GEMAR - The GEM-Archiver c Steffen Engel 1992-95
Version 3.00, dated 24/11/95
GEMAR is a program which drives SCSI-Streamer at Atari ST/TT.
AA TTTTTT TTTTTT EEEEEE NN NN TTTTTT IIII OOOO NN NN
AAAA TT TT EE NNN NN TT II OO OO NNN NN
AA AA TT TT EE NNNNNN TT II OO OO NNNNNN
AA AA TT TT EEEEE NNNNNN TT II OO OO NNNNNN
AAAAAA TT TT EE NN NNN TT II OO OO NN NNN
AA AA TT TT EE NN NN TT II OO OO NN NN
AA AA TT TT EEEEEE NN NN TT IIII OOOO NN NN
PLEASE READ THIS TEXT VERY CAREFULLY!!
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IF YOU ALREADY FEEL FAMILIAR WITH GEMAR, YOU SHOULD AT LEAST READ THE
SECTION 'HISTORY' AND 'RESTRICTIONS AND KNOWN ERRORS'.
THERE YOU WILL FIND SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS ABOUT MODIFICATIONS OF GEMAR.
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ATTENTION PLEASE: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Due to minor changes, the tapes with a version number greater than 1.10
cannot be recognized by GEMAR versions smaller 1.10. However, version 1.10
recognizes the tapes of older versions.
There will be no loss of data, they will be save on the tape. Nonetheless,
such a tape must be read by new versions.
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List of contents:
Volume of delivery
Liability
Checked systems
GEMAR under multitasking
Restrictions and known errors
Future outlook
History
VOLUME OF DELIVERY:
The following files belong to GEMAR:
README.1ST Present data file
GEMAR.APP Main Program
GEMAR.RSC Resource of GEMAR
GEMAR.STR Report listings of GEMAR
GEMAR.HLP Help texts of GEMAR
ICON.RSC One icon for GEMINI/DESKTOP
DOCS\FEATURES.TXT A brief overview on the capabilities of
GEMAR
DOCS\1ST_STEP.TXT 1st steps with GEMAR, installation and first
backups
DOCS\FRAGEN.TXT Some questions and their answers about GEMAR (in
german only)
DOCS\UPLOAD.TXT Brief description about Upload; please keep
in mind: only the public version in the mail box
PAR\*.PAR Parameter files for different streamers
PACKER\*.PAK Parameter files for different packers
XFS\* the XFS/Device-Driver for MiNT/MTOS
Read the information given there.
ENGLISH\ English documentations as well as RSC and
STR-file
GEMAR is a shareware product, which means that GEMAR may be copied and
used freely by private users under the prerequisite that all data files
remain unchanged.
I'm sorry GEMAR has not all functions in the public Version.
In Germany most users do not pay for Shareware, so I decided to make
differences between the registered and the public version to get those
users to pay the fee.
Persons who use GEMAR frequently, must be registered and have to pay:
1.) Registration for $ 60
2.) Registration for $ 180 for professional applicants
3.) english manual for $ 20
4.) updates from older versions than GEMAR 3.0 20$
Please take care for any charges for order checks, so these amounts will
arrive me!
The registered version has a few extended capabilities:
-Image-Backups of non TOS partitions (OS9, Spectre, Minix ...)
-Batch-capabilities for automation of repeating actions
In addition, the registered user will receive a printed manual
with a detailed documentation on GEMAR.
THE REGISTERED VERSION MUST NOT BE GIVEN TO THIRD PERSONS !!
Right now the registration fees for professional users is $ 180.
Also available are special discounts for multi-users.
For registration, please use the menuentry 'Registration' in the menu
'Parameters'.
Enter your name and address and select 'OK' and then 'Register'.
The registrationform will be printed or saved to disk.
A commercial trade can only be done if a written permisson has been
given. This also includes Public-Domain discs.
After sending a 3.5" disc and an envelope with sufficient postage
you will receive the latest version of GEMAR.
LIABILITY
Me, Steffen Engel, cannot take any liability for direct or indirect
problems due to the use of GEMAR.
GEMAR has been programmed and tested with maximum care, but I cannot give
warranty for GEMAR to be free of errors.
ALREADY TESTED SYSTEMS:
Atari TT, Tandberg TDC 3620, SCSI-Port
Atari TT, Tandberg TDC 3660, SCSI-Port
Atari TT, Tandberg TDC 3880, SCSI-Port
Atari ST, Tandberg TDC 3620, c't-ALIA
Atari ST, Tandberg TDC 3660, c't-ALIA
Atari ST, Tandberg TDC 3620, ICD Advantage
Atari ST, TEAC MT 2-ST/N50, Laadap
Atari ATW 800, TDC 3660, c't ALIA
Atari TT, Archive Viper VP 2150S, SCSI-Port
Atari TT, Cipher 540S, ACSI-Port
Atari ST, Cipher ST150 S2/90, ICD-Advantage+
Atari ST, Archive Python, ICD-Advantage
Atari ST, Archive Python, ICD The Link
Atari TT, GIGATAPE MultiDAT, SCSI-Port
Atari ST, GIGATAPE MultiDAT, c't-ALIA
Atari TT, Wangtek ES 5525, SCSI-Port
Atari TT, Wangtek ES 5150, SCSI-Port
Atari TT, Wangtek ES 5150, ICD-The Link
Atari Mega STE, Wangtek ES 5150, ICD-The Link
Atari TT, Tandberg TDC 4100 / TDC 4200, SCSI-Port
Atari Falcon, Wangtek ES 5150, SCSI-Port
It is possible to adjust GEMAR such, that only the commands of the
corresponding streamer will be used according to the SCSI norm.
Just in case: If the streamer does not work with GEMAR, it might be
possible for me to modify GEMAR properly. Therefore, I would need
to have the manual with the SCSI-commands.
If a new configuration file exits which is not according to GEMAR I would
like to ask you to send me the used parameters. With this I can also
attache the right parameter file so that not everybody has to identify
his new adjustment. Basically it is sufficient to send the file
'Streamer Adjustments' as well as the 'Data Rate' and 'Max. Read' from
the file 'Backup Adjustments'.
GEMAR UNDER MULTITASKING:
Principally GEMAR works under Atari Multi-Tasking Extensions
(MiNT, MultiTOS, MultiGEM, Mag!X).
However, Backup/Restore should never be done while another process is
running.
There are three significant reasons for that:
1.) Speed:
All available computing power is necessary to supply
data to the streamer and simultaneously read data from the
hard disk. For this it is completely unimportant whether an ST, TT,
Falcon, or anything else is used.
2.) Need for Storage:
In order to carry out an efficient buffering of the data, GEMAR need
quite some storage. Only this way the streamer can be fed with data.
3.) Data Protection
If another program modifies the data on the hard disk, while GEMAR
is working, a consistent backup cannot be guaranteed.
Hence, because of reasons of data protection no other program
should be running that may save, delete, or modify files.
As soon as there is a possibility of refusing an access of other
programs while GEMAR is working, it will be implemented in GEMAR.
RESTRICTIONS AND KNOWN ERRORS:
The english version is not english at all, I'm sorry.
Some internal Strings are in german, due to the concept of MAGIC.
Never mind, they are not so hard to read.
I'm thinking about a way to transfer the internals Strings to the used
language without changing MAGIC's concept.
The hard disk software made by LACOM does not create Atari-compatible
partitions within version 3.2a. Therefore problems may occure during
Image-backups.
A backup, stored at the very end of a tape can only be carried over to
another tape if the tape was saved with Quick-File-Access capabilites.
Some users have problems with backups that have been restored with
Quick File Access (Seek). In this case the Quick File Access should be
turned off during the restore procedure. Unfortunately, until now it has
been impossible for me to reproduce this error, hence there is no
repair mechanism known to me.
GEMAR should work with virtuall memory quite well. But I must say, that
this memory has to be located over phystop. With OUTSIDE it's possible to
add the virtual RAM below phystop. In this case, GEMAR's program-flags
should be set to 'Load to TT-RAM' and 'Malloc from TT-RAM' off.
GEMA uses TAS to check the Semaphor Flock. This Opcode may cause Problems on
some Versions of the GE-Soft HyperCache due to an error of the Hypercache.
I cannot see a way to replace this opcode so on Problems with your
HyperCache please contact GE-Soft for correction.
FUTURE OUTLOOK:
Braunschweig, November 95
Steffen Engel
Kroeppelstr. 2
FRG-38100 Braunschweig
MAUS-Net Steffen Engel @ PE
Use-Net Steffen_Engel @ pe.maus.de
Bank connection:
Dresdner Bank Braunschweig
Bank-No. 270 800 60
Account-No. 140027700