      -----------------------------------------------------------------
      STACKER NOTE                                         STACKER NOTE
                    TUNING STACKER 4.0 FOR MAXIMUM SPEED
                          (Applies to Stacker 4.0)
      STAC FAX  4509 (11-29-1994)
      -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                      
      BACKGROUND
      
      Stacker 4.0's SmartPack provides the best real-time disk
      compression available.  When you create a new Stacker drive, or
      convert a Stacker drive from a previous version, you are taking
      advantage of  SmartPack. This method trades off speed for the
      best compression. The Stacker Toolbox provides the ability for
      you to tune your computer for fastest speed vs. best compression.
      It also provides a tool, the Optimizer, that allows you
      periodically recompress your drive. These two tools provide a
      great deal of flexibility in tuning your computer for the best
      overall performance.
      
      SOLUTION
      
         - Determine your requirements for speed vs. compression.
         - Make selections from the Stacker Toolbox to meet your
           requirements.
         - Other Speed issues
           
      Determine your requirements for speed vs. compression
      
      You must decide whether you wish to use the Stacker Toolbox to
      tune your computer for maximum speed or maximum compression based
      on your system's overall performance and your need for disk
      space. Stacker provides the flexibility to make use of maximum
      speed during day-to-day operations, while periodically optimizing
      your drive to get the best compression. Utilizing this strategy
      you would use the Stacker Toolbox to select MaxSpeed. But you
      would also regularly use the Optimize tool to recompress your
      drive selecting the MaxSpace option.
      
      Make selections from the Stacker Toolbox to meet your
      requirements
      
      From Windows:
      
       1.  Open the Stacker Toolbox and click on the "tune" button.
       2.  Select the speed setting you desire. Select MaxSpeed for the
           fastest performance.
       3.  When Optimizing your Stacker drive, click on the Optimize
           button in the Stacker Toolbox.
       4.  Select the optimization method you desire. To get the best
           compression select Full-MaxSpace.
           
           
           
      From DOS:
      
       1.  Type STAC at the DOS prompt.
       2.  Select Stacker Tuner from the menu.
       3.  Select the speed setting you desire. "Fastest speed and
           standard compression" is the equivalent of MaxSpeed in
           Windows.
       4.  When Optimizing the drive, select Stacker Optimizer from the
           main menu.
       5.  Select the compression method desired. "Full-MaxSpace" gives
           you the best compression.
           
      Remember that you only need to set the Tuner one time. Your
      computer will operate at that speed setting from then on, unless
      you change the setting. You should periodically run the Stacker
      Optimizer when your fragmentation level gets too high, or you
      wish to recompress the drive for best compression.
      
      Other Speed issues
      
      Other things that affect system speed are the settings of your
      disk cache and setting up a Windows Permanent Swap File (WPSF).
      
       1.  Most disk caches have the flexibility to change the amount
           of memory they are devoting to the cache. For example, you
           can set the amount of memory DOS' SMARTDRV will use in both
           DOS and Windows. If you are using SMARTDRV, its load line
           may look like this in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
           C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV  /X 2048 2048
           The first 2048 indicates the cache size in DOS. The second
           indicates the cache size in Windows. By experimenting with
           these parameters you may be able to increase your system's
           apparent speed. See your disk cache's documentation for
           details.
       2.  If you have Windows for Workgroups (WFWG) 3.11, you may use
           the new Stacker driver that allows the use of 32 Bit File
           Access (32BFA). See StacFax 4201 for details. If you  have
           updated the driver and chosen to enable 32BFA after updating
           the driver, ensure that you do not reset the SMARTDRV cache
           manually. 32BFA is essentially a cache called VCACHE. When
           run, it automatically reduces the SMARTDRV cache for
           Windows, as it is no longer required. If you manually grow
           the SMARTDRV cache for Windows you will be wasting system
           resources.
       3.  Set up a WPSF using either the 386 Enhanced icon or Virtual
           Memory icon in the Control Panel. See your Windows
           documentation for recommended sizes for the WPSF. StacFax
           4202 has additional information concerning Stacker and swap
           files.
      -----------------------------------------------------------------
      Copyright 1994 Stac Electronics
