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From: jmonroy@netcom.com (Jesus Monroy Jr)
Subject: Proposal for Diskette Information Interchange
Message-ID: <jmonroyCprpLo.MCD@netcom.com>
Keywords: diskette interchange method OS file system
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Sat, 14 May 1994 01:03:23 GMT
Lines: 149
Proposal for Diskette Information Interchange
_____________________________________________
author: jmonroy@netcom.com
date: 05-11-1994
Introduction
____________
As will be noted, I started working on this idea
several months ago (ok, a year ago). None the less, the
time has come to discuss this. It will be needed, as a
standardized method of distribution of floppy diskettes
is not yet available. Some will argue that the MS-DOS
format is conducive. However, because the bad-sector
marking method is so file-system specific, it really is
not transportable. To add to this, I am not saying that
there is not a standard method; there is just not a
"standardized method". It can also be said that each
working OS group has it's own "boot methodology". This,
again, is not always conducive.
The Proposal
____________
The proposal is that all Public Domain (or freely
available) Operating Systems use this method (or one like it)
to store data on bootable floppy diskettes. I have left the
proposal as meager as possible, so that there be no complex
issues. I have also limited the incorporation of the format
to high density diskettes; those with more than 15 (or more)
sectors per track.
Prerequisites
____________
1) Diskettes are intended for IBM PC/AT type machines,
sometimes referred to as "MS-DOS machines" or "PC's".
2) Diskettes must be of the high density variety. Namely
the 1.2 MB (MegaByte) or the 1.44 MB diskettes.
3) Higher density diskettes are also included, 2.88 and
20 MB.
4) Other "machine-types" may be included if there is
found a method for easy media/information-exchange.
General diskette format
_______________________
started: 22:55:04 Sun 04-11-1993
presented: 13:25:05 Wed 05-11-1994 by jmonroy@netcom.com
BOOT DISK ONLY
______________
TRACK ZERO
| sector 1-3 | sector 4 & 5 | sector 6-15 |
---------------------------------------------------------
| IBM/MS-DOS compatible | bad-sector map| reserved |
---------------------------------------------------------
TRACK remaining
| sector remaining |
---------------------------------------------------------
| use as needed |
---------------------------------------------------------
IBM/MS-DOS compatible
_____________________
TRACK ZERO sector 1-3
bad sector map
______________
TRACK ZERO sector 4-5
byte-map = 8 bits
1 bit = 1 sector representation.
So, 8 sectors per byte-map (or 4096 bytes per byte-map)
or, 2048 sectors per 256 byte-map (or 1 megabyte per 256 byte-map)
or, 40960 sectors per 5120 byte-map (or 20 megabytes per 5120 byte-map)
BTW, a 5120 byte-map is 10 sectors, on the floppy, which would
be for the new 20meg diskettes.
reserved
________
TRACK ZERO sector 4-5
A "bad-sector" map area for 20 meg diskettes.
These disk drives are scsi and have their own format to
by pass bad sector problems. In either case, reserving track
zero make it compatible with IBM/MS-DOS.
notes
_____
The question may arise, Can we boot from a tape?
Without getting complicated, no. The best solution,
for the present, is to boot from diskette, load from diskette,
then "option to load" from:
1) more diskettes
2) ethernet/token ring (whatever network device)
3) communication port
4) SCSI tape
5) QIC-40/80 tape
6) CD-ROM
7) etc. (whatever the option, NFS, e-mail, etc.)
___________________________________________________________________________
Jesus Monroy Jr jmonroy@netcom.com
Zebra Research
/386BSD/device-drivers /fd /qic /clock /documentation
___________________________________________________________________________
--
Jesus Monroy Jr jmonroy@netcom.com
Zebra Research
/386BSD/device-drivers /fd /qic /clock /documentation
___________________________________________________________________________