Orange Micro CRT Television 4GS User Manual

 
COPYRIGHTS WARNING  
Orange Micro Inc. reserves all rights in all software,  
including the utilities disk of the RamPak 4GS, and in  
the Operators Manual. Any infringement of those  
copyrights will be prosecuted to the fullest extent  
allowed by the law.  
(German)  
URHEBERRECHTLICHER HINWEIS  
Orange Micro Inc. behalt sich alle Rechte hinsichtlich der  
Software vor, einschlie Blich der Dienstprogramm-  
Diskette des RamPak4GS, sowie der im  
Bedienungshandbuch beschriebenen Software.  
Jegliche Verletzungen des diesbez~glichen  
Urheberrechtes (Copyright) werden im vollen AusmaB  
der anwendbaren Gesetze gerichtlich verfolgt.  
(French)  
AVIS  
Orange Micro Inc. se reserve tous les droits de logiciel,  
y compris ceux portant sur le disque utilitaire du RamPak  
4GS ainsi que le Manuel d’utilisation du systeme. Toute  
violation de ces copyrights fera l’objet dune poursuite  
judiciaire dans toute Ia mesure autoris6e par Ia Ioi.  
(Spanish)  
ADVERTENCIA  
Orange Micro Inc. se reserva todos los derechos de  
software, incluyendo los del disco utilitario RamPak 4GS  
y los del Manual del Operador. Cualquier violaci6n de  
estos derechos de autor sera procesada judicialmente  
en toda Ia medida permitida por Ia ley.  
Trademarks  
Apple IIGS is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc.  
 
RamPak 4GS  
OPERATOR’S MANUAL  
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
INTRODUCTION  
2
2
2
What’s in the Box  
Two Levels of RamPak Operation  
INSTALLATION OF THE RAMPAK INTO  
THE APPLE IIGS  
3
5
Installation Test  
INSTALLING RAM CHIPS IN THE  
RAMPAK 4GS  
5
8
RAMPAK MEMORY MANAGEMENT  
UTILITIES OVERVIEW  
INSTALLATION OF THE MEMORY  
MANAGEMENT UTILITIES  
8
9
10  
Installation on a ProDOS 16 System Disk  
Installation on a ProDOS 8 System Disk  
STARTUP PROCEDURES USING SYSTEM  
DISKS WITH RAMPAK UTILITIES  
INSTALLED  
10  
How to use Pull-Down Menus  
The Apple Menu  
The File Menu  
The Diagnostics Menu  
The Settings Menu  
The Concept of Caching  
The Concept of Statistics  
Manual Cache Allocation  
Dynamic Cache Allocation  
Statistics  
11  
12  
12  
13  
14  
14  
16  
16  
17  
18  
18  
Abort Caches  
APPENDIX A: TROUBLESHOOTING  
19  
APPENDIX B: RAMPAK 4GS POWER  
CONSUMPTION  
20  
20  
APPENDIX C: BITS AND BYTES  
APPENDIX D: SPECIFICATIONS OF  
RAM EXPANSION CHIPS  
21  
21  
23  
APPENDIX E: GLOSSARY  
LIMITED WARRANTY  
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INTRODUCTION  
Congratulations! You have purchased one of the  
most powerful memory sub-systems ever developed for  
a microcomputer. With a full half-megabyte of memory  
standard, you will immediately expand your Apple IIGS to  
three-quarters of a megabyte  
--  
more fully addressable  
memory than ever before available on an Apple II. By  
adding additional chips, you can expand your RamPak  
4GS to 4 megabytes, for computing power previously  
beyond imagination. The RamPak 4GS is designed to  
work only with the Apple IIGS, and not the Apple lIe, IIc,  
or any other microcomputer system.  
The RamPak 4GS also includes powerful software  
memory management utilities to help manage your  
system. The RamPak utilities disk provides complete  
memory diagnostics, disk caching, and dynamic cache  
allocation. These features can be used to multiply your  
system’s performance level many times over.  
Acknowledgements  
The RamPak Utilities Disk was written by Dan Hickey.  
This RamPak 4GS Operator’s Manual was composed and  
produced with Ragtime Page Processing Software.  
What's in the Box  
Before starting the installation procedure, make sure  
you have everything. Your RamPak 4GS package  
should contain the following:  
• 1 RamPak 4GS board with 512K installed  
• 1 RamPak Utilities Disk (3.5’)  
If anything is missing, contact your dealer immediately.  
No other hardware is required, except, of course, the  
Apple IIGS itself.  
Two Levels of RAMPAK 4GS Operation  
As has already been mentioned, the RamPak 4GS  
offers both memory expansion and memory  
management for the Apple IIGS. Memory is expanded  
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automatically when the RamPak 4GS is properly installed  
in your Apple. Your computer knows to look for available  
memory every time you turn it on, so the RamPak's  
expansion benefits are immediately realized. Memory  
management is up to you. It is accomplished through  
use of the RamPak system utilities, which may be  
implemented at any time once the RamPak 4GS is  
installed. This manual is structured along these  
guidelines, beginning with the procedure to install and  
expand the RamPak card, then continuing with the  
proper installation and use of the utilities software. This  
will enable you to experience the advantages of an  
expanded system immediately, and to take advantage of  
efficient memory management as you wish.  
INSTALLATION OF THE RAMPAK INTO  
THE APPLE IIGS  
This section will instruct you how to physically install  
the RamPak 4GS in your Apple IIGS. Once this is  
completed, your Apple’s internal addressable memory  
will be increased by the amount of RAM present on the  
RamPak 4GS. As both the Apple IIGS and the RamPak  
4GS implement automatic memory configuration, no  
resetting of switches or jumpers will be required to  
recognize memory additions. Your system is smart  
enough to use whatever memory configuration you  
install.  
Installing the RamPak 4GS requires no additional  
hardware. Simply clear a modest area around your Apple  
IIGS, and remove the monitor and any other  
devices from the top of the CPU.  
1.  
TURN OFF ALL POWER TO THE APPLE  
I I G S S Y S T E M A N D U N P L U G C O R D S .  
F A I L U R E T O D O S O M A Y R E S U L T I N  
S E V E R E D A M A G E T O Y O U R C O M P U T E R ,  
THE RAMPAK 4GS, OR BOTH.  
2. Remove the cover from the Apple IIGS. Refer to your  
Apple manual for assistance if necessary. Be careful  
not to force any parts, as you may break your  
machine.  
 
3
3. Touch the power supply of the Apple IIGS before  
handling the RamPak 4GS. Static charges may  
damage your RAM or other delicate electronic parts.  
4. If you have purchased additional RAM for the Ram  
Pak, this must be installed before the RamPak is  
installed in your Apple. Turn ahead to ‘Installing RAM  
Chips in the RamPak 4GS on page 5, follow the  
instructions, and return to step 5 below.  
5. Locate the memory expansion slot. You will notice  
that the IIGS contains a row of seven expansion slots,  
with an eighth slot set out-of-line at the far right front  
of the machine. This eighth slot is the memory  
expansion slot to be used by the RamPak 4GS.  
MEMORY EXPANSION SLOT  
6. The Ram Pak 4GS must be installed with the sloped  
end of the card nearest the front of the IIGS. (The  
card is designed with a slope for users who have  
upgraded from an Apple lIe, retaining their original  
system enclosure). With the card so positioned,  
place the ‘RamPak 4GS directly into the memory  
expansion slot and press down with a firm rocking  
motion. Continue until the card is firmly seated.  
7. Replace the Apple IIGS cover.  
8. Re-attach any disconnected power and peripherals.  
 
4
By following this procedure you will have properly  
installed the RamPak 4GS, and any software designed to  
use higher RAM levels will now automatically take  
advantage of your powerful new system.  
Installation Test  
To be sure the RamPak 4GS is functioning properly,  
run the following short test:  
1. With all drives empty, turn on the Apple IIGS. Press  
CTRL-RESET after the start-up cycle to generate a  
cursor.  
2. When the cursor appears press CTRL- -ESC  
(pressing all three keys together and releasing CTRL  
last) to open the IIGS Desk Accessory menu. Select  
Control Panel with the up and down arrow keys and  
press RETURN.  
3. Select RAM DISK with the up and down arrow keys  
and press return. The screen will now display the  
available system memory andtheamount available for  
the RAM disk. Your IIGS will not use its 256K internal  
RAM for the RAM disk, thus the difference. If  
installation has been successful and no other  
software is currently loaded, the number shown as  
available for the RAM disk should be that of your  
RamPak 4GS memory level.  
4. Exit from Desk Accessories by selecting QUIT from  
any visible menu and pressing RETURN.  
INSTALLING RAM CHIPS IN THE  
RAMPAK 4GS  
Your RamPak 4GS comes standard with 512K of  
system memory installed at Orange Micro. While this is  
more than enough power to run most applications, you  
may have a requirement for larger amounts of RAM, or for  
performance reasons you may wish to load several  
programs orlarge spreadsheets into memory at the same  
time. Additionally, many innovative new applications  
implementing integrated graphics are available or under  
5
 
development which require large amounts of memory to  
load and run. For these situations, the RamPak 4GS  
provides expansion capability to 4Mb.  
Your RamPak 4GS has been specifically designed for  
use with 256K x 4 DRAM chips. This allows you to  
expand at a rate of 2 chips (or 256K) at a time, as  
opposed to the 8 chip minimum expansion required by  
other available products. When purchasing your  
expansion chips, specify: 256K x 4, one megabit  
DRAMS,  
150  
nanosecond  
(or  
faster),  
or  
purchase your RAM expansion kits directly from Orange  
Micro. If it seems odd that 8 one meg’ chips are  
needed to add one meg’ of RAM to the system, refer to  
APPENDIX C, which offers a brief discussion of bits and  
bytes. Precise specifications of the RAM chips needed  
to expand the memory of your RamPak are found in  
APPENDIX D.  
To expand your RamPak, you must first remove it  
from the Apple IIGS.  
Be sure to disconnect the power from the  
Apple IIGS, since removing boards with  
power on can severely damage your  
equipment. Be sure to touch the power  
supply to discharge any accumulated static  
electricity.  
Next, remove the cover from the IIGS. Locate the  
RamPak 4GS at the far right of the machine. Lifting  
upward with a gentle rocking motion, remove the  
RamPak 4GS from the Apple.  
The RamPak expands in segments called BANKS.  
Each bank holds up to 1 megabyte when completed, so  
your first bank is already half full. If you examine the  
board you will see that the individual BANKS are clearly  
identified, zero through 3, along the right edge of the  
socket field. Each individual ROW of sockets is  
identified, A through G, along the left edge of the  
sockets. Each socket is also clearly marked in ascending  
order, Ul through U4, along the top of the socket field.  
Memory expansion must take place in the order  
specified by the markings on the board. You must first  
complete BANK 0, beginning with sockets 1 & 2 and  
6
 
ending with sockets 3 & 4, all of which are located in row  
A. You may then continue to BANK 1, row B, where the  
first chips will be installed in sockets 1 and 2. This right-  
to-left, top-to-bottom format is consistent throughout the  
expansion of the RamPak 4GS. Expanding in this way is  
necessary to allow RAM expansion without resetting  
switches or jumpers on the board or the computer.  
Once you have identified the locations in which your  
new chips will be installed, note the notches (or dimples)  
molded into one end of each chip. These indicate the  
location of pin 1, which must be inserted into the proper  
location on the socket. You will also notice that each  
socket has a notch at one end. Your new chips should  
be installed such that all the above-mentioned notches  
line up, with the chip notches located nearest the serial  
number end of the RamPak 4GS board.  
Before handling chips, touch any metal part of your  
Apple’s back panel to discharge static electricity. To  
insert a RAM chip, first set the chip in the intended  
socket. If all the pins are resting properly in the socket,  
insert by pressing directly and evenly down on the chip  
until it is fully inserted. If the pins do not line up, you may  
have to bend them slightly before insertion. Very gently  
hold the chip by the pins between your thumb and  
forefinger and apply short squeezes until the pins are in  
the proper positions for socket insertion.  
Once all of the chips are inserted, double check for  
bent or broken pins, and make adjustments or  
replacements as necessary. Then reinstall the RamPak  
4GS using the installation instructions found on page 3,  
beginning with step 5.  
Sockets  
Notches  
Serial Number  
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RAMPAK MEMORY MANAGEMENT UTILITIES  
OVERVIEW  
Included with the RamPak 4GS is a disk labeled  
Memory Management Utilities. This powerful software  
package will enable you to substantially increase your  
systems speed and performance through the use of  
disk caching and Dynamic or Manual Cache Allocation.  
The RamPak Memory Management Utilities also provide  
RAM Diagnostics and Memory Status reporting, helping  
to detect problems before they lead to data loss or  
damage.  
If you wish, the RamPak utilities can be ‘transparent.”  
The Dynamic Cache Allocation will automatically work for  
you, making your RamPak function at optimal levels  
without any extra work on your part. Using Dynamic  
Cache Allocation is recommended for most purposes. If,  
on the other hand, you wish to manually control the use  
of your RAM, then you may utilize the advanced power  
of the RamPak’s Manual Cache Allocation features.  
All of the RamPak utilities are driven through easy-to-  
follow pull-down menus, which can be manipulated by  
using the mouse. This chapter will provide step-by-step  
instructions on installation and use of each RamPak  
utility. Instructions on RAM disk use can be found in  
your Apple IIGS owner’s manual.  
INSTALLATION OF THE RAMPAK MEMORY  
MANAGEMENT UTILITIES  
The following is an overview of the procedures for  
installing the RamPak Utilities on your Apple IIGS system  
disks. The RamPak Utilities may be installed on as many  
startup disks as you choose, since it is not copy-  
protected. It is highly advised that you immediately make  
a back-up disk of the RamPak Utilities disk, and regularly  
use the back-up disk to install the Utilities onto other  
disks. Retain the original RamPak Utilities Disk in case  
your back-up disk is damaged in any way. Please refer  
to your Apple IIGS owner’s manual if you are not familiar  
with the the Apple IIGS or the procedures for installing  
files on Apple IIGS disks.  
8
 
VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE  
READ CAREFULLY:  
The RamPak Utilities work with ProDOS 16 or  
ProDOS 8, but they will not remain resident when  
your Apple IIGS switches between ProDOS 16 and  
ProDOS 8. Separate RamPak utilities for both  
ProDOS 16 and ProDOS 8 are provided on the  
Utilities disk. The ProDOS 8 version of the RamPak  
Utilities is named “Cache.System” and the  
ProDOS 16 version of the utilities is named  
Cache.” You must install the appropriate Rampak  
utility file on each startup disk, depending on whether  
your program is a ProDOS 16 or ProDOS 8  
application. You should check the owner’s manual  
of the application if you are not certain whether the  
program operates under ProDOS 8 or ProDOS 16.  
If you wish to continue to use your cache after  
switching operating systems, you will be required to  
reboot the Apple IIGS using the disk on which you  
have installed the appropriate RamPak Utilities.  
Orange Micro will release an updated version of  
the ProDOS 16 utilities when ProDOS 16 2.0  
becomes available. Please contact your dealer to  
obtain an update at that time.  
Installing the Utilities on a ProDos 16 System  
Disk:  
The RamPak Utilities can be installed on any ProDos  
16 system disk. Using the Apple IIGS Desktop or your  
own copy utility, copy the file "Cache" from the RamPak  
Utilities disk to the “System.Setup” directory of any  
ProDos16 system disk. The path tothe “System.Setup”  
directory  
is  
“/Name-of-your  
Disk/system/  
system.setup”. (Insert the actual name of your disk in  
place of “Name-of-your disk.”)  
9
 
Installing the Utilities on a ProDOS 8 System  
Disk:  
To install the RamPak Utilities on any ProDOS 8  
System Disk, use the Apple IIGS Desktop or your own  
copy utility to copy the file “Cache.System’ from the  
RamPak Utilities disk as the first ‘system” file on your  
ProDOS 8 system disk. The “Cache. System” file  
must be the first “system’ file on your ProDOS 8  
system disk.  
STARTUP PROCEDURES USING SYSTEM  
DISKS WITH RAMPAK UTILITIES INSTALLED  
To use your RamPak Utilities after you have installed  
them on either a ProDOS 8 or ProDOS 16 system disk,  
just reboot your Apple IIGS with the appropriate system  
disk and run your application.  
NOTE: If you are using the Pro DOS 8 version of the  
utilities, you will be asked to enter the path name of the  
next application after the cache utility has loaded. At this  
time press the carriage return key, then enter the name  
of your application.  
The RamPak Utilities are now installed as an Apple  
IIGS Classic Desk Accessory, accessible virtually any  
time you are computing. To access the RamPak utilities,  
type CONTROL- —ESC. This is done by first pressing  
the CONTROL key, holding it down, and pressing the  
and ESC keys at the same time. This is the standard  
procedure for entering the Apple IIGS Desk Accessory  
Menu. You will note that “RamPak Utilities” is listed as  
one of the selections. Using the UP and DOWN arrow  
keys, you will see a highlight bar moving within the  
menu. Highlight (or select) “RamPak Utilities” and hit  
RETURN. You will soon be presented with the RamPak  
Memory Management Utilities menu screen, from which  
you can utilitize the full power of the RamPak 4GS.  
You may view the settings and statistics on the  
RamPak utilities at any time within the Desk Accessory  
10  
 
menu, but the disk containing the RamPak Utilities file  
must be in the drive in order to change settings.  
How to Use Pull-down Menus  
When you first enter the menu screen, you will see a  
bar across the top of the screen with several titles.  
These are your menu titles. Under each of these is a  
menu, which contains one or more selections. Some  
selections will open a dialog box, which will provide  
additional selections or allow the entry of data.  
1. OPENING A MENU  
Use the mouse to point at the desired menu. Then press the  
mouse button (click) and hold. You will now see the  
available menu selections. You may now make your  
selection, as explained below.  
2. MAKING SELECTIONS FROM A MENU  
Still holding down the mouse button, “drag” the arrow to the  
desired menu selection. Then release the button. This  
procedure, combined with 1 above, is called “clicking and  
dragging’. Either a selection has been made, or a dialog  
box has been opened.  
3. SETTINGS WITHIN A DIALOG BOX  
For ON/OFF or YES/NO settings, point and click on the box  
in front of the selection. For settings where data must be  
entered, press the tab key and then use the keyboard to  
enter the data.  
4. CLOSING THE DIALOG BOX  
Point and click on the “CLOSE” box or the “OK” box. This  
will return you to the menu screen.  
5. CLOSING THE MENU  
Menu is automatically closed except when dragging to a  
menu selection.  
6. EXITING TO ProDOS  
Use above procedure to select either Done--Install  
Changes or Undo All Changes menu.  
11  
 
The Apple Menu  
The Apple menu contains only two selections:  
About This Disk’ and ‘Troubleshooting.’ Both of these  
are informational screens, requiring no other user  
interaction than clicking on the Close box when viewing  
is complete. Where applicable, use the scroll bars to  
advance to the next screen.  
About this Disk  
Displays information on the RamPak Memory  
Management Utilities, including revision number and  
copyright date.  
Troubleshooting  
Displays information on possible problems in the  
operation of memory products, and suggested solutions  
or information regarding these problems. This RamPak  
Operator’s Manual also contains a troubleshooting  
guide, which may be found on page 19.  
The File Menu  
The FILE menu allows you to check status on  
RamPak settings, and to save or disregard newly made  
settings.  
Show Settings  
Displays current memory configuration. Shows  
whether allocation is manual or dynamic, amount of main  
memory, how memory is allocated to caches, RAM Disk  
cache pool and free program memory. Also shows the  
slot and drive number of all drives currently being  
cached. These memory options are discussed under  
the SETTINGS menu.  
Show Statistics  
Displays results of statistical monitoring of all disk  
Caches. Gives percentages of HITS over TOTAL  
READS, and shows current cache size. If this  
percentage is low, an increase in that cache’s size is  
recommended. Statistics are enabled under the  
SETTINGS menu, and are discussed in detail under  
 
12  
The Concept of Statistics,” on page 16 of this  
Operator’s Manual.  
Undo All Changes  
Removes all settings made since last “DONE--  
INSTALL CHANGES. Returns you to the Desk  
Accessory menu.  
Done--Install Changes  
Exits from the RamPak utilities and returns to  
ProDOS, while installing all of your memory settings in  
your IIGS RAM. Your RamPak Memory Management  
Utilities disk MUST be in the drive to install.  
This Menu will open a Dialog Box entitled ‘Save  
Changes to Disk” which will allow you to selecta memory-  
only installation or a Save-To-Disk. Save-to-Disk installs  
the changes on the disk so that they will be remembered  
at the next time you run your program. You will be  
prompted for the path name of the disk to which you  
wish to save the currrent changes. (Refer to theProDOS  
manual for instructions on how to do this.)  
The Diagnostics Menu  
Like any electronic component, RAM chips do have a  
potential to fail or to develop problems. If such  
occurrences go undetected, you may lose or corrupt  
your data. To help detect RAM problems before they  
cause damage, the RamPak Memory Management  
Utilities include two levels of testing, which can be  
executed either at the start of every session or on an “as-  
requested” basis.  
Quick Memory Test  
Selects a superficial READ-WRITE test of all installed  
RAM. Any errors will be detected and reported by  
address location. The QUICK MEMORY TEST is good  
for general use, as it takes considerably less time than  
the EXTENDED MEMORY TEST, yet is highly reliable in  
detecting the existence of a problem.  
13  
 
Extended Memory Test  
Selects a complete RAM test, including READ-  
WRITE test, test for proper RAM refresh, and a check for  
addressing errors. Bad chips are indicated by socket  
and row location (i.e. U4,D). In addition, all memory  
errors are reported by memory location. Bad chips  
generally require replacement. Remove the problem  
chip using a small screwdriver or other appropriate tool to  
pry the chip up, little by little, each end a little at a time.  
Refer to INSTALLING RAM CHIPS IN THE RAMPAK  
4GS on page 5 for further instructions. The EXTENDED  
MEMORY TEST is recommended only when you  
suspect there is a memory problem, but the QUICK  
MEMORY TEST doesn’t reveal a problem. The  
EXTENDED MEMORY TEST takes substantially more  
time to execute than the QUICK MEMORY TEST. The  
length of the test is dependent on the amount of RAM  
installed on the RamPak. Roughly 20 minutes is  
required to test a full 4 megabytes.  
Execute Test Now  
Performs test immediately, without exiting the  
program or installing any other settings. This is valuable  
when seeking a specific problem. For running a test as  
part of your routine memory set-up, simply select the  
desired test before using the DONE--INSTALL  
CHANGES selection under the FILE menu.  
Selecting Execute Test Now opens the Memory Test  
dialog box. You will have the option of running the  
requested test one time, a user specified number of  
times, or loop forever. The user can exit Diagnostics at  
any time by pressing the “ESC’ key.  
The Settings Menu  
Under this menu, you are able to configure the  
caching and statistical parameters of the RamPak, as well  
as allocate RAM among the various caching functions.  
But before setting up caches and using statistics, it is  
important to understand what they offer:  
The Concept of Caching  
Often, users confuse caching with RAM disks,  
14  
 
spooling or other memory functions. Other times, no  
effort is even put forth to understand caching, since the  
idea of altering the way your system handles memory  
really doesn’t sound too “safe” anyway. Once  
understood and used effectively, disk caching will  
become a very powerful system enhancement for  
virtually any user. Your RamPak 4GS utility may be the  
most powerful, easy to use caching tool ever written for a  
microcomputer.  
A cache is actually a disk drive enhancement. A  
cache is established and assigned to a specific system  
drive, to which it is then dedicated. Your Apple IIGS can  
access up to 16 drives in a single configuration, and the  
RamPak Memory Management Utilities has the ability to  
maintain caches for all of these drives.  
“Cache” is a French word which means “hiding  
place.” A disk cache is, in effect, a hiding place for  
important data. Once a cache is established, it serves as  
an intelligent storage area for that drive, holding as much  
of your “often used” data from that drive as possible in  
the system RAM you have specified. It achieves this by  
keeping track of what data you use most when you use  
that drive. As data is requested, the cache will load that  
data into RAM and keep it there as long as you are  
accessing it often. Once the cache is full, the least-used  
data will be removed from the cache. Since data held in  
RAM loads in an instant, without the physical spinning of  
drives, this leads to maximum speed and efficiency in  
running applications and accessing files.  
The RamPak utilities offer you a choice of either  
“dynamic” or “manual” caching. Dynamic caching will  
automatically take over all caching functions for you,  
letting your memory operate at optimal levels with a  
minimum of interaction on your part. Dynamic cache  
allocation is recommended for most caching purposes.  
Manual cache allocation allows you to manually allocate  
the amount of RAM to be used for caching in each disk  
drive.  
Caching is strictly a READ utility. Any data saved to  
disk is immediately written to the physical drive, so  
accidental loss of a cache will not result in lost work.  
15  
 
The Concept of Statistics  
The RamPak 4GS Statistics Utility offers the user the  
ability to view the efficiency of the current cache set-up  
at any time. It will allow the user to view such items as the  
number of reads, reads to cached blocks (also called a  
HIT), the percentage of reads to hits (the cache  
efficiency), the number of buffers allocated to any drive,  
and how many writes to disk have occurred. And by  
using the RESET STATISTICS COUNTER TO ZERO  
feature under the SETTINGS menu along with MANUAL  
CACHE ALLOCATION, the user can fine-tune the  
operation of the system.  
To use the Statistics Utility, the user should simply  
boot the system, then go to the SETTINGS menu and  
select STATISTICS. Then reset the statistic counters to  
zero, run the application for a period of time, and return  
to the SHOW STATISTICS dialog box under the FILE  
menu to view the accumulated statistics. If the  
percentage of reads to hits is low, then the cache size  
should probably be increased. If the percentage of hits  
to reads is close to 100%, you may wish to decrease the  
cache size, especially if program memory is in short  
supply. It is recommended that a minimum of 8 blocks  
and a maximum of 64 blocks be allocated for each drive  
to be cached. These selections can be made from the  
MANUAL CACHE ALLOCATION dialog box, also in the  
SETTINGS menu.  
Manual Cache Allocation  
This will open the Manual Cache Allocation dialog  
box, from which you control the use of your installed  
RAM. The upper portion of the box allows the setting of  
up to sixteen disk caches, one for each of the possible  
disk drives serving your Apple IIGS system. A box in the  
upper left indicates the drive for which a cache is  
currently being set (see  
in the diagram below). This  
box should be displaying a value between SØD1 and  
57D2. This indicates the slot and drive numbers of the  
drive to be cached, as your Apple IIGS has eight logical  
slot locations, each of which can address two drives. To  
the immediate right of this box are up and down arrows  
Using the mouse to click on these arrows enables  
you to change the drive selection. Further to the right is  
16  
 
the ON/OFF selection  
,indicating whether or not a  
cache will be active on the specified drive. Again,  
pointing and clicking with the mouse will make the  
selection. After ON is selected, a cursor will appear in  
the DISK MAXIMUM CACHE SIZE box at the bottom of  
the cache section of the screen  
. Use the keyboard  
to enter the desired size of the cache. Click on the ON  
box a second time if you need to change the cache size  
to a different number. (“Blocks” are the recognized  
measure of disk storage. One block equals 512 bytes of  
RAM. A maximum size of 64 blocks is recommended,  
with a minimum of 8 blocks). In the TOTAL BUFFER  
POOL SIZE section of the screen you will notice that the  
amount of memory allocated to caching is updated as  
you designate disk cache sizes  
.
Please note that  
the Total Buffer Pool Size defaults to automatically show  
the size of the current buffer pool, created via Dynamic  
Cache Alllocation. When the desired settings have  
been made, click on the “OK’ box  
menu bar.  
to return to the  
NOTE:  
The Total Buffer Pool Size is limited to 3.5  
megabytes, or 65,535 buffers. During manual cache  
allocation, the Total Buffer Pool Size equals the sum of all  
the buffers allocated for all active drives. If this total  
exceeds 65,535, the display will show only the difference  
between the total number of buffers allocated and 65,535.  
In addition, the utility will only allocate this difference as the  
Total Buffer Pool Size. As a result, if the Total Buffer Pool  
Size displays fewer buffers than you have allocated, you  
should begin decreasing the number of buffers on each  
active drive until the Total Buffer Pool Size displays the sum  
of the buffers in all active drives.  
Dynamic Cache Allocation  
This selection will take over all the caching functions  
of the manual allocation menu for you, dynamically  
updating the allocations as appropriate for your  
 
17  
application. Dynamic Cache Allocation is recommended  
for most caching purposes. All that you manually need to  
allocate is the amount of RAM you wish to set aside for  
total system caching. A dialog box will appear asking for  
the number of blocks you wish to set aside as a total  
buffer pool size. One block equals 512 bytes of RAM.  
For example, 128 blocks equals 64K bytes of RAM.  
This memory will be unavailable to programs or other  
utilities. The default setting is 256 blocks, equaling  
128K of RAM for caching. While the RamPak utilities  
default to specify that all drives will be dynamically  
allocated, the user may enable or disable the cache on  
specific disk drives, doing this by using the Dynamic  
Cache Allocation menu in the same manner as the  
Manual Cache Allocation menu.  
As an example of Dynamic Cache Allocation, if you  
are running an application in which a large RAM cache  
would be beneficial on drive 2 and you currently have no  
cache specified there, the RamPak utility will  
automatically take RAM from other caches or from  
unused cache memory, and add it where it is needed.  
All Dynamic Cache Allocation is performed around your  
RAM disk. All manual settings within the  
RamPak Utilities program are lost when  
Dynamic Cache Allocation is implemented.  
Statistics  
RESET STATISTICS COUNTER TO ZERO  
This selection resets statistic counters to zero.  
Sets Reads, Hits, % and Writes to Ø. This is useful for  
picking a starting point from which you can gather  
statistics about your cache.  
DISABLE STATISTICS DISPLAY  
Prevents you from viewing the Statistics’ dialog  
box.  
ENABLE STATISTICS DISPLAY  
Enables you to view the Statistics” dialog box.  
Abort Caches  
Disables caching on all disk drives  
18  
 
APPENDIX A: TROUBLESHOOTING  
If you have just completed installation of the  
RamPak 4GS and are experiencing problems, turn off  
all system power and remove the board from the  
Apple. Restart the Apple and repeat whatever steps led  
to the initial failure to verify that the problem is in the  
RamPak card. Reinspect all the RAM pins for full and  
proper insertion. If everything appears to be in order,  
contact your dealer immediately.  
If you are encountering difficulties that you believe  
are RAM related, and your RamPak has been  
functioning properly since installation, begin by running  
the RAM Diagnostic utilities software provided with the  
RamPak. Details on running this application can be  
found on page 13. This procedure will tell you the status  
of all installed RAM and the location of any problem  
chips.  
If the Diagnostics do not reveal problem hardware,  
this may indicate an incompatibility with some part of your  
RAM management utilities. While most software is  
expected to work in the Apple IIGS environment, even if  
it was developed solely for the Apple lie, there is a  
possibility that this will not always be the case. If you are  
using your disk cache, RAM disk or any other RAM utility,  
like spooling, remove these utilities from operation and  
restart. If this solves your problem, it is probable that  
your software cannot run concurrently with one of the  
utilities in question. Re-install the utilities one at a time  
until the error re-appears. This will isolate the problem  
product combination. Contact the manufacturers of the  
utility and software for further instructions.  
If this does not provide an answer, but you still  
believe your problem is in RAM, turn all system  
power OFF and remove the RamPak from the Apple.  
Restart the Apple and repeat the procedure that lead to  
the problem to verify that the problem is in the RamPak.  
If it is, call your dealer or Orange Micro for assistance. If  
your Apple still exhibits the problem without the RamPak  
installed, contact your Apple dealer for service.  
19  
 
APPENDIX B: RAMPAK 4GS POWER  
CONSUMPTION  
Independent of memory configuration:  
PowerSupply Voltage  
5 Volts  
Current  
500 MA  
(Maximum)  
APPENDIX C: BITS AND BYTES  
This is not intended to provide anything more than  
a superficial understanding of bits and bytes and how  
they relate to RAM chips and memory expansion.  
All computer data is made up of zeros and ones, or  
yesses and nos. This type of data is called BINARY by  
people who define such things, as the data can come in  
only two forms. When a computer deals with a single  
zero or one, this is called a BIT. Of course, a system had  
to be developed to allow computers to deal with diverse  
forms of information, so that zeros and ones could be  
translated into the letters, numbers and symbols  
required to deal with real problems. Most  
microcomputers, including your Apple IIGS, read eight  
BITS together as a single piece of data. This unit of  
binary data is called a BYTE. In general, you can think of  
a BYTE as a character and a BIT as a building block.  
Chips are generally measured by the number of  
BITS they can hold. For this reason, the chips on your  
RamPak are called 1-Meg Chips, even though you need  
eight of them to add a MegaBYTE to your system. Since  
we now know that there are eight BITS in a BYTE, it is  
easy to see that you need eight megaBITS to make one  
megaBYTE.  
If you are interested in learning more about RAM,  
Bits, Bytes and the science behind the computer, there  
are many good books and magazines available on the  
subject. Consult your dealer or visit your local library for  
more information.  
20  
 
APPENDIX D: SPECIFICATIONS OF  
RAM EXPANSION CHIPS  
The technical specifications of the RAM chips used  
to expand the memory of the RamPak are as follows:  
256K x 4, one megabit, 150 nanosecond (or  
f a s t e r ) , “ C A S b e f o r e R A S ” r e f r e s h m o d e  
DRAMS.  
APPENDIX E: GLOSSARY  
BANK: 64K Bytes of memory.  
BLOCK: A portion of data 512 bytes in length, as  
viewed from ProDos.  
BUFFER: A designated area in RAM where a single  
ProDos block is stored if caching is active.  
BUFFER POOL: A collection of contiguous buffers  
used by the cache program to store ProDos blocks.  
CACHE: A storage area in RAM to eliminate disk  
access time for data.  
CELL INTEGRITY: The ability of a RAM cell to accept  
and retain data, regardless of the data pattern or cell  
location. Also see DATA RETENTION.  
DATA  
RETENTION: The ability of a RAM cell to  
retain data, without errors, when no memory accesses  
occur over a period of time.  
DRAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory.  
DYNAMIC CACHE ALLOCATION:  
Allows the  
program to allocate buffers from the buffer pool as required  
by the system. Additional buffers are automaticallyallocated  
to more frequently used drives.  
HIT: An attempt to read a block from disk that has  
already been cached, thus finding the data in cache  
memory.  
21  
 
INTER-BANK ADDRESSING: Memory addressing  
that crosses a 64K byte boundary.  
INTRA  
-
SEGMENT  
ADDRESSING:  
Memory  
addressing that is within a 256K byte segment.  
MANUAL CACHE ALLOCATION: Allows the user  
to specify exactly how much memory is used for each  
active drive used for caching. Only the number of  
buffers specified is used, and the cache pool size is set  
to the sum of all the buffers requested for each drive.  
PATH  
NAME: A file name which includes all directory  
and sub-directory names separated by a "/" character,  
starting with the root directory and ending with the file  
name.  
RAM: Random Access Memory.  
22  
 
LIMITED WARRANTY  
Every RamPak board and disk is fully tested and checked  
for quality prior to shipment. The RamPak board is warranted  
to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a  
period of one (1) year from the date of purchase. The  
original RamPak Utilities Disk is warranted to be free from  
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ninety  
(90) days from the date of purchase. During these time  
periods, Orange Micro Inc. will, at no charge to the purchaser  
of record, repair or replace any defective unit returned to its  
Service Department in accordance with the following  
instructions:  
NOTE: Do NOT return the RamPak to  
Orange Micro Inc. until you have received  
a Return Materials Authorization (RMA)  
number. Contact Orange Micro Technical  
Support at 714/779-2772.  
1. Provide Orange Micro Inc. with: Model, Serial Number,  
Proof of Purchase with Date, Return Address, and  
preferred return shipping method. Enclose  
a
clear  
description of the problem experienced and any sample  
printouts showing the problem, if possible.  
2. Ship in the original carton or securely packed in a  
cardboard carton with at least two inches of cushioned  
packing material on all sides. Mark the package  
"FRAGILE" and clearly mark the RMA number on the box.  
Ship via UPS, Parcel Post, or Air Freight, insured and  
prepaid.  
NOTE: Do  
not  
send  
COLLECT--collect  
shipments will be refused and returned to  
sender.  
Orange Micro Inc. disclaims any liability to users of the  
RamPak for consequential damages of any kind arising from or  
connected with the use of the RamPak board.  
This warranty is void in cases of misuse, abuse, abnormal  
conditions of operations or attempts to alter or modify the  
function of a part or assembly.  
This limited warranty is in lieu of all other warranties  
expressed or implied, and no representative or other person is  
authorized to represent or assume for Orange Micro Inc. any  
warranty liability beyond that set forth herein.  
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may  
also have additional rights which vary from state to state. The  
warranty expressed herein applies only to RamPaks sold and  
used in the United States of America.  
 
23  

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