A M I G A
Answers to frequently asked questions
Amiga soft'e.
Q: What is on the Amiga operating system
We?
A: In addition to wired in the ROM core AmigaOS, there
Amix (UNIX System V), NetBSD, Linux,
Minix, OS / 9, etc ... OS / 9 - a prod
vinutaya Multi-user operating system
system. It is a vivid representatives
field real-time OS, but it Stoi
dependence is quite large - Amigovskaya ver
And this costs about 600 USD and only
gluttonous to the equipment. Amix - it's you
Commodor'e still indulges his license
onnaya version of the UNIX System V, the existence
Does even the special UNIX Amiga A3000UX,
already comes with UNIX. Enough
Amigovskih many servers on the Internet
is not under AmigaOS, and under NetBSD. C
On the other hand, unlike the PC - Ami
gaOS is the de facto standard, and
competition between different operating
GOVERNMENTAL systems is absent. Each system
theme is used for their needs.
Q: What is "Multitasking" on the Amiga?
A: In AmigaOS implemented preemptive Prio
ritetnaya multitasking. Each task
can be in three states:
expectations, willingness to perform and you
complement (obviously, in the third state
on a uniprocessor machine at the given
instant of time can only be
one task). The task of moving from
wait states in the state of readiness
In particular, queued for execution
which is sorted by priority for
cottages, that is, having the largest at
priorities of the task gets control first
howl. Problem in the state
Implementation can be derived from not
On three occasions: when she voluntarily
moved into a wait state, if from
wait states got a problem with pain
PWM priority, and if the
task has exceeded its allocated quantum
time. In the latter case, the control
transferred to the problem with equal her priorities
is located in the queue for fulfillment
of. User tasks are usually
have zero priority, and if they
simultaneous operation of these fulfilled
parallel. Systemic problems, maintenance
equation describing the external devices are a pain
shy priority, and due to very small
overhead of switching con
Text prepared by management of external
events in real time. Thanks
Executive package is implemented in AmigaOS
dynamic setting priorities for
cottages. This allows us to divide the tasks to
and interactive computing. The first
- It's usually service the I / O:
device drivers, communication
programs, text editors, etc.,
there are problems, who spend most
time waiting and almost no sweat
reblyayut processing power. Second -
All the main time of use
processing power entirely: it is
archivers, rendering packages, etc.
Executive oversees the investment of time
not every task and every second makes
conclude what the problem some priority
put. As a result, priority
interactive tasks increased, and they
operate without inhibition associated with
parallel execution of computational
problems. There is a misconception that
this will lead to inhibition of the computational
lems, but the simplest example -
Gasket 1 kilobyte of text in a text
Editor - you can be sure it is not
as follows: regardless of the priority Editor
the same amount of action will be
spent the same time, and computational
auxiliary problem will work with one and
the same efficiency. And an editor
higher the priority will be to work in conditions
loviyah strong CPU for the
noticeably faster.
Q: What file system support
AmigaOS?
A: Historically, the first to file system
Theme OFS, applied at the earliest
Amigo. This file system is enough
slow and imperfect, has bounded
values on the partition size and uneconomical pa
similar disk space - 512
bytes of each sector of useful information
tion contains only 488. Later, from
with OS 2.0, there was a system FFS, deprived
Naya many flaws - the partition size
increased up to 4 gigabytes in 512
bytes, much more rapid access to
disk. In OS 3.0 there was a modification of its
tion - FFS / DC, which are cached ka
Taloga, and reading the catalog is no longer
requires sawing disk dozens
seconds (for the HDD is not critical). Ned
UPE released its modification, in which
remove the restriction to 4 gigabytes on time
measures section of the hard drive. However, all the
variables enumeration of file systems still
Therefore, slow enough to spend too
com a lot of disk space
proprietary information, and very moody
for emergency stop machine
- If you lose your computer in the process
write to disk, after booting system
within minutes of testing
disk, correcting inconsistencies and
makes it impossible for him to write (Naver
Noe, you've already seen the requester "Disk not
validated "). filesystem AFS, cos
This independent programmer, deprivation
on almost all the above Nedo
disadvantages. Recording can be interrupted at AFS
at any time without fear
(True, this implies that for
order of recording on a disc rather
critical, and the AFS Cache NOT ON
RECORDING!). Access to any part of the file
the AFS is almost the same rate
velocity, as well as directly to disk, and the operator
radios to create / delete / etc. Files
pass an order of magnitude faster than in FFS.
In addition, AFS is not so much spending
disk space on the utility integral
formation - AFS reserve in advance
approximately 5% of disk space for
service goals, and overflow fi
Lamy disk begins to take them under
place in the unused parts of the case
zhebnoy zone. However, AFS more requirements
sensitive to the car - for good work
You need a fast CPU and otni
maet 100-200 kilobytes of memory
each section, so the minimum concentration
figuration, which can be recommended
vat install AFS - A1200 is at least
with two megabytes of FAST-memory. Philo
new system CrossDOS firm Consultron
allows you to work with floppies, vinches
terami, partitions and disk images in the
files in the format of MS-DOS FAT. File
system CrossMAC the same firm is working
Disc format Macintosh HFS. Aude
However, both these systems are designed only for
information exchange - AMIGA can not pa
bot nor FAT, neither HFS disk - FAT
has a limitation on the size of the name and
HFS has a different structure altogether. Cross
DOS included with AmigaOS.
There are many file systems
to work with CD-ROM format as an ISO
9660, and HFS. One of them is in
supplied with AmigaOS 3.1.
Q: How is the file system
AFS?
A: The installer only copies the AFS system
dark disk all the files needed. For
that when you start the machine automatically
cally mounted AFS and has appeared in
zmozhnost boot disk with AFS, it is necessary
Dimo install it in the RDB Winchester.
To do this, run HDToolBox, select
Advanced Options, and Add / Update filesys
tem. Then clicking Add New FileSystem
and specify the name of the file system (something
Type L: HardDiskAFS020). Next HDToolBox
require the signature of the file system:
Enter 0x41465301 (but not rewrite
entirety: otherwise it will not work).
After pressing Ok on the list but will
curve filesystem. Then, for each
partition on which you plan conditions
SETTING AFS, select Change FileSys
tem, set AFS1 and change the Max
Transfer to 0xFE00 (originally there one hundred
um 0xFFFFFF). In the old version HDToolBox
(Included Parts of OS3.0 - now discussed
about OS3.1) to select Custom FileSy
stem, and apart from changes MaxTransfer
Identifier apply to 0x41465301, as
installing AFS in the RDB. After this
click OK and Save Changes. Natural
but these sections need to format.
The details of these issues are discussed
in the AFS FAQ.
Q: Can AMIGA run programs other
elastic computers?
A: On the Amiga, there are many emulyato
moat other platforms. Including - even
Amiga itself. Practically, there dostato
chno quality emulators Apple Macin
tosh (of it was discussed earlier), ZXSpectrum
(Which would be very convenient to users
this machine over to the Amiga and
wishing to be in a totally unfamiliar
my situation), IBM PC80486 and Pentium,
Yamaha MSX-2, Apple-72, Atari VCS / XL / XE
/ ST, Commodore-64, Amstrad, GameBoy,
Dendy, Super Nintendo, BBC, TRS-80,
Sinclair-QL and many lesser-known
computers and consoles. One of the cars
ditch FAQ written emulator BK0010, and NSP
is an emulator BK0011M. Interesting site
on emulators: AMIGA EMULATORS
CENTRAL. More information about
emulators: FAQ on emulators in Russian
Scoma language.
Q: Is there an Amiga emulator on other boards
forms?
About: UNIX AMIGA Emulator (UAE) there
for virtually all platforms, including
Amiga itself. Available in source code
in C. Emulates chipset OCS (1984
years), requires insanely high speed
processor for more or less normal
work (at the level of good working standard
tion - even SGI Indy can not cope with
this task). Many moments (eg
sprite collisions) will not be emulated because of
great complexity, and in many other
cases, the graphics and sound are far from the original
signal. Emulator ECS and AGA, that is, with
Amigo time does not exist.
Q: Will the problem of finding the compiler
C / C + +?
A: The most popular at this time SAS / C
Storm C and GNU C. All three compiler
can generates code as a 680h0 and
a PowerPC (unfortunately, Storm C work
melts with its own library
Mi supporting PowerPC, is inconsistent with the
standard). GNU C allows you to practice
practically without any alterations to compile
program from the UNIX - for this ISPO
box is used library ixemul.library, um
uliruyuschaya queries core UNIX.
Q: Is there something similar to AutoCAD, or
understands ACAD'ovskie formats?
About: MaxxonCAD, DynaCADD ... In addition, we can
but to use similar products
for Macintosh - for example, the well-known parameter
ketom MicroStation.
Q: What is datataypy (datatypes)?
A: The Amiga operating system, starting
with a third version, built-in mechanism for distribution
cognition of various file types and pa
boots with them. Thus, for example,
graphics editor does not need to know
about all graphics file formats -
availability in the desired form datatypes
mats make it possible to download them.
No one is stopping you invent own
LIMITED data format, write to the OS it
support - and the most modern
programs will begin to understand it. Naturally
respectively, datatype - a means not only
for working with graphics: supports and
sound, and so on. In addition, the datatypes
already built-in support for viewing files
and the system utility will Multiview
see any files, of which the value
em system.
Q: What is CyberGraphX?
A: It is somewhat a completely rewritten
AmigaOS libraries to support the form
deokart realizing all of the standard
graphics capabilities of these
maps and supporting new opportunities
the (modes 2, 3, and 4 bytes per pixel,
Any organization VRAM). By ka
zhduyu supported CyberGraphX video
map is a special driver. In our
toyaschee time programming interface CGFX
is the de facto standard. Here with
we selected a lot of useful information on CGFX
There is also a package Picasso96, work
similar melting and software sovmes
ible with CGFX.
Q: I want to listen to Audio-CD.
A: No problem - players in bulk. Package
AsimCDFS lets you listen to music as
directly from an audio output CD-ROM drive,
and reading it in digital form (if
drive allows it).
Q: I want to watch Video-CD.
A: There are several options. Hardware
solution - buy Squirrel MPEG. Actual
virtually a standalone device, which
PoE is hung on the SCSI bus and allows
look at the monitor or television
Zora DVDs, directly addressing the
SCSI CD-ROM. Due to its autonomous
STI is a device may work itself
yourself. Software solution - the films
EASURES Osiris and Isis, but more or less
normal quality required Power
PC.
Q: I want to burn CD-R.
A: No problem. There are all the necessary software
- You only need to buy a SCSI-controller
and CD-recorder, for example Philips. And we can
but simply refer to the firm Condor, and
You for a modest fee will record a disc
directly from your HDD. (Amiga firm the KOH
DOR is located in Moscow).
Q: I want to "rob" music from Audio-CD.
A: If the CD-ROM is it possible (for example,
ATAPI IDE Panasonic CR-572B allows
exactly), the best option - establish
vit package AsimCDFS, file system
from which it can mount ay
diodiski as a set of sound files to
torye can simply be copied and traced
Shiva any player audio files directly
CD-ROM. In addition, there
set of programs that provide
similar opportunities.
Q: I want to listen to the resulting sound-track,
or simply WAV'y. Heard that the Amiga
bit audio output 8 bits. What
will be the quality?
A: Bit audio output Amiga - 14
bits. Of sixteen can be distinguished, but
Only if you try. For losing
of sound can be used, for example,
program Play16, understand the format
WAV, AIFF, IFF, and just RAW (only
audio data without the header). Maxi
mum sampling frequency sound -
about 60 kilohertz, is equal to twice an hour
quency line scan monitor (sound
selected from memory by DMA for the inverse
During Mr. Beam).
Q: I want to hear not only MOD, but S3M,
XM, MTM, DMF, MID, etc.
A: There are plenty of players - Delitracker,
PS3M, HIP, APlayer, EaglePlayer, as well
same MIDI-player GMPlay. The more chan
fishing - the more quickly you need a car.
68030/50MHz enough for 16 or more satellites
signals at a sample rate of 44100 Hz
68060 is able to play in the real
time almost anything. Well
and 8-channel more or less playing and does not
Extended A1200 ...
Q: I want to write music myself. What is the best
do?
A: If the music is written in order to insert it
in any toy, demoshku etc.
- Better ProTracker'e. The reason is simple
- 4-channel music is played apparatus
TNO, without taking the time machine and not less
Shai main program. If the purpose of - pi
write music as such, is the best
option - Symphonie Pro: 255 channels
16-bit audio, programmable DSP
effects (included source code -
You can write himself) and the opportunity for
pisi soundtrack for the CD. If there is a ho
roshy synthesizer with MIDI interface
You can use multiple
sequencers type Bars'Pipes. Package
OctaMED SoundStudio allows you to work
as with MIDI, and digital audio.
Q: Can I work with PC'shnymi floppies?
A: Of course. All the necessary drivers
is in the distribution Workbench. For this
first need to click on the icon in the kata PC0
log sys: storage / dosdrivers, or give
command mount pc0: - that in general
There is one and the same. Read, write,
formatted floppy disk in the 720 and 800 kb.
On the HD drives - 1.44 mb.
Q: Can I read CD-ROMs from the PC?
A: Yes. CD-ROM format is standard, and
called ISO-9660. Come in two different
the visibility - with the "castrated" names
File 8 +3, the legacy of dark
time operating system MS-DOS (Le
vel 1) and with normal, up to 30
characters (Level 2). And that both -
great read. There are less races
propagation of formats - for example, HFS
on the Macintosh. Most file systems
in order to read and such discs.
Q: Can I carry the software on your hard drive,
as is usually done on a PC?
A: Of course. This is done in exactly the same.
;)
Q: Can I work with a hard drive, Hautefort
frosted on PC?
A: You create a text file with
roughly as follows:
Device = scsi.device
Unit = 1
Flags = 0
Surfaces = 16
BlocksPerTrack = 63
LowCyl = 0
HighCyl = 1056
Reserved = 0
Stacksize = 4096
Priority = 10
GlobVec = -1
Buffers = 10
BufMemType = 1
Mount = 1
DosType = 0x4d534800
FileSystem = l: CrossDOSFileSystem
And put it in the directory sys: stora
ge / dosdrivers named pcc. After
this, create a copy under the names
pcd, pce and pcf. As a result, subcategory
lyuchenii slave IDE-HDD, Hautefort
Frosted on the PC, after the
Machines need to give the command mount pcc:, and
first partition the hard drive will be sufficient
foams as a device pcc:. Likewise,
to do with the second, third and
The fourth section, if any.
Options to change the hard drive is not necessary -
they are read from the disk automatically
In no case do not touch this wine
Chester HDToolBox'om - as a result of
Similar action may stop problem
tatsya on the PC. CrossDOS supports
file system MS-DOS FAT, and starting
with the seventh version - Windows95 VFAT. Dru
Gia filesystem (eg, HPFS /
NTFS / etc) will not be read.
Q: Is there a PC-compatible archivers? Not
whether the problems with archives?
A: There are UNARJ, UNRAR and full ZIP (by
InfoZip, both under OS / 2) and HA. Local
LhA also fully compatible with one
pisishnym variables. There is an old brand
PKZip - visitors can compare its intensity
terfeys with pisishnym. :)
Q: Got a self-extracting RAR archive
How to unpack?
A: Take the editor CygnusED (or any
another does not change without your knowledge
binary files) and remove the portion EXE
file from the beginning until the inscription "Rar!"
- That is, the file must begin with
Rar!. Rename it to #?. RAR and further
unpack using UnRAR - now
it is a regular file.
Q: How Russified AMIGA?
A: The idea is simple enough: create a key
map (map of Russian keyboard) with the codes
Russian symbols, and fonts that contain
Russian letters. Russification of the keyboard
th entry is done using the program
for a given key or combination
key-changing Russian layout to
Latin and vice versa. In addition, the system
tem is added to the driver: country -
from which the system recognizes the date format
time zone, currency, and about
The presence of the options for Russia, used
different programs, and language - in
which, for example, contains rules
sort alphabetically, conversion
uppercase to lowercase and vice versa,
for the Russian language. Also, for many
programs, create a directory (files defined
divided by format, containing all the tex
tum communication program) in Russian
language, so that after installation
Russian language in the operating system
(Locale Prefs), these programs will
to have a Russian interface. From ne
keyboard switch is the most izves
tny following programs: RusyTNG, Dis
Ease, Rusifier, AmiRus. Best of luck
Nye of them - AmiRus - allows Perek
Luciano keyboard on any given
key or combination of the two SHIFTov,
as well as assign different layouts
on different screens (which is convenient, for example,
For example, for FIDO, which uses 866 to
bombarded). Package Rusifier is possible
sequence of the grammatical forms
in the Russian language interface (eg,
the substitution of control characters in
catalog software, are unaware of
This will display messages of type 1
file, 2 files, 5 files). Unfortunately,
This package is equipped with a very mediocre
nym switch, keyboard, and work
just melts in your own coding
VKY (other programs for encoding
not bound).
Q: What kind of encoding characters used Russi
to form an Amiga?
A: Actually, use of all common
nye encoding. However, the most convenient
encodings that contain Russian letters in
range 0xC0-0xFF, and do not contain
any commonly used characters in
range 0x80-0x9F. This requirement
satisfy the KOI-8, Windows 1251 and no
than with incompatible encoding examples
nennaya package Rusifier. Encoding
Standard (ISO 8859-5) satisfies this
demand only partially, because
Russian characters in it starts at about
region of special characters native to the
Amiga encoding ISO 8859-1 (degree marks
penalties), and may have problems with
number of programs and old texts. Cody
mounting plate DOS (866) does not satisfy this
requirement, since Russian capital
letters in it are in the range of cases
zhebnyh ANSI codes, and in very many
cases, programs may, with them at all
not work. Choice of encoding depends on the
the challenges that you face. In
particularly for the Internet
it's best Windows-encoding - in
this case, you will be able to talk
in Russian on IRC, no problems seen
Russian WWW-pages. In addition,
this case, you can use ogro
mnym of TrueType and PostScript
fonts to a PC. A number of software packages
(Eg TurboCalc and Wordworth) enables
lyayut easily import and export
vat files in PC-format. 866 Kodirov
ka, despite her discomfort was
popular on the Amiga in Russia several
years ago, but now its use is unlikely
Whether justified.
Q: Why is the use of 866 coding
impossible to work with the Russian capital
skim the letters in many programs?
A: For normal Russification AmigaOS nuzh
for encoding key codes which are not
fall in the range 0x80-0x9F. Zaglav
nye 866 letters encoding for AmigaOS NE
lyayutsya office (for example, the letter Y -
the code CSI, odnachayuschy beginning ESC Village
ledovatelnosti and substituting "ESC [").
Therefore, the software, in general, and is not obliged to
her work. Use 866 Kodirov
ku as a major no sense.
Where it may be necessary
(For example, FIDO), can help you
conclusion options Text Gadget Filter in
IControl Prefs - in this case in the field
I will be able to Intuition
enter the codes 0x80-0x9F.
