Discussion:
UMBPCI: memory layout info
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Harry Potter
2017-09-10 06:38:52 UTC
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If I upgrade from EMM386 to UMBPCI, what can I expect from the memory layout. I understand that it uses less RAM, but what *else* will it do to the UMB memory layout? Will it make more memory available? What about the EMS page frame? And what are the available switches? I can't find the last one in the docs.
Harry Potter
2017-09-10 07:25:19 UTC
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Post by Harry Potter
If I upgrade from EMM386 to UMBPCI, what can I expect from the memory layout. I understand that it uses less RAM, but what *else* will it do to the UMB memory layout? Will it make more memory available? What about the EMS page frame? And what are the available switches? I can't find the last one in the docs.
Uhh...never mind. It doesn't work on my setup: the driver loads successfully, but, later in the start-up process, the computer crashes with a Page Fault error and a CPU dump. :(
JJ
2017-09-10 15:14:49 UTC
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Post by Harry Potter
If I upgrade from EMM386 to UMBPCI, what can I expect from the memory
layout. I understand that it uses less RAM, but what *else* will it do
to the UMB memory layout? Will it make more memory available? What
about the EMS page frame?
UMBPCI only provides UMB. So that explains things if you replace EMM386 with
UMBPCI.

It's READ.ME file mentions that it's a replacement for EMM386, but that's an
overstatement, IMO.
Post by Harry Potter
And what are the available switches? I can't find the last one in the docs.
The documentation doesn't specifically mention a list, but you can see its
parameter usage when the driver is loaded with an unknown parameter (which
you'd soon know why it's not a replacement for EMM386). Try loading it from
the command prompt using DYNALOAD or other. e.g.

dynaload umbpci.sys /?

If you want to have more free memory space, don't use EMS. If any of your
program requires EMS, find other alternative for it which uses XMS instead -
if possible. Because IMO, the 64KB of EMS page frame isn't worth your memory
space, especially when you need more of it for something else more
important. 64KB under 1MB of memory is still a large chunk in DOS platform,
you know.
Harry Potter
2017-09-10 17:13:00 UTC
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I scrapped it. You're right, BTW. But thank you.
Kerr-Mudd,John
2019-05-01 09:57:09 UTC
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Post by Harry Potter
If I upgrade from EMM386 to UMBPCI, what can I expect from the memory
layout. I understand that it uses less RAM, but what *else* will it
do to the UMB memory layout? Will it make more memory available?
What about the EMS page frame? And what are the available switches?
I can't find the last one in the docs.
Are you going around in circles?
--
Bah, and indeed, Humbug.
T. Ment
2019-05-01 15:36:59 UTC
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Post by Kerr-Mudd,John
Post by Harry Potter
If I upgrade from EMM386 to UMBPCI, what can I expect
Much trouble. I should say, just use EMM386, but you never listen.
Post by Kerr-Mudd,John
Are you going around in circles?
Someone had to tell Harry about UMBPCI, didn't they. That's like giving
matches to a child and sending them into a dry forest.
Mateusz Viste
2019-05-01 17:23:03 UTC
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Post by T. Ment
Post by Harry Potter
If I upgrade from EMM386 to UMBPCI, what can I expect
Much trouble. I should say, just use EMM386, but you never listen.
UMBPCI always worked perfectly for me. I do not use EMM386 at all, don't
like V86 mode.
Post by T. Ment
Someone had to tell Harry about UMBPCI, didn't they. That's like giving
matches to a child and sending them into a dry forest.
There's always the possibility that once the forest is on fire, the child
will perish there. We can hope, at least.

Mateusz
T. Ment
2019-05-01 20:06:26 UTC
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Post by Mateusz Viste
UMBPCI always worked perfectly for me.
I have one computer where it's perfect. All the others, DMACHK says
ISA-DMA fails in UMBs. It reports the ISA-DMA failure with both UMBPCI
and EMM386.

So it's not clear if DMACHK has a problem, or if UMBPCI is fully safe,
or not. They warn about the ISA-DMA problem in the readme though, so I
presume they know what they're talking about.

They say ISA-DMA in UMBs is trouble when you load SMARTDRV high and
cache the floppy drive. Maybe I will try that, and see what happens to a
(test) floppy disk.
Post by Mateusz Viste
I do not use EMM386 at all, don't like V86 mode.
What's wrong with V86 mode?
Mateusz Viste
2019-05-02 06:27:34 UTC
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Post by T. Ment
Post by Mateusz Viste
UMBPCI always worked perfectly for me.
I have one computer where it's perfect. All the others, DMACHK says
ISA-DMA fails in UMBs. It reports the ISA-DMA failure with both UMBPCI
and EMM386.
So it's not clear if DMACHK has a problem, or if UMBPCI is fully safe,
or not. They warn about the ISA-DMA problem in the readme though, so I
presume they know what they're talking about.
They say ISA-DMA in UMBs is trouble when you load SMARTDRV high and
cache the floppy drive. Maybe I will try that, and see what happens to a
(test) floppy disk.
Oh, I see - but I never load stuff that uses DMA high. That's probably I
have no problems. I do remember however, many years ago, getting into
problems with some CD driver (I think). Not loading it high resolved the
issue, that's when I learned never to trust DMA when running from within
UMB.
Post by T. Ment
Post by Mateusz Viste
I do not use EMM386 at all, don't like V86 mode.
What's wrong with V86 mode?
I don't like having some extra layer between me and the hardware. When my
system crashes with an "invalid opcode" or similarly terrifying message,
I don't want having to second-guess whether it's my program that's buggy,
or the V86 monitor that went south. If bad stuff happens on bare
hardware, then at least I know who to blame (the hardware, of course).

Mateusz
Kerr-Mudd,John
2019-05-01 20:47:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by T. Ment
Post by Kerr-Mudd,John
Post by Harry Potter
If I upgrade from EMM386 to UMBPCI, what can I expect
Much trouble. I should say, just use EMM386, but you never listen.
Post by Kerr-Mudd,John
Are you going around in circles?
Someone had to tell Harry about UMBPCI, didn't they. That's like giving
matches to a child and sending them into a dry forest.
My point was that he asked this 18 mths ago.
--
Bah, and indeed, Humbug.
Harry Potter
2019-05-19 16:56:46 UTC
Permalink
I just tried UMBPCI on my network configuration, and the driver crashed with an exception during start-up, forcing me to do a hard reset. :(
T. Ment
2019-05-19 17:37:40 UTC
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Post by Harry Potter
I just tried UMBPCI on my network configuration, and the
driver crashed with an exception during start-up, forcing
me to do a hard reset. :(
Did you read this?

https://www.uwe-sieber.de/umbpci_e.html
Post by Harry Potter
On AMD K7/K8 you should not load high drivers of PCI network cards.
Harry Potter
2019-05-19 18:03:18 UTC
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Post by T. Ment
Did you read this?
https://www.uwe-sieber.de/umbpci_e.html
I thank you for the tip: it's unsuitable for my needs. :(

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