Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hplsla!andyc
From: andyc@hplsla.HP.COM (Andy Cassino)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st.tech
Subject: Re: Quien es mas macho? (HD caching)
Message-ID: <13510003@hplsla.HP.COM>
Date: 29 Oct 90 23:14:18 GMT
References: <1990Oct27.162723.2834@doe.utoronto.ca>
Organization: HP Lake Stevens, WA
Lines: 31

david@doe.utoronto.ca (David Megginson) asks:
| 
| Now, how should I set up caching for the best effect under TOS 1.4?
| I have turned off write caching in the ICDBOOT driver (it scares
| the dung out of me), but I have to choose among using only
| Atari's CACHEnnn.PRG (which is _very_ fast), ICDBOOT's built-in
| read caching, or some combination of the two. Any suggestions? Is
| CACHEnnn.PRG safe to use with ICDBOOT, or does it need AHDI?
| 

Good questions! It will be interesting to hear what folks have to say.

I use a cache mostly to speed up compiles, so that's how I test a cache.
Otherwise, I'm not an expert on this topic, so if I make some erroneous
statements, take it easy, ok?

I find the ICDBOOT built-in cache, Atari's CACHEnnn, and the cache included
with DiamondBack 2.xx to be roughly equivalent in performance for compiling. I
understand that DiamondBack has special hooks into it's cache that allows for
faster backups than could be obtained with the other caches. I haven't tested
this. I only use the DiamondBack cache now, because it's desk accessory 
allows for the most convenient adjustments to the configuration, and because 
I can always be ready for a quick back-up. Also, the desk acc maintains 
some statistics so it is easier to optimize the configuration. I also 
like the fact that I can pick which drives will be cached. ICD's and Atari's
caches will cache everything - including a RAM disk, which is pointless.

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    % Andy Cassino                                       %
    % Hewlett-Packard - Lake Stevens Instrument Division %
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