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From: blee@plains.NoDak.edu (Blaine Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st.tech
Subject: Re: 1.44M 3.5 disks  //  floppies as swap space
Message-ID: <5808@plains.NoDak.edu>
Date: 10 Sep 90 21:03:32 GMT
References: <1407@wet.UUCP> <1990Sep10.105324.26957@agate.berkeley.edu> <10562@life.ai.mit.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: North Dakota State University, Fargo
Lines: 30

In article <10562@life.ai.mit.edu> entropy@rice-chex.ai.mit.edu (enthalpy) writes:
>In article <1990Sep10.105324.26957@agate.berkeley.edu> kawakami@monsoon.Berkeley.EDU (John Kawakami) writes:
>
>   In article <1407@wet.UUCP> nut@wet.UUCP (adam tilghman) writes:
>   >In article <1990Jul31.165603.20869@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> schultzd@kira.uucp (David Schultz) writes:
>   >>
>   >>2.)  Is there any program that allows you to use a floppy drive as
>   >>swap space to get more memory in an ST.  I realize this would be
>
>  [many theories and ideas deleted]

I don't know a whole lot about hardware yet, but I do know that it would
be possible to do this to a small extent.  For multi-tasking enviroments.
The method is to swap out entire envirments, that is start one program in
the core memory, then when you need to start another large program, swap
out the core image and start with a full amount of core space again.

If you followed my explination, you will realize that this does not support
vertual memory, but rather allows many processes with the full physical
memory (minus the kernel and screen, etc...).

And if you followed up to here you also realize that you will need one
hell of a modified malloc, and a process swapper/kernel/scheduler.  Although
I would guess that RTX or MINT05 would be a place to start.

PS: please don't tell me this _won't_ work as my Tandy 16b sitting next
to my ST. is a testiment that a 68000 will do it...slowly.

Blaine Lee
blee @ plains.nodak.edu