[comp.os.minix] } Amiga

Frank.Neumann@arbi.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de (Frank Neumann) (05/17/91)

Hi out there,
Ok, now I did it. Two days ago I received my Amiga Minix package from
a German distributor of Prentice Hall. Things look quite fine,
but soon some questions came up:
a) The loader that came with the original package "minix" is supposed
to have the option -m $<address> to add chunks of 256 KBytes to
the system's Ramdisk. I tried this, but still I get the info that the
space for the root file system is just 160 KBytes in size.
Now I already ftp'ed the new kernel & loader, and noticed that the new
loader's -m option is different - it requires a "memory configuration file".
Unfortunately no docs came in this distribution - so I am looking for
a description of what this file has to look like.
b) On the same thing - I do have the new kernel image, but where can I get
the new source diffs for this kernel ? Is it also part of the distribution
in /pub/minix/cdiffs at ftp.cs.vu.nl or does that directory only relate
to the IBM version ?
c) I think this problem has already been discussed, but I ask it anyway -
ps gives me lot a garbage although I did not yet recompile the kernel
and there is a /etc/psdatabase. Is the ps broken ?
d) Some weeks ago I posted a question about harddisk drivers. I got nice
response, obviously the crew around ast is willing to help me here :-)
I hope to get the specs for the OMTI controller (with which I'm currently
running my Amiga) in these days, and then I hope I'll get the driver
written soon. (This was actually no question, but an information).
So - (now comes the question) - is there a kind of 'skeleton' driver source
available where I maybe (is it SO simple ? ;) just have to put in my
controller's special parameters and maybe modify some other stuff and
can then run it all from harddisk ?

I assume this all sounds very beginner-like to you, but that's obviously
what I am :-)

So long,
Frank

-- 
+ Frank Neumann, Hauptstr. 107, 2900 Oldenburg, FRG   The Amiga is it.  +
+       InterNet: Frank.Neumann@arbi.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de        +
+       UUCP: neumann@uniol.uucp   \\//    InHouse:amigo@faramir        +
+ Zerberus: neumann@uniol.zer BitNet:295391@DOLUNI1.BITNET IRC: Franky  +
+    "Dann die Butter [...] mit einem Schneebesen schaumig schlagen"    +

tsarna@polar.bowdoin.edu (Tyler Sarna) (05/18/91)

> Ok, now I did it. Two days ago I received my Amiga Minix package from
> a German distributor of Prentice Hall. Things look quite fine,
> but soon some questions came up:

> a) The loader that came with the original package "minix" is supposed
> to have the option -m $<address> to add chunks of 256 KBytes to
> the system's Ramdisk. I tried this, but still I get the info that the
> space for the root file system is just 160 KBytes in size.

You've misunderstood the this option, it tells minix that you
have more memory than shows up in the autoconfig list, for
example, if you have a ram card which must be addmem'd. To make
the ramdisk larger, you must make a new filesystem on a new disk
and copy the files over.

> Now I already ftp'ed the new kernel & loader, and noticed that the new
> loader's -m option is different - it requires a "memory configuration file".
> Unfortunately no docs came in this distribution - so I am looking for
> a description of what this file has to look like.

Well, you probably don't need this file anymore, but if you
still do, send me mail and I'll send you an example
configuration file.

> b) On the same thing - I do have the new kernel image, but where can I get
> the new source diffs for this kernel ? Is it also part of the distribution
> in /pub/minix/cdiffs at ftp.cs.vu.nl or does that directory only relate
> to the IBM version ?

The version on ftp.cs.vu.nl is a test version only, source is
not availible. Don't worry, I know the authors are working hard
on getting it ready for release.

> c) I think this problem has already been discussed, but I ask it anyway -
> ps gives me lot a garbage although I did not yet recompile the kernel
> and there is a /etc/psdatabase. Is the ps broken ?

Well, if you're using the new minix.img, it's the same thing as
recompiling the kernel. See the manual on ps, esp. the -U
option.

> d) Some weeks ago I posted a question about harddisk drivers. I got nice
> response, obviously the crew around ast is willing to help me here :-)
> I hope to get the specs for the OMTI controller (with which I'm currently
> running my Amiga) in these days, and then I hope I'll get the driver
> written soon. (This was actually no question, but an information).
> So - (now comes the question) - is there a kind of 'skeleton' driver source
> available where I maybe (is it SO simple ? ;) just have to put in my
> controller's special parameters and maybe modify some other stuff and
> can then run it all from harddisk ?

Wait until the new version is availible with source. It has a
driver for C= controllers. You will probably have to change a
lot more than parameters, however. You need routines to read and
write a block from disk, and to select drives. 

> I assume this all sounds very beginner-like to you, but that's obviously
> what I am :-)

Don't worry, I was confused too, esp. with how to change ramdisk
size.

--
Tyler "Ty" Sarna                       tsarna@polar.bowdoin.edu

     "Navy. It's not just a job, it's $98.76 a week." -SNL