[comp.os.os2] Dos Mode

Francis.Huigsloot@f4.n512.z2.FIDONET.ORG (Francis Huigsloot) (01/28/90)

Hello, 
 
Regarding running os2 (communication-)programs and dos programs  
at the same time: 
 
When i entered dosmode from Presentaion Manager i noticed that communication  
programs in prior sessions came to a halt. I found that this problem is  
dependant on what you start first.  
 
When i start binkley first and then goto dosmode binkley stops dialing  
and my modem will not respond to any 'at' strings. If i go to dosmode 
first and then goto PM again (CTRL-ESC) and start binkley everything goes 
ok, even when i return to dosmode binkley remains active. 
 
Strange?? 
 
Francis Huigsloot 2:281/602.3 
 
 

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Bill.Andrus@weyr.FIDONET.ORG (Bill Andrus) (01/31/90)

Its a matter of priority, literally.  PM apps default to Always High priority, while Fullscreen apps default to Regular.  The Beta BinkleyTerm gets around this now by always switching to Class Always High, level 31, whenever it fires up the MODEM routines.  Works wonderfully, got a lot of 99% to 100% efficiency file transfers today, in the background, while running a 3270 CUT emulator in the foreground.  Actually, the Janus transfers were more like 125-130%, but mostly small message archives.



 (1:109/301.10@fidonet)
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Steve.Lesner@f261.n141.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Steve Lesner) (01/31/90)

  OS/2 DOES NOT stop when you open a Dos window.  DOS STOPS when you move into 
an OS/2 window!


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Francis.Huigsloot@f4.n512.z2.FIDONET.ORG (Francis Huigsloot) (02/01/90)

 
 >This shouldn't happen, so something is wrong here :-)
 >Does this happen with ANY dos program, or are you trying to run
 >something that takes over the comm port? (perhaps without
 >your realizing it.)
 
 
Hello,
 
Let  me  first thank you for your reply. Dosmode on my computer means that
Fixed  Disk  Organizer (IBM) is started. From there i can select programs.
Say  i am using TP 5.0 and calling a bbs, my modem shuts down. Perhaps you
will read another message of mine, i found that the problems only occur if
i go to dosmode AFTER starting a com program. 
 
 
 >Also,  what  type  of  a system are you running under- which version of
 >OS/2,  and  how  much  system  ram  do you have? These factors might be
 >relevant in trying to pin down your problem.
 
 
My system is a IBM model 70, 4 MB Ram. I am running under OS/2 version 1.1
EE.
 
Tot ziens,
 
Francis Huigsloot
 
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Bill.Bolton@p3.f403.n711.z3.FIDONET.ORG (Bill Bolton) (02/01/90)

 >When i start binkley first and then goto dosmode binkley stops dialing  
 >and my modem will not respond to any 'at' strings.

Works fine here, though I have noticed that file transfers in Binkley are substantially more "fragile" when the compatibility box is the foreground task.

Bill


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Jim.Gilliland@p34.f200.n157.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Jim Gilliland) (02/02/90)

 PF> Do you have a 286?  Switching from prot mode to real mode on a 286
 PF> is a real scarey kludge.  The keyboard controller resets the cpu
 PF> (!),  part of the POST code checks some flag in memory, and skips
 PF> the RAM Test etc, and JMPs to some saved location.  Unless you're
 PF> receiving characters at 2400 bps or less,  you are almost certain to
 PF> loose characters.  It might even happen at 2400.

Wait a minute.  I did some testing of comm overruns on an 80286 (for the OS/2  
comm article I did for Byte a couple of years ago), and found that an 8MHz  
standard AT could keep up at 9600 bps with no loss of data - even with two  
other tasks running, including one in the DOS box.

I found NO loss of data until I pushed the data rate to 19200, where the AT  
was no longer able to keep up.

Certainly, it is possible to load up the machine enough to cause overruns, but  
you can do that on any computer.  Even considering the mode-switch kludge, the  
80286 (in its AT environment) does not have any innate trouble handling lower  
baud rates.

Of course, it's also important that the communications code take proper  
advantage of large DosRead buffers (for the comm handle), multithreading, and  
appropriate use of priorities.  It is quite possible for a communications  
program to compete with itself for resources if it is not carefully  
constructed.  This could result in data overruns.

Anyway, don't be too quick to blame the 80286.
 

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