
GEMAR - The GEM-Archiver                           ¾ Steffen Engel 1992-95

Version 3.00, dated 24/11/95



GEMAR is a program which drives SCSI-Streamer at Atari ST/TT.


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  PLEASE READ THIS TEXT VERY CAREFULLY!!
  ======================================

  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.





***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
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.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************





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
