Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!husc6!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!ptsfa!ihnp4!alberta!calgary!stone From: stone@calgary.UUCP (Glen Stone) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: External Ram Disk Message-ID: <1035@vaxb.calgary.UUCP> Date: Fri, 24-Jul-87 11:53:41 EDT Article-I.D.: vaxb.1035 Posted: Fri Jul 24 11:53:41 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jul-87 17:09:17 EDT References: <8707221840.AA04445@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Organization: U. of Calgary, Calgary, Ab. Lines: 47 Summary: More info on external ram disk Okay, time to clear up some concepts of the external ram disk: -It will operate exactly as if it was a hard disk, except it will be faster. The advantages should be clear: o If your system crashes your ram disk is still intact o no matter what "meg" machine you have, you don't have to use up valuable "core." This is important to all us multi-tasking freaks. o Proper use of the thing dictates that you store non-volatile files (compilers, editors) and temp files on it. o no mechanical wear, ie use it for development work, extend the life of your floppy or hard drives. o gives you the ability to do serious development with out a hard drive (the idea of this thing is it should cost less than a hard drive) o there's probably some other advantages. Yes I'm designing the thing to be as flexible as possible. The concept of battery back is interesting. It is easy to provide the logic, but consider this: o How long should the batteries last, depending on size of memory and time required you may want a portable generator. o Memory chips have an interesting spec, the average time between a bit hit form the sun or where ever. I belive you can expect on a 1 meg. chip a bit hit every seven days. I strongly reccomend that the use of this ram disk does not get distorted. The reason I've decided to make is to speed up my software development cycle....READ TEMPORARY FILES. I intend also in making a full SCSI ram disk too. I see no reason that our friends in Europe can't get a hold of it. People seemed to like all methods of availability. (Yes I'll supply just docs for thos who them)