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Text File | 1987-04-04 | 45.5 KB | 1,511 lines |
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- EQUAL PARTNERS
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- Virtual disk system
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- Version 1.11
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- K.eeping I.nformation S.haring S.imple
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- "If you know DOS then you already know how to use Equal Partners."
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- COPYRIGHT (c) 1985, 1986, 1987 by Downlink Systems Inc.
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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- This document describes the EQUAL PARTNERS virtual disk system,
- version 1.11, which was created by Downlink Sys. in December of 1986.
-
-
-
- INTRODUCTION
-
-
-
- EQUAL PARTNERS is the copyrighted property of Downlink Sys. Inc.
- You are granted a limited license to use , and to copy it and
- distribute it, provided that the following conditions are met:
-
- 1) No fee may be charged for such copying and distribution.
-
- 2) EQUAL PARTNERS may ONLY be distributed in its original, unmodified
- state.
-
- Contributions for the use of this program will be appreciated, and
- should be sent - payable to : D. CONNER
- ------------------------
-
- Downlink Systems Inc.
- c/o D. Conner
- 1377 K. STREET N.W.
- SUITE 189
- WASHINGTON D.C.
- 20005
-
- You may not use this product in a commercial environment or a
- governmental organization without paying a license fee of $40.
- Site licenses and commercial distribution licenses are available.
- A program disk and printed documentation are available for $40.
- See the order form in the back of this manual for more details.
-
-
- EQUAL PARTNERS is user supported software. This means that you may
- copy the shareware version freely and give the copies away to anyone
- you wish, at no cost. They in turn are requested to send in a contri-
- bution if they decide to use it.
-
- The user supported software concept (often referred to as shareware)
- is an attempt to provide software at low cost. The cost of offering a
- new product by conventional means is staggering, and hence dissuades
- many independent authors and small companies from developing and
- promoting their ideas. User supported software is an attempt to
- develop a new marketing channel, where products can be introduced at
- low cost.
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- If user supported software works, then everyone will benefit. The
- user will benefit by receiving quality products at low cost, and by
- being able to "test drive" software thoroughly before purchasing it.
- The author benefits by being able to enter the commercial software
- arena without first needing large sources of venture capital.
-
- But it can only work with your support. We're not just talking about
- EP here, but about all user supported software. If you obtain a user
- supported program from a friend or colleague, and are still using it
- after a couple of weeks, then it is obviously worth something to you,
- and a contribution should be sent. Upon receipt of a contribution,
- you become a registered user and will receive a "full" feature, serial-
- ized version of EQUAL PARTNERS.
-
- ii
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- I. WHAT IS EQUAL PARTNERS.
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- Equal Partners is a software solution to the problem of sharing data
- between 5 1/4 floppy based PC's and the new emerging convertibles
- and lap-tops that use the 3 1/2 floppy drives and diskettes,
- between different PC's with dissimiliar disk(ette) storage media,
- or between different PC's with identical recording media!.
-
- Equal Partners addresses this problem by using inexpensive RS-232
- serial adapters , software device drivers and communication programs
- to attach the physical drives of one PC to the DOS operating system
- of another PC. These physical drives become an extension of and to
- the operating system of the other PC so that all DOS functions that
- use a drive letter,to access data, function without concern that
- these 'virtual' drives are not truly physically attached to the
- floppy/hard disk controller cards.
-
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- II. WHY USE EQUAL PARTNERS
-
- Equal Partners provides a cost effective solution,as opposed to the
- solution that IBM provides. IBM's solution is hardware based and
- requires an additional out-of-pocket expense in the neighborhood
- of $500.00. Equal Partners allows you to try its low cost solution
- for a reasonable time. Then if you realize the cost savings, to
- compensate the authors for their efforts and for your peace of mind.
- We are sure you would rather use the $500.00 you saved, to invest,
- expand and/or enrich your life in other ways.
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- III. HOW DO YOU ACQUIRE USAGE RIGHTS TO EQUAL PARTNERS.
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- Equal Partners is not totally free, a small contribution is asked
- to allow the authors to feel that their efforts did not fall on
- unfertile ground.
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- The contribution can consist of several forms:
-
- FOR INDIVIDUALS
- ----------------
-
- 1. Monetary
- --------
-
- A registration and usage fee of $40.00 is asked, of
- individuals. This will provide you with notices of
- upgrades and fixes, as well as allow you access to
- a version supporting additional com ports and faster
- transfer speeds plus other additional features.
-
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- 2). Personal
- --------
-
- Another alternative , if money is a major negative
- factor, is that we deeply request that you give a part of
- yourself. Instead of a pound of flesh, a donation to your
- local Red Cross of 1 pint of blood so that another may
- 'profit' from your 'gain'/'loss'. This is the least
- contribution asked and expected.
-
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- FOR COMPANYS
- ------------
-
- 1) Monetary
- --------
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- For businesses, that benefit from additional utility
- and time/cost savings, a per copy or site-license is
- available and required. Otherwise, no usage license is
- granted, and any use is strictly prohibited.
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- IV. HOW DO YOU USE EQUAL PARTNERS
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- First read the section on REQUIREMENTS, to see if your machine
- and its hardware configuration can meet the necessary requirements.
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- Secondly, install Equal Partners (see INSTALLATION section). Now the
- easy part begins.
-
- You say, "nothing is ever easy". We say , "if you know DOS then you
- know how to use Equal Partners".
-
- Granted you may not, yet, be a "POWER USER", but we bet you know how
- to see whats on your disks, does the "DIR" command ring a bell. Now that
- you know whats there, we also bet you got it there with the DOS "COPY"
- command or someone did. Starting to catch on yet, we havent tried to
- teach you any new convoluted commands with unfamiliar structure and
- syntax , have we. Guess what!!. You have just graduated from the ACME
- self study and enlightment course that certifies you as a "POWER USER"
- of Equal Partners. Take a break, you deserve it. Oh, come back later
- to get your EPPU 'certificate of achivement'.
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- Back so soon?.
-
- Now to the serious business side of matters. You have all this data
- , in some form or another, and you need to :
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- consolidate/manipulate/share/archive/transport
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- it between/among/with/to another/same media on another PC.
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- Being a Equal Partners "POWER USER" (EPPU), you know that all you
- have to do is use the DOS "COPY" command. So, do it, and give yourself
- a pat on the back for a job well done.
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- We could go on with how to use the other DOS commands, but we are
- sure you are ahead of us already. What more can we say, in 25 words
- or less, that would not confuse you. Again let us stress, if you
- need to access data on the 'server' PC, just use the DOS commands
- and the disk drive letters of the 'virtual drives' that are now
- logically attached to your PC.
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- Also, we are sure that you have guessed by now, that if you can
- tell DOS where to get the data you need, for a program it should
- be just as easy. Sure is, just 'tell' the program that the data it
- needs is on one of the 'virtual drives' and business should
- continue as always (unless that 'break-even' analysis formula
- in the spreadsheet is in error).
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- REQUIREMENTS
- ------------
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- The hardware requirements are:
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- 1). Your machine must be an IBM PC/XT/AT or highly compatible,
- including laptops and convertibles.
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- 2). The machine uses an 8250 uart,or compatible, to handle
- the RS232C communications.
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- 3). The RS232C cable must have pins 2 and 3 crossed or
- a straight thru cable with a null modem.
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- 4). The machine uses the port addresses at memory location
- 0:400. The port addresses are 03F8 for COM1, and 02F8
- for COM2.
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- 5). The disk media must be Dos formatted, in other words
- the boot sector must contain the BPB info that describes
- -------------------------
- the media (the media type in the FAT is not used). Some
- vendors that format their own disks do not bother to put
- the BPB info in logical sector 0, even thought the Dos 3.2
- Technical Ref. manual says that Dos will no longer rely
- on the Media code in the FAT to determine the device
- characteristics.
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- 6). As always, sufficient memory must be available.
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- The software requirements are:
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- 1). The operating system must be PC Dos 2.0 or above.
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- This product has been tested on PC DOS 2.0 , 2.1,
- 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.21.
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- 2). The PC DOS versions running on both the "server" and
- the "remote(s)" SHOULD be identical!!.
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- INSTALLATION
- ------------
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- Equal Partners consists of the following files:
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- 50-50.SYS - device driver
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- EQUAL.COM - communication program
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- PARTNERS.COM - communication program
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- PARTNERS.DOC - this documentation
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- SERVER.BAT - example batch file, with ERRORLEVEL checking
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- REMOTE.BAT - example batch file, with ERRORLEVEL checking
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- README.DOC - revision history and additional comments
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- ????????.??? - any additional files as the product matures
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- Installation assumes two PC's, and the need to exchange data
- between the PC's. One PC will be designated the 'server' PC
- and the other PC(s) the 'remote' PC(s).
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- The PARTNERS.COM program may be loaded on and is normally run
- from the 'server' PC. The 'server' Pc could be considered the 'base'
- PC in that it would normally contain all the master database and
- spreadsheet programs and files. The 'remote' PC(s) could be lap-tops
- that individuals had taken 'on-the-road' with them to gather data,
- for updating to the 'server' databases..ect.
-
- So, installation on the 'server' of PARTNERS.COM consists of
- --------------
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- 1). Copying PARTNERS.COM to a directory in the DOS path,
- and typing the command , 'PARTNERS' or including it in
- a Dos batch file.
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- Command format:
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- PARTNERS [/COMx]
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- where the parameter in "[]" is optional and indicates the
- hardware port to use for communications. Replace the "x"
- with "1" or "2" to override the installation default.
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- Note: the "[]" are NOT part of the command!.
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- Note: the install results may be tested in a batch
- file with the ERRORLEVEL statement.
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- Now, installation on the 'remote' consists of
- --------------
- 1). Including the following command in 'CONFIG.SYS'
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- DEVICE=50-50.SYS 'z' additional disk drives requested
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- (where 'z' can be any number from 1 to 8, default=1)
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- 2). Copying EQUAL.COM to a directory in the DOS path
- and typing the command, 'EQUAL' or including it in
- a Dos batch file.
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- Command format:
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- EQUAL [/COMx]
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- where the parameter in "[]" is optional and indicates the
- hardware port to use for communications. Replace the "x"
- with "1" or "2" to override the installation default.
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- Note: the "[]" are NOT part of the command!.
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- Note: the install results may be tested in a batch
- file with the ERRORLEVEL statement.
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- Once installed , any DOS command that would normally access data
- using a drive designation, will be able to read/write data from
- one PC to the other PC(s). What this means is that you can 'COPY',
- , 'ERASE', 'RENAME', 'PATH', and execute programs to/on/from
- the 'virtual' drives without any new commands or procedures.
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- If you know DOS then you already know how to use Equal Partners.
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- RAMDISK SUPPORT
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- If you have a RAMdisk, or other high-speed storage, then you can speed
- up EP somewhat by telling DOS to read from/write to the RAMdisk.
- You do this by substituting the drive letter of the RAMdisk in all
- the MS-DOS commands. For example, if drive H: is your virtual RAMdisk,
- then you would type:
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- COPY H:*.* D:
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- (where D: could be a RAMdisk on your 'remote' PC)
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- Refer to the MS-DOS manual for more details about the DOS commands.
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- PROGRAM EXECUTION RESTRICTIONS
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- If you are using a Shareware version of EQUAL PARTNERS, and have not
- registered, then the following program execution restrictions
- apply:
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- 1). Only 9,600 baud transfer rate is available.
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- 2). Only Com1 is supported.
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- 3). Only one virtual drive may be specified in
- config.sys.
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- 4). Only reading is allowed, in otherwords you
- may only copy data "from" the server. You
- are not allowed to perform any Dos function
- that would "write" to the server.
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- 5). The starting drive on the server is always the
- "A:" drive. This means that the first virtual
- drive assigned on the "remote" is the first
- physical drive accessed on the "server".
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- 6). Also some storage devices, such as a Bernoulli box,
- may cause timing problems due to the fact that it may
- require several seconds for the Bernoulli box to come
- up to speed.
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- DISK DRIVE MAPPING
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- This simple illustration shows how the drives and the letters
- assigned are mapped to the physical vs. virtual drives.
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- 'REMOTE' 'SERVER'
-
- +---------------+ +---------------+
- | +---------+ o| | +---------+ o|
- | |A:>dir C:| o| | | Partners| o|
- | | | | | | v1.11 | |
- | |Volume in| | | |Copyright| |
- | +---------+ | | +---------+ |
- +---------------+ +---------------+
- +------------------------+ +------------------------+
- | IBM o o | Rs232 ---- cable | IBM + o |
- | PC --=-- --=-- | ---------| |---------| PC --=-- --=-- |
- | |<-- ---- | |
- +------------------------+ | +------------------------+
- ^ ^ | ^ ^ ^
- | | | | | |
- | | | | | |
- Physical Physical | Null Physical Physical
- Drive A: Drive B: | Modem Drive A: Drive B:
- |
- | ^ ^
- | | |
- | | |
- |
- -------------------------> Virtual Virtual
- Drive C: Drive D:
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- There may be Ramdisks on either or both the 'SERVER' and 'REMOTE'
- PCs. Ramdisks are highly recommended, memory permitting, because this
- eliminates all the mechanical delays that real hardware drives exhibit,
- such as rotational delay, seek times and drive startup..ect.
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- Usage Example NO. 1
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- This simple illustration shows how EQUAL PARTNERS was used to
- dial a remote BBS, with PCTALK III v7.00XA, and transfer data
- to/from the "server" while BBS communications was maintained
- on the "remote". This example was actual used by the authors.
- We could also invision a BBS being run on the "remote" and the
- "server" being used as non-dedicated aux. storage for the BBS.
-
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- |
- | ^
- | |
- | --------- to phone line
- +--------+
- | o o o | <----- external modem
- +--------+
- |
- | Com2
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- 'REMOTE' 'SERVER'
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- +---------------+ +---------------+
- | +---------+ o| | +---------+ o|
- | |A:>PC-TAL| o| | | Partners| o|
- | | | | | | v1.11 | |
- | | | | | |Copyright| |
- | +---------+ | | +---------+ |
- +---------------+ +---------------+
- +------------------------+ Com1 +------------------------+
- | IBM o o | Rs232 ---- cable | IBM + o |
- | PC --=-- --=-- | ---------| |---------| PC --=-- --=-- |
- | | ---- | |
- +------------------------+ +------------------------+
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- Usage Example NO. 2
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- This simple illustration shows how EQUAL PARTNERS could be used
- to collect data from various other PC's. As an example, lets say
- that you are in the insurance business. Your company has an AT
- in the home office and you have your agents out in the field
- taking orders and collecting premiums. The agents were given
- lap-tops , with 3.5 drives. Now you need to get the information
- stored on the lap-tops to the AT to update the databases.
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- The PARTNERS half of EQUAL PARTNERS could be activated on the
- AT and as each agent comes in they just "plug" into the RS232
- cable attached to the AT. PARTNERS, on the AT, does not care what
- the other devices are on the end of the RS232 cable at any given
- time. PARTNERS will automatically adjust to the drive character-
- istics of what ever "remote" drive unit it reads. So, you can
- "plug" into the cable attached to the AT, then when through,
- "unplug" and "plug" in another "remote", whether it be a laptop
- with 3.5 drives, a laptop with an internal harddisk, or PC/XT/AT
- with a DOS formatted disk drive of some type.
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- 'SERVER'
- +---------------+
- | +---------+ o|
- | | Partners| o|
- | | v1.11 | |
- | |Copyright| |
- | +---------+ |
- +---------------+
- +------------------------+
- | IBM +----+ --=-- |
- | AT |o | --=-- |
- | +----+ |
- +------------------------+
- |
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- +-----+
- | | <----- null modem
- +-----+
- |
- |
- mmmmm
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- Agent "A" Agent "C"
- wwwww wwwww wwwww
- | | |
- +-------------+ +-------------+ +-------------+
- | +---------+ | | +---------+ | | +---------+ |
- | |A:>COPY | | | |A:>COPY | | | |A:>COPY | |
- | | | | | | | | | | | |
- | | | | | | | | | | | |
- | +---------+ | | +---------+ | | +---------+ |
- +-------------+ +-------------+ +-------------+
- +-----------------------+ +------------------------+ +-----------------------+
- | IBM convertible | | Zenith 181 | | Toshiba 3100 + |
- +-----------------------+ +------------------------+ +-----------------------+
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- - 11 -
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- Usage Example NO. 3
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- This simple illustration shows how EQUAL PARTNERS could be used
- to share data among various PC's. This example shows a "server"
- attached to a "switch box" by a RS232 cable. A switch box allows the
- manual switching of internal connections between one "common" and
- several other devices attached as "A","B","D" and "E" and such. The
- devices are connected through "C" and what ever setting the physical
- switch is pointing to. This arrangement could allow several PC's to
- be attached to a "server" and data updated on the "server" or the
- "server" used just to store the data prior to "switching" it to
- another PC. The "server' does not have to be dedicated, only activat-
- ed when actual data transfer is needed.
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- 'SERVER'
- +---------------+
- | +---------+ o|
- | | Partners| o|
- | | v1.11 | |
- | |Copyright| |
- | +---------+ |
- +---------------+
- +------------------------+
- | IBM +----+ --=-- |
- | AT |o | --=-- |
- | +----+ |
- +------------------------+
- |
- |
- +--------+
- | | <----- null modem
- +--------+
- |
- |
- +----------------+
- | C |
- | / |
- | / | <---------- Switch box
- | a b d e |
- +----------------+
- ^ ^ ^
- (a) | | | (d)
- +------------------ | ----------------------------+
- | | |
- | +----+ |
- | | (b) |
- | | |
- +-------------+ +-------------+ +-------------+
- | +---------+ | | +---------+ | | +---------+ |
- | |A:>DBASE | | | |A:>COPY | | | |A:>WORD | |
- | | | | | | | | | | | |
- | | | | | | | | | | | |
- | +---------+ | | +---------+ | | +---------+ |
- +-------------+ +-------------+ +-------------+
- +-----------------------+ +------------------------+ +-----------------------+
- | IBM AT --=-- | | Zenith 181 | | Toshiba 3100 + |
- +-----------------------+ +------------------------+ +-----------------------+
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- - 12 -
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- PROGRAM UPDATE SERVICE
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- A license to EP entitles you to use all future Shareware versions. New
- "restricted usage" versions are generally available through normal
- freeware distribution channels, and we prefer that you obtain them that
- way.
-
- A Program disk containing the latest version is returned on every
- order of $40 or more. If you wish to purchase a single-user license
- and want an update disk, please enclose a check or money order for $40.
-
- For a fee of $50 per year you can subscribe to our program update
- service. Subscribers get up to five program updates per year mailed
- to them as new versions come out. This does not include trivial
- releases.
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- VERSION NUMBERS
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- All of our version numbers are given as a number with two decimal
- places.
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- The units indicate a major revision, such as adding a new feature, maybe
- such as virtual printer support.
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- The first decimal place (tenths) indicates a minor revision that is
- not essential, but which may be desired.
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- The second decimal place (hundredths) indicates a trivial revision
- that will probably only be desired by specific individuals or by die-
- hard "latest version" fanatics.
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- To sum up: If the units change, then you should get the newer version
- as soon as you can. If the tenths change, then you may want to get
- the newer version, but there's no hurry. If anything else changes,
- then you probably shouldn't bother.
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- TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND NOTES
- --------------------------------
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- Equal Partners uses the RS-232C hardware to interface the PC's and
- provide the 'bridge' to allow the exchange of data.
-
- The hardware consists of the standard 8250 uarts and the DB-25
- or DB-9 connectors and cables. However , only pins 2, 3, and 20,
- are used. Also pins 2 and 3 are required to be crossed-over,
- or you can build or purchase a modem eliminator/null modem.
-
- (See your local electronics parts dealer: such as RADIO SHACK)
-
- This is the basic diagram of the CROSS-OVER pin configuration
-
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- 'SERVER' 'REMOTE'
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- ------ ------
- | | | |
- | 2 |--------------\ /|2 | Pins
- | | / | |
- | 3 |--------------/ \|3 |
- | | | |
- | 20 | ----------------|20 |
- ------ ------
- DB-25 DB-25
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- The following are notes and considerations both technical
- and otherwise, these must be noted and HEEDED:
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- 1). Both EQUAL.COM and PARTNERS.COM use COM1 or
- COM2 as the 'bridge'. The port addresses are
- disabled so that Basic will not interfere, as
- Basic tries to take over the com ports when
- loaded, even if does not need them. Com1 is
- only available for the shareware version.
-
- The program , 'PARTNERS.COM' will revector
- and restore the com ports addresses when it
- is de-actived however.
-
- 2). The program ,'EQUAL.COM', installs resident and
- attaches itself to DOS, so that once installed its
- there to stay.
-
- 3). The data transfer rate is 9,600 baud for the shareware
- version. Registered users may select rates up to 110,000
- baud.
-
- 4). Error checking is performed on each block of
- data. Crc-16 is used to insure the integrity of
- your financial data and programs.
-
- 5). Ramdisks with sector sizes between 128 and 512
- bytes are supported. This applies to other disk
- media as well. The sector sizes must be a power
- of 2.
-
- 6). The operating systems on ALL remote(s) and the server
- SHOULD/MUST be identical. Mixing DOS versions accessing
- the same data and media MAY/WILL cause problems. Some
- versions of DOS do not support media types made available
- in later versions of DOS, so some DOS utilities may not
- function correctly when accessing disk media or using
- function calls that were added/modified in later releases
- of DOS (ex: CHKDSK).
-
- 7). Communication baud rates up to 110k are possible. However,
- going from 9.6 to 110+ will not give you 10 times the data
- transfer rate. The internal design of EQUAL PARTNERS allows
- for a matching of PC's with different cpu's , say a 4.77 mhz
- processor talking to a 16mhz processor. Obviously the 16 mhz
- beast could easily overrun the much slower 4.77 cpu.
- To allow for the possibility of mismatched processor speeds
- EQUAL PARTNERS turns the communications line around no faster
- than the slowest cpu can handle data. This means that going
- from 9.6 to 115k will send the data between PC's at that speed,
- but only as fast as the slower of the two Pc's can process and
- request more data from the faster processor.
- To achieve the expected higher data transfer rates at higher
- baud speeds, data compression is being tested and should be
- included in a later major release.
-
-
- - 16 -
-
-
-
-
- Appendix A - Program Messages.
-
-
-
- All message text is preceeded by a formatted message code.
-
- The format of the message code is:
-
- EPxNNNy
-
- where :
-
- x= 'D' - for 50-50.SYS program output messages
-
- 'E' - for EQUALS.COM program output messages
-
- 'P' - for PARTNERS.COM program output messages
-
- and
-
-
- NNN= 000 thru 999, which is the message number for this
- message type.
-
- and
-
- y= 'D' - for Dignostic type messages. These messages are
- normally printed only if a critical error occurs
- or the program is in a 'test' or debugging mode.
-
- 'E' - for Error messages. These type messages indicate
- that an unrecoverable error occured and the program
- could not take any corrective action, except to
- attempt to return to the DOS prompt.
-
- 'I' - for Informative messages. These messages are just
- to inform you as to the processing state of the
- program at any given time.
-
- 'W' - for Warning messages. These messages indicate
- that an error occured, but that the program
- was able to take corrective action and continue
- processing. However, the function the program was
- attempting may or may not have been successfully
- completed.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- - A1 -
-
-
-
- Message Code Message text and its explanation
- ------------ ----------------------------------------------------
-
- EPD001I - EQUAL PARTNERS Virtual disk driver V1.11
- (C)Copyright DOWNLINK SYS. INC. 1986
-
- This is the copyright message displayed from the
- virtual disk device driver during PC power-up.
-
- EPD002I - 1 virtual disk drive(s) available to DOS
-
- This message indicates the number of additional
- disk drives ('virtual') that DOS can access. These
- drives may be accessed by the DOS commands or any
- program by using the drive letters assigned, by DOS,
- to the virtual disks. Registered users may access up
- to 8 virtual disks, the shareware version allows
- access to only 1 virtual disk.
-
- EPE001E - installation cancelled - COM channel undefined
-
- The program was trying to install, but was unable
- to find a communications port address at the desired
- memory location. The only recourse is to return to
- DOS.
-
- EPE002E - installation cancelled - 50-50 driver not installed
-
- The device driver, 50-50.sys, was not included in the
- DOS file 'config.sys'. If your intent is to run this
- PC as a 'remote', then see the INSTALLATION section
- for the correct program configurations.
-
- EPE003E - installation cancelled - ALREADY installed
-
- The program EQUAL.COM has already been installed once.
- Multiple installations are not allowed.
-
- EPE000I - EQUAL activated - Communications link is COMx
-
- This message relects that the installation of EQUAL is
- in progess and that the Communications port, COMx, was
- the port selected to link the "remote" to the "server"
-
- EPE001I - EQUAL installed - Virtual drives C: thru C: available for use
-
- This is the most important type 'I' message that is
- displayed. This message reflects the additional 'drive'
- letters you use on all DOS commands and in programs, to
- access data on the 'server' PC.
- The drive letters displayed depends on the number of
- virtual drives requested (up to 8 allowed) on the
- 'device=50-50.sys' statement in the DOS 'config.sys' file.
-
- EPE999I - EQUAL shutdown - returning to DOS
-
- This message indicates that EQUAL.COM is returning to
- DOS. See any additional messages for the exact reason.
-
- - A2 -
-
-
-
-
- Message Code Message text and its explanation
- ------------ ----------------------------------------------------
-
-
- EPP001E - installation cancelled - COM channel undefined
-
- The program was trying to install, but was unable
- to find a communications port address at the desired
- memory location. The only recourse is to return to
- DOS.
-
- EPP002E - installation cancelled - EQUAL is already installed
-
- The program is trying to be installed on a machine
- that already has the EQUAL.COM program installed.
- You can't make one machine both a 'remote' and a
- 'server'.
-
- EPP000I - PARTNERS activated - Communications link is COMx
-
- This message relects that the installation of PARTNERS
- is in progess and that the Communications port, COMx,
- was the port selected to link the "server" to the "remote".
-
- EPP001I - PARTNERS installed -waiting for remote responce
-
- You have entered PARTNERS from the Dos prompt or in
- a batch file. PARTNERS is now installed (not resident)
- and is waiting for RS-232 input on the communications port.
- The programs EQUAL.COM and 50-50.SYS have to be installed
- on the "remote" computer to complete the "bridge",so
- that data may be freely transfered between computers.
-
- EPP999I - PARTNERS shutdown - returning to DOS
-
- You have either pressed the 'ESC' key or installation
- failed.
-
- EPP001W - Invalid I/O request - flushing input buffer
-
- Extraneous or corrupted information was received. The
- programs only recourse is to ignore the data, flush
- all buffers and try to get in sync with the other PC.
-
- EPP001D - AX= BX= CX= DX=
-
- This message displays the internal register states.
- The message is normally display only when a critical
- error occurs or the programs debugging mode is active.
-
- EPP002D - -
-
- This message is preceeded by message code EPP001D.
- Several additional message lines will be displayed
- indicating the reason for this diagnostic message.
-
-
- - A3 -
-
-
-
-
- Appendix B - Site License and agreement
-
-
-
- SITE LICENSE
-
-
-
- Corporate users may wish to obtain a site license for the use of EP.
- The site license applies only to one geographical area, not to exceed
- a 50 mile radius. Additional site licenses are required for each
- unique geographical location.
-
- Please use the order form in this manual to order a site license.
- Site licenses are granted when we receive your payment. License fees
- vary depending on the number of computers on which EP will be used,
- as follows:
-
- 1 to 9 copies $40 each
- 10 to 24 copies $35 each
- 25 to 49 copies $30 each
- 50 to 99 copies $25 each
- over 99 copies $3000 one time fee
-
-
-
- The following page is a site license agreement, which should be signed
- and sent with your payment when ordering a commercial site license.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- - B1 -
-
-
- The use of EP in a commercial environment or government organization
- is granted under the following terms:
-
- 1. Payment of the license fee must be made payable to DOWNLINK SYSTEMS
- representative: ---------------
-
- D. Conner
- ----------
-
- The fee is based on the number of computers which will be used
- to run EP , as follows:
-
- 1 to 9 copies $40 each
- 10 to 24 copies $35 each
- 25 to 49 copies $30 each
- 50 to 99 copies $25 each
- over 99 copies $3000 one time fee
-
- 2. You may use EP on the number of computers included in the license
- fee. If you have paid the fee for over 99 copies, then you may
- use EP on any number of computers within your organization, within
- a given geographical area.
-
- 3. You may make copies of the program and documentation, in their
- original, unmodified form. You may distribute these copies, within
- the limits of the number of copies licensed.
-
- 4. You may make copies of the program documentation, in both its
- printed form and machine readable form, without restriction.
-
- 5. You may use all future "restricted-usage" Shareware versions of EP
- under this license.
-
- The latest version is available from Downlink for a small service
- charge.
-
- 6. You may NOT modify the program or charge a fee for copying or
- distributing the program or its documentation.
-
- 7. It is your responsibility to make the necessary copies and to
- deliver them to the computers which they will be used on.
-
- 8. We are not responsible for anything that may happen or not happen
- if you use EP. You're on your own.
-
-
- I agree to abide by the terms and conditions of this license.
-
- _____________________________ __________________________
- Signature Date
-
- _____________________________
- Name (please print or type)
-
- _____________________________
- Title
-
- _____________________________
- Company
-
- - B2 -
-
-
-
- Appendix C - Ordering
-
-
- ORDER FORM
-
-
-
- Check which items you wish to purchase:
-
- (_) Noncommercial license for the use of EP.
-
- (_) Commercial license for the use of EP on ___ computers (see
- price schedule and terms on preceding page).
-
- (_) Program update subscription service (not more than five
- updates, does not include trivial changes), $50/year.
-
- (_) Payment of $_____ is enclosed (check or money order),
- |
- +------> payable to : D. CONNER.
- ----------
-
- Signature: ________________________________
-
- _______________________________________________
- Name
-
- _______________________________________________
-
-
- _______________________________________________
- Address
-
- ______________________ ________ ____________
- City State Zip
-
-
- Send check or money orders payable to : D. CONNER
-
- Send this completed form to:
-
- Downlink Systems Inc.
- c/o D. Conner
- 1377 K STREET N.W.
- SUITE 189
- WASHINGTON D.C. 20005
-
-
- For program disk orders outside the U.S., please add an additional $5,
- and enclose an international money order payable in U.S. currency.
-
- For commercial site license orders, please enclose a signed copy of
- the site license agreement.
-
- Inquires for Corporate wide unlimited usage licenses are welcome.
-
-
-
- - C1 -
-
-
- ----------------end-of-author's-documentation---------------
-
- Software Library Information:
-
- This disk copy provided as a service of
-
- The Public (Software) Library
-
- Disks in the library are updated monthly.
- For a copy of the latest monthly software library newsletter
- and a list of the 800+ disks in the library, call or write
-
- The Public (Software) Library
- P.O.Box 35705 K
- Houston, TX 77235-5705
- (713) 721-6104
-
- We are not the authors of this program, nor are we associated
- with the author in any way other than as a distributor of the
- program in accordance with the author's terms of distribution.
-
- Please direct shareware payments and specific questions about
- this program to the author of the program, whose name appears
- elsewhere in this documentation. If you have trouble getting
- in touch with the author, we will do whatever we can to help
- you with your questions. All programs have been tested and do
- run. To report problems, please use the form that is in the
- file PROBLEM.DOC on many of our disks or in other written for-
- mat with screen printouts, if possible.
-