Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!uoft02.utoledo.edu!desire.wright.edu!arc
From: arc@desire.wright.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Multitasking (was re:Powermonger etc.)
Message-ID: <1990Dec13.002959.2048@desire.wright.edu>
Date: 13 Dec 90 05:29:59 GMT
References: <9012130059.AA08767@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Organization: University Computing Services, Wright State University
Lines: 44

In article <9012130059.AA08767@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, i0046145@WATER.FIT.QUT.EDU.AU (Lukacz Alex) writes:
> I've been having major problems with multitasking lately, anyone care to tell
> me what exactly is happening or a fix?
> 
> 1)  When using DiskMaster (V1.4) and NComm (V1.9) I often copy files or unarc
>     just-downloaded files while online.  Trouble is, when I try to get a 
>     directory (through the 1.3 'List' or 'Dir' commands) whilst unarcing is
>     taking place, the disk drive managed to 'crunch, crunch' back and forth
>     for MINUTES.
> 
> I think what is happening here is that the dir command is trying to get to the
> tracks around 880 for the list of files whilst the arcing program is still
> trying to unarc the program which would be spread over the tracks of the disk.
> 
> Now I think this is rather silly.  Surely one task should take priority over
> the other, so the 'dir' could intercept the unarcing and get the list of files
> and then let arc get back to work.
> 
> I have tried changing the task priority of 'dir' and 'list' but it doesn't seem
> to have much (read: any) effect.
> 
> 2)  When online a BBS or the VAX/UNIX, the text output to my monitor slows 
>     down IMMENSELY if I'm doing disk-accesses at the same time.  For example,
>     I'm looking for a particular file which I wish to upload.  I am certain
>     it is on one of two disks sitting in my disk-mailer.  I wish to get a 
>     directory of both disks so I can find out which one the file is on.  I
>     change windows to the CLI window and then issue 'dir'.  Click back to the
>     NComm window and SHAZAAM! - text output is slowed to an annoyingly slow
>     rate.  This happens both at 2400 and 9600 baud.
> 
> I have absolutely no idea of what is going on here.
> 
> 
> Any hints/solutions (no flames, send 'em to /dev/null) would be appreciated.
> 
> Alex.
 
  Okay, to answer your statements...  Your drives EACH have 2 tasks each
to "drive" them...  Just because we have a processor for some disk
accessing, doesn't mean that you won't have a slow down.  When writing/reading
from a disk drive, each drive has it's own "buffer", and programs have
no real priorities to access these.  I think someone could explain this
better, and also I think you oughta get more info before you post such
a message on here, like a book, maybe?