Category : Network Files
Archive   : TOP_NET.ZIP
Filename : README.352

TOP-NET Local Area Network

For

IBM Personal Computers


Release Notes For Version 3.52

Jun. 25, 1988

GRAND COMPUTER CORPORATION


.pa

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES in This Release versus Earlier Version 3.3x and 3.4x.


* Version 3.5 supports multiple servers. (For A+ and E+ II, not for I+)

* The server station(s) sharable hard disks or RAM disks increased
from two to four (C: , D: , E: , and F:).

* User group applications had been re-defined.

* Eliminated conflictions between network interrupt and compiled
BASIC programs(ie. INT 3F is changed to INT 7AH).

* "LASTDRIVE =" command on the REMOTE's config.sys file can be up to "I".

* Detailed discrepencies from release 3.40 manual are listed below.


1) TOPSHARE.EXE

When you upgrade your system to use version 3.5 software from versions
3.4x or earlier, you HAVE TO GO THROUGH INITIALIZATION procedures again.
That is to input your superuser, shared resources, and user accounts again.
If you decide to use more than one server in the system, you need to do the
initialization procedures as you have done on the first server station.
Also additional server stations are subject to the same requirements as your
first server, i.e. hard disk, enough memory, and CONFIG.SYS file. With this
multi-server function, you can start the system from any server station.
Then at the other server stations, you can choose it to be a server by
"topnetf" or a user station by "topnetr".

2) TOPSPOOL.EXE

For sharing the printer(s), the spooling work now has been assigned to
the server station. Therefore, the user who requests a printer and the printer
that to be requested have to log on to the same server station.

A new TopSpool option is supported from TOP-NET version 3.50 :

"Set TopSpool Priority"

This is designed for sharing Laser printers or high capacity buffer's printers.
The command format for setting TopSpool Priority is :

C> topspool /t h ; set TopSpool Priority to High
C> topspool /t n ; set TopSpool Priority to normal

To let a PRINTER SERVER more fast, we suggest you set TopSpool priority to
HIGH on that PRINTER SERVER and let that PRINTER SERVER on the DOS prompt.


3) CHANGE OF USER GROUPS AND FILE ATTRIBUTES

We have consolidated user groups from 50 group levels into 8 groups. The
new group numbers are 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,and 7. A user can belong to one or more
groups, and the superuser(s) belong to all groups by default. The new file
attributes consist of 8 group read/write permissions and a file owner number.
(Please see TOPSTAT ttribute function from server station or TOPATTR from
user stations). For example, a file named TESTDATA.LAB has such attributes :
rwr-r-rwrw----r- 005; which means this file has read/write permissions to
group number 0,3,and 4; read-only permissions to group number 1,2,and 7; and
denied access to group number 5 and 6. Only the superuser and the file owner,
which is user number 5, have the right to change file attributes for this file.
The group assignment is still done at superuser's User Account Maintenance.


4) Enable/Disable File Server's read/write protection attributes.

From version 3.50, the TOPPRO can be used to enable or disable File
Server's Read/Write protection attributes. If you activate File Server with
Read/Write protection attributes DISABLED, this will have better
performence of File Server but all TOP-NET's Read/Write protection
attributes and LOCK/UNLOCK commands are become meaningless. (But DOS SHARE
Record lock function still keep in effective.)

*****************************************
* CONFIG.SYS file for the File Server *
*****************************************

For the File Server, the new suggested value in the FILES= command on
the CONFIG.SYS file is 255. Please refer to page 3-4 of the Top-Net
Operation Manual, and create your CONFIG.SYS file for the File Server
to contain at least following two command lines:

BUFFERS = x
FILES = 255

The value for the BUFFERS command should be NO LESS than 40. The
suggested value 255 is the maximum number of file handles that the File
Server allows to be concurrently opened by all Remote stations.

Please refer to the IBM DOS 3.1 Reference Manual page 4-7 and 4-22
respectively for the BUFFERS and FILES commands.


*********************************************
* CONFIG.SYS file for all Remote Stations *
*********************************************

The LASTDRIVE command within the CONFIG.SYS file can be set to 'I'.

Although we recommand the number of files to be opened is 20, the real
limitation at remote station is 150 files. Due to the limitation at server
station file handle can not be greater than 255 files, we hope that you may
keep total files to be opened under a single server to be lower than 255 files.
On this Version 3.50, you MUST MAKE SURE YOUR "FILES =" COMMAND ON THE
CONFIG.SYS FILE IS LESS THAN 150 for all Remote stations.


***************************************
* AUTOEXEC.BAT file for File Server *
***************************************

From version 3.50, the start-up routine has eliminated many prompts than earlier
versions. The AUTOEXEC.BAT can be greatly simplified as :

topnetf UUU PPP

Where UUU is the superuser's name, and PPP is the password.


***********************************
* AUTOEXEC.BAT file for Remotes *
***********************************

For version 3.42 and earlier, the TOPNETR.EXE would prompt following
message when you logon to the network :

>USERNAME please :
>PASSWORD please :

From version 3.50 and onward, another prompt will be displayed and ask
the user to enter the File Server' station address. This will enable
multiple File Servers can be actived on the TOP-NET.

An example of AUTOEXEC.BAT file for the workstation as following :

topnetr UUU PPP N

Where UUU is the user's username, PPP is the password and N for
the File Server's station address.


*********************************
* TOPPRINT.COM & PRNSHARE.EXE *
*********************************

Since these two utilities are no longer supported as from version 3.40,
please ensure to delete from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file the TOPPRINT command
if it was set therein for execution of the earlier versions. Also, in
lieu of the PRNSHARE.EXE, now please use following new commands for
printer sharing function:

New Old command now obsolete
------------------ -------------------------
TOPSPOOL /S ON PRNSHARE ON
TOPSPOOL /S OFF PRNSHARE OFF


************************************************
* Very Important Notes for All Top-Net Users *
************************************************

When using some "single-user" packages (e.g., WordStar 2000, PE2...) on
the Top-Net, you must pay close attention to the problem of conflicts
caused by temporary file names.

For instance: When editing any existing file in WordStar 2000 on a
Remote Computer, at least four temporary files will be created on the
File Server's hard disk. These are called OUTPUT.$$A, GOBACK.$$A,
BLOCK.$$$, and DELETE.$$$. There will be a problem if another Remote
user is also running this same package from File Server and working on
the same subdirectory as you are. These temporary files created by you
and another Remote user will have the same names. To avoid this, you
must work on a different subdirectory.

*********************************
* Limitation on using TOP-NET *
*********************************

In the following situations, the File Server will stop serving the
network for Remote stations.

1. Using DOS "TYPE" command on the File Server to display text file and
press the S or keys to hold the display.
2. Using DOS "COPY CON file" command on the File server to create a file.
3. The re-direction for keyboard and display are not supported on this
version.

***********************************
* MS-DOS 3.2 Utility APPEND.COM *
***********************************

Due to internal programming conflicts, the MS-DOS 3.2 APPEND.COM is not
supported on the File Server. PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL it ON THE FILE
SERVER. This utility is, however, still supported on the Remote
stations.


*****************
* TOPMAIL.EXE *
*****************

When you SEND a mail to "ALL" users, it does not function properly.
This internal bug will be resolved on version 4.0.

*****************
* TOPTERM.EXE *
*****************

This optional utility is not supported on the current version of the
Top-Net diskette. However, an enhenced version will be ready when
version 4.0 is released.

************************
* TOPSPOOL vs TOPMAP *
************************

Either one of these functions may change the printer selection. However, it is
recommanded to use TOPSPOOL for printer selections, for it will give you more
options on the printer or printing functions you will need.

***************************************************
* Monitor Compatibility for TOPLOOK and TOPSHOW *
***************************************************

On CGA and EGA monitors, the TopLook and TopShow functions are now fully
compatible in both Text and Graphics modes.

Text-only screen transfers can be made even when different PC's in the
network are running different monitor systems (e.g., one system running
CGA, another running EGA and a third one Hercules).

For Graphics screen transfers, all systems involved in the screen
transfer must operate under the same monitor system.

************************************
* Automatic Time & Date Download *
************************************

When you log your remote station onto Top-Net network system, the TIME
and DATE from the file server is automatically downloaded into the
station. Thanks to this convenient feature, a remote station is still
able to have the network synchronized time-and-date function even
without having being equipped with its own real-time clock.



FOLLOWING NOTES are FOR SYSTEM PROGRAMMERS:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*********************
* INT 1C Problems *
*********************

Some software packages, such as GWBASIC ver 2.02 or earlier, force the
INT 1C (timer interrupt) function to stop. Running such softwares on the
File Server will cause the File Server to stop to serving all Remotes.
Running them on a Remote will cause that Remote to loose the ability to
respond to the TOPLOOK, TOPTALK, TOPSEND, TOPTERM, and TOPSHOW functions.

******************
* LOGON Status *
******************

For system programmers who desire to confirm that a station has properly
logged onto the network, the system will now return a code at the AL
register:

0 = Logon OK 1 = Logon Error

Please refer to the DOS function 4CH & 31H for DOS batch file
applications using this return code.


****************
* HANDLE.COM *
****************

This program lets system manager to monitor up to 20 stations open file status.
Each station will display up to 20 files being opened.






-- -- END -- --