Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ut-sally!utah-cs!utah-gr!uplherc!sp7040!laird!jsm From: jsm@laird.UUCP (Jeffrey McArthur) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: MX2 documentation Message-ID: <13.UUL1.1#125@laird.UUCP> Date: 28 Feb 88 20:05:27 GMT Organization: Laird Telemedia Inc. Lines: 1607 Been a while (my modem died). But here it is, the promiced documentation for mx2. The spacing is as the author wrote it. -------------------- cut on dotted line ---------------------------------- PAGE - 1 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel ************************************************************************** * SHAREWARE * * To register send $20.00 to * * * * Fred Brooks * * 4145 44ST #5 * * San Diego CA 92105 * * * * You will receive the complete Modula-2 source, * * updates and programming examples for JSM2 and TDI. * * * * MX2 V1.0.0 A multitasking and multiuser * * environment for ATARI ST. * * Written using TDI Modula-2 3.01a Compiler * * For TOS Versions 11/20 1985 and 04/22/87 * * Other Versions may not run correctly. * * * ************************************************************************** Intro: MX2 is a multitasking environment to aid in program development for the ATARI ST. It was developed in Modula-2 but can be used with any language such as C, BASIC, or PASCAL. Suggested system minimum requirements are 1 MEG of memory with a double-sided disk drive. A hard disk drive will greatly improve system performance. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 2 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel NOTES: I have tuned this kernel for use with the GULAM shell. I have had no problems using it exempt with the TE communications command. It locks up my background xmodem routines if it is used. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 3 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel SYSTEM GENERATION: The MX2.INF file contains the system generation parameters. It is an ASCII files that can be edited with the UE editor in GULAM or any ASCII editor This files allows you to change the default system boot parameters If this file does not exist the default values are: numeric values are in decimal Init Command : IP CLI.PRG System Memory : 32000 Alt Program HOTKEY : 3276800 Normal Mouse HOTKEY : 3211264 Cursor Mouse HOTKEY : 3014656 Reboot HOTKEY : 1245184 Reserved Memory : 32000 Initialisation command is normally used to load the SHELL program. The CLI.PRG enables GULAM.PRG to multitask then loads the program. If the program is exited the kernel will respawn the SHELL. To change the program change to IP "name of program" System memory is the size of the memory reserved by MX2 to allocate for it's internal data structures. The default size should be adequate for 7 MX2 processes with workspaces of 2K. Reserved memory is the size of the memory that will be released to the alternate program is available memory drops below the size of the reserved memory. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 4 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel INTERFACE LIBRARIES: The SYSCALL module is the standard interface for user programs to the MX2 Multitasking system. It includes functions to starting ending and controling concurrent processes. The TDILIB contains the TDI MODULA-2 3.01a libraries and JSM2LIB contains the JEFFERSON SOFTWARE MODULA-2 1.00 libraries. I will include a portable C library as soon as I can find out how the convert the code over. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 5 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel COMMUNICATIONS: Also included is a no frills communications program. COM.TOS without options sets the AUX port to 1200BPS. COM.TOS # "where # is a number" will set the AUX port to the speed according to the table. 0 = 300BPS 1 = 1200BPS 2 = 2400BPS 4 = 4800BPS 9 = 9600BPS H = 19200BPS Use the [Undo] key to exit back to the CLI. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 6 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel MX2 HOTKEYS: Hotkeys for several functions are included. These are the default keys they can be changed in the MX2.INF file. ALT m = Load and switch to second CLI or program, the screen and status of the first cli is saved. If used after the second CLI has been loaded this command will switch back and forth between the two. It is recommended that this command only be used in TOS programs. If a you only press RETURN after the program name prompt the CLI.PRG will automatically be loaded. ALT r = REBOOT computer. This is the same as pressing the reset button. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 7 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel BACKGROUND TIMER: The background timer CRON has been implemented. When MX2 is started the file CRONTAB is read into memory. CRONTAB lists the start time and frequency of the MX2 command on that line to be executed. To stop the CRON from running the entries in the CRONTAB file you can rename it or after the the CLI is running issue the "SYS CRON OFF" command to stop. All times are in minutes. You may have up to 16 entries in the CRONTAB file. The format of the CRONTAB file is. Start Time Frequency Command 0 60 SYS BP DUMMY.PRG midnight every hour run the DUMMY.PRG in background MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 8 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel NETWORKING: MX2 has a low speed disk sharing network built in the kernel. The network uses the midi port to allow a second ST that is also running MX2 to use the remote ST's drives. The remote drives can be used just like your local drives but they will of course be slower because of the transfer of the data through the midi ports. The remote drives will start as the second drive ID after the last drive that you have on the local ST. For example if you have drives A,B,C,D,E,F then the remote drives will be | | | | | | H,I,J,K,L,M To use the C drive on the remote system simply use the J: drive on the CLI. Be sure to cross connect the midi cables ie... the MIDI out to the MIDI in on the other ST and vice verse. midi in ___ ___ midi in ST 1 \/ ST 2 midi out ___/\___ midi out The MX2NET.PRG is a standalone network driver that runs from the DESKTOP or another GEM program. It can be installed in an AUTO folder or run from the DESKTOP. It will allow disk sharing between ST's that are not both using the MX2 environment. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 9 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel MISC: The condition of the CapsLock is indicated by an asterisk in the upper right corner. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 10 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel Known Bugs, Fixes and Improvements: V1.0.0 The spooler will not work with networked files. V1.0.0 MX2.ACC accessory will allow MX2 to multitask in some GEM programs. The TDI editor will allow MX2 to switch when running this accessory. V1.0.0 Some programs will start up ok but on exit cause the system to crash. Probably caused by Term code. If I used Term(0) to end a program in MODULA-2 this will cause the problem. Solution: just let the program END without any GEMDOS Term command. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 11 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel MX2 Commands: () mandatory parameter, [] optional parameter priories range from 1 to 10 Always use SYS before all commands if run from the CLI. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 12 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel Program Commands: IP : Run Interactive Program. This is normally only used to run the mx2 CLI when the kernel first boots. The kernel will respawn the program if it terminates or exits. USAGE : IP [priority] (filename) [command], SYS IP [priority] (filename) [command] BP : Run Background Program. Background programs use the same I/O vectors as the process that started it. USAGE : BP [priority] (filename) [command], SYS BP [priority] (filename) [command] FP : Run Foreground Program. Foreground programs always use the normal ST I/O vectors. It's use would be to run programs that use the ST screen and keyboard from processes that have been redirected to the RS232 port or MIDI port. USAGE : FP [priority] (filename) [command], SYS FP [priority] (filename) [command] MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 13 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel XMODEM COMMANDS: XR : Receive an XMODEM file from remote computer. USAGE : XR (filename), SYS XR (filename) This command will start a background process to download a file. If the download is complete a single bell will sound at the console. If the download aborted for some reason four bells will sound. XT : Send an XMODEM file to a remote computer. USAGE : XT (filename), SYS XT (filename) This command will start a background process to upload a file. If the upload is complete a single bell will sound at the console. If the upload aborted for some reason four bells will sound. XA : Abort XMODEM transfers. USAGE : XA, SYS XA This command will abort all xmodem background processes. XS : XMODEM Status. USAGE : XS, SYS XS This command will display the current status of a xmodem up or download. XCRC : XMODEM crc MODE. USAGE : XCRC, SYS XCRC This command will set xmodem transfers to Cyclic Redundancy Code error detection method. XCKS : XMODEM checksum MODE. USAGE : XCKS, SYS XCKS This command will set xmodem transfers to Checksum error detection method. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 14 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel PROCESS PRIORITY: NICE : Change Process Priority. USAGE : NICE (priority) [pid], SYS NICE (priority) [pid] If NICE is called without a pid the current process will be used. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 15 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel PROCESS COMMANDS: HP : Halt Process. USAGE : HP (pid), SYS HP (pid) Pid is the process id number of the process you wish to Halt. To start up a halted process use the WP command. The HP command takes a process out of the ready list and removes it from the CPU but NOT from memory. WP : Wakeup Process. USAGE : WP (pid), SYS WP (pid) Pid is the process id number of the halted process you wish to Wakeup. The WP command puts the process back into the ready list to be run in it's time slot. PID : Process Identifier. USAGE : PID, SYS PID Returns the Process Identifier of the current process. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 16 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel SPOOLER COMMANDS: SP : Background file Spooler. USAGE : SP (filename), SYS SP (filename) puts file in process list to be printed. Unless the path in included it will use the current dir. ASP : Abort Spool. USAGE : ASP, SYS ASP Will terminated the current spool process and allow the next to start if present. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 17 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel PROCESS STATUS COMMANDS: PS : Process Status. USAGE : PS, SYS PS Display description of all system processes. PSL : Process Status Log. USAGE : PSL [filename], SYS PSL [filename] Write to SYS.LOG file the description of all system processes. If a filename is given the description will be written to that file if possible or else it will default back to SYS.LOG. ZS : Zombie Process Status. USAGE : ZS, SYS ZS Display description of all inactive system processes. ZSL : Zombie Process Status Log. USAGE : ZSL [filename], SYS ZSL [filename] Write to SYS.LOG file the description of all inactive system processes. If a filename is given the description will be written to that file if possible or else it will default back to SYS.LOG. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 18 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel BACKGROUND TIMER COMMANDS: CRON : Background Scheduler Timer. USAGE : SYS CRON [ON OFF] CRON with no options will display the current timer table entries. CRON OFF disables the timer. CRON ON read the CRONTAB file, reloads the timer table then enables the timer. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 19 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel NETWORK COMMANDS: NETOFF : Turn off MX2 network. USAGE : NETOFF, SYS NETOFF NETON : Turn on MX2 network. USAGE : NETON, SYS NETON MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 20 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel MX2 UTILITY PROGRAMS: SP.TOS Same as the MX2 SP command except it runs directly from the CLI. PS.PRG Same as the MX2 PS command except it runs directly from the CLI. ZS.PRG Same as the MX2 ZS command except it runs directly from the CLI. REDIR.PRG Program to redirect screen and keyboard I/O to the RS232 port. COM.TOS Program to communicate thru the RS232. SUBMIT.TOS [cmd] Program to send string on the command line to the keyboard buffer. SUBMITA.TOS [cmd] send string to RS232 buffer. MX2.ACC Desk accessory to allow MX2 to multitask in some GEM programs. MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 21 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel SYS.PRG USAGE: The SYS.PRG reads it's command line and submits the command the the MX2 kernel. It's use to to give MX2 commands from another program such at GULAM. Example "SYS BP LOOP.PRG" will load and run LOOP.PRG as a background process. All MX2 commands can be used. To get a process status enter "SYS PS" MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 22 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel DESIGN and IMPLEMENTATION: MX2 is not a CLI shell. It provides a platform for system services for a CLI or programs. When MX2 boots it looks for CLI.PRG in its directory. If it exists it will be run as an Interactive Process as the command shell. These are examples for use of the amulti kernel make use of the trap 15 interface. This makes it possible to use kernel services in other languages that allow inline assembly or code. #1 format for commands that require a string pea buffer move.w #8,-(sp) function number for sp trap #15 add #6,sp . buffer: .dc.b 'test.mod',0 format for commands that need only function # #2 move.w #11,-(sp) function number for pid trap #15 display pid on stdout add #2,sp result in D0 #3 format for vfork move.l #subaddress,-(sp) subroutine address move.l #2000,-(sp) workspace size move.w #23,-(sp) function number for vfork of subroutine trap #15 add #10,sp MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 23 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel DESIGN and IMPLEMENTATION: function name trap type 0 off #2 1 st #2 2 ps #2 3 stl #1 4 psl #1 5 ip #1 6 bp #1 7 fp #1 8 sp #1 9 asp #2 10 cron #1 11 pid #2 12 neton #2 13 netoff #2 14 nice #1 15 hp #1 16 wp #1 17 xr #1 18 xt #1 19 xa #2 20 xs #2 21 xcrc #2 22 xcks #2 23 vfork #3 runs a subroutine as a concurrent process. A RTS terminates the process. 24 info #2 returns a pointer the current process descriptor in D0. 25 rpid #2 return the process id number in D0. 26 tick #2 force context switch MX2 Multitasking Kernel PAGE - 24 - MX2 Multitasking Kernel SETUP: Unarc the files and place them all in the same dir. You MUST have a copy of GULAM.PRG for the SHELL. Run MX2.PRG and the CLI.PRG will load and be ready for input. I have included a few batch files to set up and to help run a CLI in background to the RS232 port. Please let me know of any fixes that you come up with or improvements. HOME PHONE 619-584-0281 San Diego CA. 5PM-10PM Please. MX2 Multitasking Kernel -------------------- cut on dotted line ---------------------------------- Jeffrey McArthur, Laird Telemedia Inc. 2424 S. 2570 W. Salt Lake City, Utah 84119 (801) 972-5900 {ihnp4,decvax,seismo!ut-sally}!utah-cs!utah-gr!uplherc!sp7040!laird!jsm Gateway BBS (801) 562-1587 running STadel 3.1g 300/1200/2400/19200 (Telebit Trailblazer) 24 hours 106 Meg