Path: utzoo!censor!isgtec!bmw
From: bmw@isgtec.UUCP (Bruce Walker)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
Subject: Re: Some questions about new(?) KA9Q  (FAT-trash revealed!)
Keywords: tcp/ip ka9q hosts internet-addresses Clarkson packet driver
Message-ID: <129@isgtec.UUCP>
Date: 29 Aug 89 17:08:55 GMT
Reply-To: bmw@isgtec.UUCP (Bruce Walker)
Distribution: na
Organization: I.S.G. Technologies, Toronto, Ontario
Lines: 38

Bruce Walker: (me)
>> The environment:
>> - floppies (I'm really paranoid since experimenting with this stuff has
>>   resulted in trashed FAT's now and then!)

Phil Karn:
> I am very concerned about your report of FAT-trashing. This is the first
> such report I've received, and if you can isolate the problem I would
> very much appreciate the details.  Be sure you start with the latest
> code.

Sorry about the delay ... I better clarify; I don't wish to start rumours.

Summary:
1) my problem was NOT caused by KA9Q code.
2) my problem WAS caused by bad handling of args by Clarkson packet driver.

I had been having some troubles getting two PC's to talk SLIP to each
other.  While fiddling around, I thought "maybe there is no 8250 code
in here" (meaning net.exe) and so I tried loading the 8250 packet driver
from Clarkson.  Well I didn't fully understand the command line syntax,
particularly the first argument, so I invoked it like this:

	slip8250 sl0 slip 3 0x2f8 9600
		 ^^^

and my machine hung with the hard disk led on.  After reboot I had the
dreaded cross-linked clusters on some files (luckily expendable).
My prognosis is that the Clarkson packet drivers are negligent in their
parsing of arguments and managed to turn "sl0" into a number (!) which
became the interrupt vector to take over (maybe int zero?).  Zang!

I don't take kindly to software that causes this sort of minor disaster
so I have been using extreme caution since.
-- 
Bruce Walker                          ...uunet!mnetor!lsuc!isgtec!bmw
"Better Living Through Connectivity"         ...utzoo!lsuc!isgtec!bmw
ISG Technologies Inc. 3030 Orlando Dr. Mississauga. Ont. Can. L4V 1S8