monte@odetics.com (Monte Variakojis) (03/19/91)
Hi neters,
Has anyone used the disk doubler software Stacker? It's a
hard diask doubler that will double the storage on _any_ hard
disk. Some say it's transparent. I was wondering if it kills
the performance of the diskdrive?
Any information is welcom.
Thanks,
Monte---
monte@odetics.com
mcastle@mcs213e.cs.umr.edu (Mike Castle {Nexus}) (03/22/91)
From PC/Computing Feb 91 (covered several similiar products):
File performance with software only degraded by 15-25%,
compressed virtual drive was only 65% of the size of the files stored in a
non-compressed manner. Works well with anything, including Windows, CHKDSK,
unerase utilities, Norton Disk Doctor. Full refund if you don't like it.
From PC Magazine, 12 Mar 91:
8-bit slot required (no MCA version), works with ESDI, SCSI, and IDE drive,
does NOT work with RAM disks, floppies (forth coming, however), Bernoulli
boxeds, WORM and CD-ROM drives. (RAM disk support also promised, but why, I
don't know). Tests showed 1.8:1 compress ratio (8:1 graphics files,
2:1 text, 1.5:1 .EXE, 2.5:1 spreadsheets and databases, 1:1 zip and lzh
file (no surprise)). 30K TSR, plus 16K for window for card (hardware
compression, suppose doing memory mapping like graphics card). TSR can be
loaded hi. Disk caches work fine. Offers enhanced versions of DIR and CHKDSK
that give compression ratios. No change in file access time when using the
card/sw combo, sw only is slower, of course. No support for more than one
virtual drive. Their compression algorithms are used in PC Tools (PCBackup?),
QIC tape drives, and DAT drives. Easy to install.
I wonder though, is what happens if the virtual drive become 'larger' than
32 'virtual' Megs under dos 3.x.
The hardware method would be worth it, I would think. Especially if you have
a large harddrive with DOS 4.0 that you could 'dedicate' as a host to the
virtual compress drive.
Btw, the virtual drive looks just like a hidden file in your real directory.
--
Mike Castle (Nexus) S087891@UMRVMA.UMR.EDU (preferred) | XEDIT: Emacs
mcastle@mcs213k.cs.umr.edu (unix mail-YEACH!)| on a REAL
Life is like a clock: You can work constantly, and be right | operating
all the time, or not work at all, and be right twice a day. | system. :->gettys@regent.enet.dec.com (Bob Gettys N1BRM) (03/23/91)
In article <2449@umriscc.isc.umr.edu>, mcastle@mcs213e.cs.umr.edu (Mike Castle {Nexus}) writes... > No support for more than one >virtual drive. >I wonder though, is what happens if the virtual drive become 'larger' than >32 'virtual' Megs under dos 3.x. > >Btw, the virtual drive looks just like a hidden file in your real directory. >-- I'm using it on a couple of machines. On the Laptop (20 meg drive and DOS 3.3) I've got two stacker volumes. One of a theoretical 32meg and one of about 5 meg. On the other machine (386sx with two drives) I've got four separate "drives" from stacker. I don't go above about 90 megs each because of my backup situation. In general, it meets the advertised specs. I've only found one problem. With windows V3, it is tricky to set up a permanent swap file. First, it cannot go into a stacker volume. Second, Windows cannot seem to set one up if the SSWAP program has re-arranged your drive letters. There MAY also be a problem with setting one up on the same physical drive as a stacker volume. I'm not sure, but I think that setting on up on the same physical volume as the stacker volume file that held the windows files managed to destroy the stacker volume file. Overall, I would reccomend the program as a viable alternative to spending lots more money on a hard drive. But, as usuall, it isn't a cure all. /s/ Bob Gettys
marks@pwa-b.uucp (Evan R. Marks) (03/25/91)
I have been running stacker for over 1 week now. I have a 386sx with a Connor
3204 200 MB IDE Drive running Dos 4.01. I have had NO problems whatsoever
and all utilities run well with no noticable slowdown in disk access. It took
approximately 2 hours to convert all my files to the stacker partition. I am
running the software only version. Needless to say, I am impressed. :-)
Main Concern: My stacker partition reports 230 MB Used with 166 MB free. I now
cannot "unstacker" my drive without cleaning off over 30 MB of programs/data.
Since I have noticed no compatability problems (Dos 4.01/Dos 5.0 Beta/ Dr Dos),
this is really a moot point. If you are running DR Dos, drive swapping is not
supported, so all of your paths have to change :-(
I am not sure how the money back guaranty works. It says to return to place of
purchase. This is not acceptable when place of purchase does not take returns on
software...
If you buy the software version, there is acoupon to upgrade to the HW version for
$99. If anyone has the coprocessor board, I`d be interested in their findings
--
Evan R. Marks Pratt & Whitney Aircraft
Sr. Systems Support Analyst 400 Main St. M/S 161-05
Sun Workstation Support East Hartford, CT 06108
{philabs,albion}!pwa-b!marks (203) 565-5444