy of (414) 524-7343 (work) | dnewton@carroll1.cc.edu | Marie Niechwiadowicz, (414) 524-6809 (home) | 100 NE Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 | Boston College. [Q]: How many surrealists does it take to screw in a light bulb? [A]: The fish.