Re: RAM5 GS/OS Driver Version 1.5

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <webmaster-0508961802200001@pm2-058.sct.fr>,
webmaster@cardshow.com (Michael Guitton) wrote:

>You allocate 4 RAMdisks because there is no way to dynamically change the
>device list(**) under GS/OS, right? 
>
>(**) I don't know GS/OS very well. Could not get my hands on a copy of
>GS/OS Ref. ;-) All I have is the GS/OS driver reference (read a few pages
>only).

A driver can create new devices via a GS/OS system service call.  This is
used by Apple's SCSI drivers if you insert a disk with more partitions,
for example.

It isn't used by all drivers.  For example, the ATalk driver (used by the
AppleShare FST) pre-allocates 14 devices for file server partitions, and
won't create any more.  This is probably due to limitations of the PFI
(ProDOS-8 File Interface), which shares information with the AppleShare
FST.

The maximum number of devices supported by the driver is indicated as part
of the auxiliary type of the driver: the lower six bits of the low order
byte (the limit is 63 devices).

The ATalk driver has an auxiliary type of $0110, which indicates that it
supports sixteen devices.  The other two are .RPM (Remote Print Manager)
and .APPLETALK (AppleTalk Main Driver).

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand