SpartaDOS X and the Multiplexer! -------------------------------- The Multiplexer! (MUX!) is a device to share PBI hard disk and other services between the master computer (host) and client (slave) computers. More information about this interesting hardware is available at: http://realdos.net/mux.html Hardware compatibility ---------------------- MUX! hardware registers are located in the area $D57x. To avoid conflicts, SDX must not be run on Maxflash8 or other SDX hardware which also use that area. Host ---- The host runs special server software (MASTER.COM). This runs fine under SpartaDOS X (SDX), just use the newest version by Stephen J. Carden. Client ------ The client machines should be equipped with a special OS (MUX! OS) to get access to the networked server. By default SDX bypasses SIO procedures in OS, providing its own enhanced routines. Special configuration has to be made for custom OS solutions (like the MUX!) to work under SDX. This can be done in two ways: 1. Using MAP command Note: this works under "USE BANKED" memory configuration only (see SDX manual for details). After SDX is booted on the client, you can map a particular drive letter to a master drive. For example, if you want to map drive D1:, make the drive active at the SDX command prompt and then issue "MAP 1 OS" command. This configures SDX to use OS routines for drive 1 and consequently to access the master drive (assuming the MUX! OS is configured properly). 2. Using SIO.SYS /A switch Note: this bypasses SDX SIO procedures for ALL drives. You can invoke SIO.SYS /A either from SDX command line or a custom CONFIG.SYS (recommended). The configuration should contain "DEVICE SIO /A" and can be stored on the master's D1:. Since SDX uses OS SIO at boot, CONFIG.SYS will be fetched from the master. Then SIO.SYS /A instructs the DOS to use OS SIO procedures for all disk operations. Note: As of SDX 4.43, the SDX Imager utility is available to modify the default CONFIG.SYS. Master's real-time clock ------------------------ MASTER.COM by Stephen J. Carden provides date and time service which can be used by SDX slaves to set JIFFY.SYS time. This requires MUXTIME.COM (SDX version) which can be downloaded from sdx.atari8.info.