ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/MISC/NETWORK/BLTS592.ZIP/CDROM.TXT

Text File | 1991-03-26 | 9.5 KB | 200 lines

TECHNICAL BULLETIN 3/25/91 jcr
CD-ROM Applications


The purpose of this bulletin is to provide some assistance in
installing and implementing various CD-ROM devices with Artisoft's
LANtastic Network Operating System.  The discs must be compatible
with Microsoft's CD-ROM extensions (MSCDEX) and must meet the
format standards set by the High Sierra Group (HSG) and the
International Standards Organization (ISO 9660).  While many CD-ROM
products are compatible with LANtastic, some may require additional
steps so that the disc information can be shared across the
network. Those steps have been outlined below.

Unlike conventional hard and floppy disks, CD ROM discs are read
only, and have the capability of storing up to 660Mb of data. There
is no File Allocations Table (FAT) as there is on a normal MS-DOS
system, and there is no need to dynamically track disc space for
allocating data. CD-ROM drives cannot be accessed through the MS
DOS Interrupt 25h/ 26h (read/write disk sector), and since they are
not in MS-DOS file format, they cannot be looked at by the
operating system at a physical level. This is why CHKDSK, FORMAT
and other MS-DOS utilities will not work on CD-ROMs.

Microsoft's CD-ROM Extensions (MSCDEX)
MSCDEX provides a standard which allows a user to configure any CD
ROM drive on any MS-DOS compatible PC and to use any CD-ROM discs
that follow the HSG format.  The HSG format was developed to
provide a standard logical disc format and provides two levels of
definitions: the first level deals with the volume as a whole, the
second with the actual files and directories that make up a
volume's information base.  MSCDEX is a memory resident program
which is installed on top of MS-DOS and handles the interfacing of
CD-ROM device drivers to MS DOS itself. The MSCDEX are usually
available directly from the CD-ROM drive manufacturer.

MSCDEX designates a logical drive letter to its device drivers.
Whenever MS-DOS receives a CD-ROM drive request, it forwards the
request to the MSCDEX at a virtual file level. MSCDEX converts
these virtual file level requests into physical sector requests
that can be understood by the CD-ROM device driver.

Installing MSCDEX on a LANtastic Server
A CD-ROM resource must first be established on the PC physically
connected to the CD-ROM drive. This PC should be configured as a
LANtastic server so that it can share the CD-ROM drive on the
network.

Follow the instructions provided by the CD-ROM drive manufacturer
or by the instructions included with the MSCDEX program. In most
cases, the MSCDEX installation program defaults will be sufficient
for your system.  To install the MSCDEX, insert the floppy program
disk and run the installation program as outlined in your CD-ROM
documentation.  The program should prompt for the CD-ROM drive
designation (should be logical), the type of CD-ROM drive being
installed and the type of PC the drive is being installed on. The
program should then modify your CONFIG.SYS file to include the
device driver and any necessary switch settings (for example,
DEVICE=[name of driver file] [optional switch settings]). The
AUTOEXEC.BAT file should then be modified to include the MSCDEX.EXE
program and any necessary switches.  The PC must then be rebooted
for the changes to take effect.

For example, we installed the MSCDEX 2.1 on a 286 PC with an Amdek
Laserdrive-1 and selected drive D: to be our logical CD-ROM drive
designation. The modifications in each file were as follows.

CONFIG.SYS
   DEVICE=HITACHIA.SYS /U:1 /P:300 /D:MDIHSDVR.
    This command loads the Hitachi driver, tells the system only
    one CD-ROM drive is installed (/U:1), Sets the port address to
    300 (default /P:300) and sets the name of the device driver
    (/D:MDIHSDVR, default).

AUTOEXEC.BAT
   MSCDEX /D:MDIHSDVR.
    This command loads the MSCDEX.EXE program and sets the driver
    name (/D:MDIHSDVR). The MSCDEX should be loaded AFTER the
    network REDIR software, and BEFORE the network SERVER software.

Once a resource has been established, any requests to the CD-ROM
device are directed to the MSCDEX, which reside only on the
LANtastic server connected to the CD-ROM drive. MSCDEX then
processes the request.


Creating a CD-ROM Resource on the Server
To share the CD-ROM device across LANtastic, a resource must first
be established for the CD-ROM drive.  Once again, this must be done
only on the network server which is connected to the CD-ROM drive.

1. Make sure the CD-ROM device has been properly installed and is
   up and running locally. The CD-ROM drive should be accessible
   as a logical drive; the drive letter is assigned during the
   MSCDEX installation. This machine will be referred to as the
   CD-ROM server.
2. Once setup, a resource must be created for the CD-ROM drive on
   the CD-ROM server so that it can be shared across the network.
   To do this, run the NET_MGR program and select the Shared
   Resources Management option from the menu.
3. At the Resource List, press the INSERT key to create a new
   resource.  Enter a resource name (ie CD-ROM), and the physical
   path. This is the drive letter which has been assigned to the
   CD-ROM drive by MSCDEX during installation.
4. From the Resource List, select the newly created CD-ROM
   resource.
5. In the Detailed Information Screen, change the CD-ROM Drive:
   default of NO to YES.
6. Once satisfied with the resource, press the ESC key to exit back
   to DOS.

After the resource has been properly configured, each user may log
into the server and share that resource.

Sharing the CD-ROM Drive
1.  Log into the CD-ROM server and share the CD-ROM resource.
    i.e.:
    net login \\server username password  {Where server is the name
    of the CD-ROM network server, and an account for username with
    password (if applicable) has been configured on the server}
    net use f: \\server\CD-ROM {CD-ROM is the resource which has
    been created on the server.}
2.  Information on the disc in the CD-ROM drive should now be
    accessible from the newly redirected drive.

CD-ROM Applications
Once the CD-ROM drive has been installed and shared across the
network, additional steps may be necessary to share the information
on the CD.  Many applications provide retrieval software - software
which is loaded either on the server only, or on each workstation,
to retrieve information from the CD. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions to install and setup the retrieval software.  If the
documentation mentions installing on a network, follow those
instructions for LANtastic when available, or Microsoft's MS-NET.

Problems
Although many CD-ROM applications work with LANtastic, some include
retrieval software which requires the extensions (MSCDEX) to be
loaded at each workstation. When loading this software, an error
will occur indicating that the MSCDEX are required on each
workstation. The options are as follows:

MXSUB
The first option involves loading the actual MSCDEX on the CD-ROM
server, and loading a substitute MSCDEX on each workstation.  This
program, MXSUB, is available on our BBS.  If you have not already
done so, please contact our technical support department and
register for BBS services.

In many cases the retrieval software may look at MSCDEX to find the
actual number of CDs available and their associated drive
designations, and would require MSCDEX to be loaded on each
workstation.  MXSUB sets these values when loaded and services the
requests made by the retrieval software.  MXSUB requires
approximately 5K of RAM.

Meridian Data CD Net*
A second option is to use the CD Net tower from Meridian Data. This
device can be attached to the network and requires special software
to be loaded on each workstation accessing the device. This tower
can support up to 14 CD-ROM drives. To install and configure the CD
Net Tower, please follow instructions as provided by Meridian Data.
A detailed bulletin is also available through Artisoft. If you are
able to call in from a fax system, you may download that bulletin
by contacting the Artisoft Facsimile System at [phone].
*Meridian Data, Inc., 5615 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA
95066, [phone]

Summary
If a problem arises which cannot be resolved through this bulletin,
please contact our technical support department at [phone].
Any questions or suggestions on this bulletin may be mailed to our
offices to the attention of the Compatibility Department / CD-ROM
Support.

Compatible Products
The following products are currently on our compatibility list.
Although they have been tested in a network environment, please
contact the product vendor for licensing and network terms.
Bookshelf 1.0, Microsoft Corp.
CD Net, Meridian Data, Inc.
Computer Library, Ziff Davis Publishing
Econ/Stats I pub 1988, Hopkins Technology
Fast Track, Nynex Information Resources
LawDisc, National Legal Databases
News Digest, Facts on File, Inc.
Source Disc 1.3D Diversified Data Resource
Wilson's Reader and Science, HW Wilson

Incompatible:
The following work on a local machine only:
-Books in Print Dec/Jan 90, R.R. Bowker
-Oxford English Dictionary, Tri-Star Publications
-Science Citation Index, ISI

ARTISOFT, Inc. makes no warranties as to the completeness or
accuracy of this document. LANtastic is a trademark of ARTISOFT,
Inc.  Brand names and product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.