MountDOS v1.12 Technical Guide
Midnight Technologies Corp.

(C) Midnight Technologies Corp. 1994,1995
NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.

Table of Contents
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 Product Overview
 MountDOS Installation
 MountDOS Usage
 Support & Warranty
 Registration
 Contacting Midnight Technologies Corp.

Product Overview
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MountDOS is an nlm that allows the mounting of DOS partitions as netware volume.
It is meant to be used as an administrative tool for the DOS partitions on the
server.

MountDOS has several uses which include the following:
	1. Remote updating of Netware software residing on the DOS partition.
		1. Ability to standardize volume name for dos partition
		2. Remote updating of software as a script or.
	2. viewing of software dates and times on the dos partition
	3. use of otherwise inaccessible disk space
	4. ability to edit STARTUP.NCF, CONFIG.SYS, etc for remote restarting
	   of server.
	5. Backup of DOS partition with popular NetWare backup solutions.


MountDOS supports all standard dos client functions on files/directories.
	1. dir - list file date and times in current directory
	2. write - programs may open files and write 
	3. read - reading of any files 
	4. mkdir - make a directory on the dos partition
	5. rmdir - remove directory on the dos partition
	6. cd  - change current working directory
	7. copy- files may be copied to and from the dos partition
	NDIR, NCOPY, VOLINFO, FILER, are supported

MountDOS loads as an nlm and scans the media manager partitions that are
available.  It then retains the paritions that are valid dos type
partitions and allows them to be mounted as Netware volumes.

DOS versions supported:
	This version will support any dos partition block less than or equal
	to 4K.  Most DOS partitions under 500Meg will have a smaller than 4K
	block size.  If MountDOS loads and reports that it cannot mount a
	Partition because of the block size, the partition can be reduced in
	size to mount it with MountDOS.
	Although this version does not support these larger block
	sizes future versions will.  The nlm will scan and automatically report
	that the block size exceeds the supported size.  Only dos partitions
	larger than 100Meg will have these larger block sizes.  If the dos
	partition is reduced in size the block size will also reduce in size.
	Current MountDOS does not support mounting compressed DOS 
	partitions.  Current MountDOS will not mount floppy drives.

NetWare versions supported:
	MountDOS uses the NetWare 4.10 media manager interface to directly
	access the partition.  This improves speed and allows for better caching
	algorithms and write behind enhancements.  Unfortunately it's depedence
	on the media manager makes it impossible to run on other versions of 
	NetWare.  MountDOS supports other NLMS that read and write the DOS 
	partition.  If an NLM writes to the DOS parition MountDOS will rescan and
	reload critical information maintaining a current and correct representation
	of the files/directories on the mounted partition.

Features:
	- Uses Netware cache.  Reads are first accessed in cache. Writes are
	  written to cache and then cache is synchronized with the DOS partition.
	- Compatible with other NLMS that modify / read the DOS partition.
	- Supports 12/16 bit fats and block sizes up to 4K
	- Mount multiple dos partitions each with its own netware volume name.
	- File locking to prevent simultaneous updating
	- Tight security restricting access to only names given by admin.
	- Ability to create delete directories/files.  read/write files in
	  any directory on disk.

Future enhancements:
	- Mount floppy drives as netware volumes
	- Mount compressed partitions as netware volumes
	- NWSNUT managment interface for statistics/ open files/
	  managing partitions

MountDOS Installation
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Install MountDOS only on NetWare 4.1 servers.  The NetWare 4.1 media manager is prerequisite to the function of MOUNTDOS.NLM.
 
The file size of MOUNTDOS.NLM is 59,414 bytes in this release.  The amount of 
memory used on the NetWare server is dependent on the size of the DOS partition.  
However, the memory used is minimal.  

Each copy of MOUNTDOS.NLM is licensed to one server and should be copied to 
the SYS:SYSTEM directory of that server for easiest loading.  If you desire, 
you can create a subdirectory for the NLM and copy the file to that 
directory.  For ease of loading it is then recommended to add that directory 
to the search path of the server.  For example, if the file were copied into 
the SYS:SYSTEM\MOUNTDOS directory, add the statement 
SEARCH ADD SYS:SYSTEM\MOUNTDOS to the AUTOEXEC.NCF file for that server.

MountDOS Usage
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
After MountDOS loads its commands can be accessed via the Netware colon
prompt.  The commands for MountDOS are:

	1. DHELP:  show list of all available commands and functions
	2. DMOUNT <drive> <volume name> : mount dos drive letter as a netware partition
	3. DLIST: list all drives that are available for mounting
	4. DALIST: list all users allowed access to the dos mounted drive.
	5. DACCESS: add user to list of users allowed to mount drive.

If any real mode operations are done to the dos partition via the INWDos
calls the cache will be invalidated for that corresponding netware volume
this means that any new files/directories will be available through MountDOS.

After loading and scanning the available eligible dos partitions MountDOS will
allow any of these partitions to be mounted.  To get a list of these
partitions type "DLIST" at the colon prompt;

The list of drives will appear.  Initially the free blocks will be 0 but
after the partition is mounted the free blocks will be calculated.

To Mount a drive as a netware volume type "DMOUNT <drive> <volume name>"
a checking of the drive will be done and if all there are no problems with
the internal data structures on the dos partition the volume will be mounted

MountDOS will print an error message if there is any problem with the DOS
partition.  The best thing to do if there is a problem is to down the
server and run "chkdsk /f" or "scandisk".

While MountDOS is scanning for partitions it may print an error message. This is
due to netware partition having the same identifiers as a dos partition except
the internal structures differ from a dos partition.

Access to these DOS partitions that have been mounted is controlled by the
DACCESS command.  Initially ADMIN and SUPERVISOR have access granted to them
and other people have access given to them explicitly by this command:
"DACCESS <username>" once a user needs to be given access each time the
server is booted.

LOCKing:
	each file is locked upon opening and noone else is allowed to open the
	file until the lock is released.  The lock is released when the file
	is closed.

Drive Letters:
	MountDOS will scan in physicall sequential order the DOS partitions on
	the hard disk and assign letters to each of these partitions starting 
	with C: and moving up each letter.  These may or may not be the same 
	as if the machine was booted with just DOS ( due to various drivers,
	compression support etc. that switches drive letters ).

Note:  The shareware version of MountDOS will has a limited use policy.
The software will be disabled after an initial period of time.  It will then
be necessary to register with Midnight Technologies Corp. to purchase the 
software.  We hope this inconvenience will encourage you to register your 
software.

Support & Warranty
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Midnight Technologies prides itself on the quality of our software.  We take 
great strides to develop, test, and support our products.  If you have a suggestion
on how we may improve our software, please contact us by mail or e-mail.  We will
make every effort to ensure your satisfaction.

If you are not completely satisfied with our products and services, we offer a 
full refund within 30 days of your purchase.

Registration
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The software life is limited; register as soon as possible.

Pricing for the NLM is as follows:
    US$69.95 per Server
    US$3,295.00 Multi-Server license (50-99 servers)
    US$5,995.00 Site Licence (100+ servers)

To license our software, fill out the accompanying form,
FORM.TXT, and Mail or E-Mail it to Midnight Technologies.

Contacting Midnight Technologies Corp.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Our electronic mail addresses are:
	CompuServe:     76451,1527
	Internet:       76451.1572@Compuserve.COM

You may also contact us using our address:
      Midnight Technologies Corp.
      1158 East 11740 South
      Sandy, UT  84094-7437
