March 10th 1997 Mirror Sites ![]() Download the Software Network Card Drivers ![]() Features User's Guide Help ![]() Search Distribution Rights Listserv Shareware Links ![]() Order the Software Help Us Promote NetSoft LAN Dealer Enquires Welcome Home Page | http://www.netsoft.ie/ CHAPTER 9 Extended Network Filing SystemThe Extended Network Filing System supplied with NetSoft LAN may be required on large networks or networks that run application software that open large numbers of files. Because DOS has a limit of 255 open files at any given time, you may be able to run your application software on only two or three machines at once. With the NetSoft LAN Extended Network Filing System, you can open up to 10,000 files on any server. This allows you to run your application software on all of your client machines, without the limitations normally imposed by DOS. The Extended Network Filing System provides the following services: Extends the maximum number of open files from 255 to 10,000 on any server. Provides advanced file-management features. Provides file-status report and the ability to close orphaned files. Allocating DOS FilesTo allocate files for DOS, you must change the FILES= parameter in the CONFIG.SYS file to the maximum number of files you require. DOS is limited from 8 through 255 files.On a NetSoft LAN server, client users share the files allocated by DOS if the extended network filing system program (NETFILES.COM) is not loaded. If you require more than 255 files on a particular server machine, then you must load the NETFILES.COM program on the server machine. To do this, type the following at the DOS command line: cd\dosnet netfiles You may also include the network files command in your NETSTART.BAT file. The NETFILES.COM program may only be loaded on a server configuration. Allocating Network FilesTo specify the number of files you require when using the NETFILES.COM program, you must change the NetFiles= parameter in the DOSNET.INI file, under the heading [Setup].The NetFiles= parameter serves two purposes, as explained below: If you are using the NETFILES.COM program, the NetFiles= parameter specifies the maximum number of files allocated to client users (up to a limit of 10,000). The files allocated by DOS in the server's CONFIG.SYS file can only be used by local applications on the server. If you are not using the NETFILES.COM program, the NetFiles= parameter sets the maximum number of files that can be used by client users (up to a limit of 255). These files are allocated by DOS in the server's CONFIG.SYS file. Each file allocated requires approximately 60 bytes of memory. This means that allocating 500 files on a server machine (for network client users) will require approximately 30k of memory on the server machine. The Network Files MenuThe Extended Network Filing System's menu is accessed through the DOS-NET Main Menu by using the network pop-up keys. These are normally CTRL+ALT+Right Shift keys.From the DOS-NET Main Menu, select Network Files. The menu options are only available if the popup= parameter in the DOSNET.INI file is set to 1. If this parameter is set to 0, the additional program code for the menus will not be loaded. The DOS-NET files menu![]() The file statistics menuThe File Statistics menu is split into two groups. Each group consists of three categories:The first shows the number of files allocated for client users (network files). The second shows the number of files allocated by DOS as private local files. The third shows the number of file control blocks (FCB's) allocated by DOS for local use.
You may use this information to allocate the appropriate number of files on your server, in order to avoid wasting memory, by allocating too many. Viewing network and private files![]()
View Private Files displays the server's local files. View Network Files displays client files open on the server. View DOS FCB Files displays the server's local FCB files. NOTE DOS converts all file control blocks (FCB's) to file handles internally. This allows DOS and NetSoft LAN to manage all files as file handles. Viewing the file listYou can view all of the files open in any of the three categories by selecting a particular category. The information is displayed in the format shown below:![]()
For each file shown in the File List, the following information is displayed: The filename or device name. The file's current size. The file's date and time of creation, or last modification. The client machine's node number. The files owner's PSP. This is the address of the Program Segment Prefix of the program which opened the file. Viewing file detailsYou can zoom in on a particular file for more detailed information, by selecting that file, and by pressing the Enter key, as shown below:![]()
Shows the file's date, time, file attribute, size and physical location. Shows how the file is being used. This includes the file's open mode, whether or not the file is shared, whether file has been modified and if the file is locked. Shows the program name and machine name that opened the file. The Status check gives you the real time status of the particular file (whether it is in use, or orphaned). Gives advice on whether or not the file should be closed. Closing orphaned filesThe Close option allows you to close Network Files from a server. This should only be used for orphaned files that you are advised to close.To close a file on the server, simply select the file followed by the Close option. The file will then be closed. You cannot close Private Files or FCB Files, as these are local. To close local files, you should exit the application using the application's facility to exit or quit. This action will close all local files and file control blocks. Viewing the physical file locationSelecting the Locate option from the File Details menu shows detailed information on the location of a particular file.The information shown here may change to reflect the real time status of the file. For example, if a client machine starts to load a very large file and you select the Locate option, you can watch the file being loaded from disk in real time.
[Table of Contents] [Home Page] | |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |