OS/2 Warp Frequently Asked Questions List
Introduction and Credits
OS/2 Warp Frequently Asked Questions List User's Edition (U.S. English) Release 3 February 20, 1995 Compiled by Timothy F. Sipples
Copyright (c) 1995 by Timothy F. Sipples All Rights Reserved.
For changes, suggestions, or additions please mail tsipple@vnet.ibm.com or write:
Timothy F. Sipples IBM Personal Software One IBM Plaza (07/SS4) Chicago, IL 60611 U.S.A. FAX (312) 245-7624
I cannot acknowledge your contribution(s) individually, but they are greatly appreciated.
Mention of a product does not constitute an endorsement. Customers outside the United States should not necessarily rely on 800 telephone numbers, page numbers, part numbers, or upgrade policies contained in this List. Electronic mail addresses are in Internet form; use addressing appropriate to your mail system. Certain product names, including OS/2, OS/2 Warp, and Windows, are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective holders.
This List is freely distributable for noncommercial purposes. (For commercial purposes, please contact the author.) If you redistribute the List, please include all the original files. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of IBM Corp.
This List is updated regularly and is distributed through various computer networks and online services, including the Internet, CompuServe, GEnie, and many BBSes.
Both ASCII text and OS/2 Warp Information Presentation Facility (INF) versions of the List are provided. To view the INF version of the List, go to any OS/2 Warp command line prompt (e.g. double click on "OS/2 Window") and type:
VIEW WARPFAQ.INF
The ASCII text version may be viewed using any text editor, word processor, or file listing utility. The text version is intended to answer any questions you may have before actually obtaining and using OS/2 Warp. You will find that the INF version provides a much more attractive List, with hypertext links, fast indexing, and, increasingly, illustrations.
If you have not received all three files (WARPFAQ.ICO, WARPFAQ.INF, and WARPFAQ.TXT), please ask your system operator to make sure he/she is receiving the correct and complete package.
(0.1) Release Notes
Template:Text which has been revised or updated since the last release will ordinarily appear in the same color as this sentence and will be enclosed in double braces. However, due to the magnitude of the changes required for this release of the List, revision marking is not included.
BBS operators and archive maintainers: please retain Versions 2.1E, 2.0L, and 1.9G of this List, the last versions to deal specifically with OS/2 Versions 2.1x, 2.0x, and 1.3x, respectively.
(0.2) Recent Developments
OS/2 Warp Version 3 is here! Please see (0.4) Special Report on OS/2 Warp for the latest on this exciting new release.
To coincide with the release of OS/2 Warp Version 3, over 40 software developers have announced new software products. Here is a sampling:
Product
Description
Stacker Version 4 for OS/2
On-the-fly disk compression
Artisoft LANtastic for OS/2
Peer-to-peer networking
DeScribe Version 5 for OS/2
Word processing/publishing
Athena Mesa for OS/2
Object-oriented spreadsheet
AIM/SDS Galactic Civilizations for OS/2
Action-strategy game
Hockware VisPro C/C++ for OS/2
Rapid building of compiled C/C++ applications
IBM Antivirus for OS/2
DOS/Windows virus detection and elimination
IBM OS/2 LAN Server 4
State-of-the-art network operating system
Wolfram Mathematica for OS/2
Equation solving, mathematical computation
Borland C++ Version 2 for OS/2
C/C++ compiler, including OWL
Lotus Smartsuite ValuePak
Enhancements to application suite
Dux SimCity for OS/2
Urban planning game
Other vendors expect to ship major new OS/2 Warp applications later this year, including Corel Office (including Corel Draw 6) from Corel Systems, Macromedia's Director (for multimedia presentations), games such as Doom and SimCity 2000, and even the first home "edutainment" CD-ROM title from CBS and IBM.
Independent estimates now put the OS/2 installed base at over eight million users. At the time of this writing, OS/2 Warp ranks as the top selling PC software in the marketplace.
The IBM Independent Vendor League offices have moved. For general information on the IVL, contact Lucy Darbisi at 203-452-7704 or by FAX at 203-268-1075. For product accreditation and support please call Gail Ostrow at 203-384-9996 or FAX 203-368-6379. The Independent Vendor League supports OS/2 Warp consultants, book authors, trainers, and other professionals.
(1.0) Fundamentals
The following questions are addressed in this section:
(1.1) What is OS/2 Warp?
OS/2 Warp is an advanced operating system for PCs with an 80386 processor or better. It was developed by IBM as the successor to DOS, the operating system developed for the original IBM PC.
OS/2 started as a joint project between IBM and Microsoft in the mid 1980s and was first released in late 1987 (at that time designed for the IBM PC/AT and other 80286-based systems). Microsoft was a public and vocal supporter of OS/2 for years, issuing several of its own releases and promoting OS/2 application development. Bill Gates, for example, stated that, "...OS/2 is the platform of the '90s." However, OS/2 versions from 1.3 onward have been the responsibility of IBM.
OS/2 Warp was designed from the ground up with preemptive multitasking and multithreading in mind. "Preemptive multitasking" means that the operating system is responsible for allocating processor time to the one or more applications which are running. (Cooperative multitasking, as found in Microsoft Windows or the Macintosh's System 7, requires that each application surrender the processor after a certain amount of time. If one application refuses to yield, all the other applications stop running.) "Multithreading" means that programs can start subtasks which will then be executed by the operating system in the background. For example, a word processor may create a separate thread (subtask) to handle printing or saving to disk. When the user asks the word processor to perform one of these tasks, the word processor creates a new thread and control returns to the word processor (and the user) immediately. The subtask is executed by the operating system in the background. The user is then free to ask the word processor to perform another task without waiting for the thread to complete. Applications which utilitize multithreading can be much more responsive to the user.
OS/2 Warp also protects applications from one another (a single misbehaved program will not typically disrupt the entire system), supports all addressable physical RAM, and supplies virtual memory to applications as requested, breaking DOS's 640K barrier.
An OS/2 Warp demonstration diskette (which will run on any PC with VGA or better, and DOS or OS/2) is available from IBM by calling 800-3-IBM-OS2. The OS/2 Warp demo diskette may also be downloaded; see (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources.
(1.2) Differences Between Versions
What are the differences between versions?
- IBM OS/2 Warp, Version 3 is the newest and most advanced version of OS/2 ever created. This release is aimed squarely at the rapidly growing home and small business software market. Yet, in addressing the concerns of these demanding consumers, it offers significant advantages to the large number of traditional IBM and OS/2 users, including those in big businesses and government. A few of the enhancements include a BonusPak of full fledged applications (including one button access to the Internet), the LaunchPad, many more device drivers, and significant performance improvements. Please see (0.4) Special Report on OS/2 Warp for more information.
- IBM OS/2 Version 2.1 is the previous release of OS/2, which added Windows 3.1 compatibility, multimedia support (including software motion video), and more device drivers. With Version 2.1 IBM ended the practice of including extra features in its own, preinstalled versions of OS/2 that were not found in the off-the-shelf package. OS/2 2.1x and OS/2 for Windows propelled OS/2 into the mainstream PC marketplace. The latest Service Pak for OS/2 2.1 is level 06300.
- IBM OS/2 Version 2.0 is the first release of OS/2 which will run only on machines with an 80386SX processor or better. With this release IBM started developing OS/2 (and its Intel and non-Intel-based successors) independently but continued to involve third party PC manufacturers in its testing. Improvements included an object-oriented Workplace Shell (WPS); a multiple operating system boot mechanism; better DOS and Windows support [see (1.3) DOS and Windows Compatibility]; new 32-bit programming interfaces; support for more than 16 MB of physical RAM [see (2.6) More Than 16 MB RAM]; and more third party device drivers. OS/2 1.x applications, unmodified, still run under OS/2 2.0 (and later).
- IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 is the last release of OS/2 to operate on PCs with 80286 CPUs. This version introduced built-in Adobe Type Manager (ATM) [see (5.5) Adobe Type Manager], providing scalable typefaces for screen and printer. Procedures Language/2 (REXX), a powerful batch-oriented programming language, became a part of Standard Edition with this release. [See (5.11) REXX.] (A few vendors are shipping Microsoft OS/2 Version 1.3, but Microsoft has ceded all OS/2 development to IBM.)
- OS/2 Version 1.2 was the first to incorporate the High Performance File System (HPFS) [see (1.5) High Performance File System]. With this release IBM OS/2 added a dual boot mechanism and IBM Extended Edition [see (3.10) Extended Services] introduced REXX.
- OS/2 Version 1.1 was the first to include the Presentation Manager (PM) GUI/API. Microsoft OEM versions added a dual boot mechanism with this release.
- OS/2 Version 1.0, introduced in late 1987, was the first release of OS/2. Task switching was accomplished using a character-based shell and limited DOS compatibility was provided.
Versions of OS/2 from 2.1 on have been made available in two packages: one containing built-in Windows code to run Windows applications (sometimes called the "with Win-OS/2" or "full" package) and the other which can use an existing copy of Windows (optional) to run Windows applications (the "for Windows" or "without Win-OS/2" package).
(1.3) DOS and Windows Compatibility
How good is OS/2 Warp's DOS and Windows compatibility?
OS/2 1.x [see (1.2) Differences Between Versions] justifiably earned a reputation for poor DOS compatibility. Since it was hampered by the 80286, it could not run more than one DOS application at a time.
The situation changed dramatically with OS/2 2.0, and OS/2 Warp adds further refinements. OS/2 Warp Version 3 preemptively multitasks DOS and Windows (standard and enhanced mode, including Win32s) applications in separate, protected sessions.
OS/2 Warp provides a complete DOS emulation equivalent to DOS 5.0 or later. The operating system can provide each DOS application with up to 32 MB of EMS 4.0 (expanded memory), 16 MB of XMS 2.0 (extended memory), and/or 512 MB of DPMI 0.95 (DOS Protected Mode Interface extended memory), all from its pool of physical and/or virtual memory (meaning you do not have to have as much RAM in your system as your applications request). These limits are in addition to the up to 730K free conventional memory supplied to each DOS application, even after mouse and network drivers [see (3.8) Networking Products] are loaded. As in DOS 5.0 or later, DOS code and device drivers may be loaded into high memory. A 386 memory manager like QEMM is not needed -- these features are provided by OS/2 Warp directly.
The DOS emulation allows customization of device driver sets -- each DOS application shares a systemwide CONFIG.SYS and the equivalent of its own CONFIG.SYS. Also, there is a systemwide AUTOEXEC.BAT file; however, batch commands particular to each DOS application can be invoked using separate, application-specific AUTOEXEC.BAT files. And many DOS Settings are provided to fine tune [see (5.6) Performance Tuning] each DOS/Windows application's behavior (e.g. IDLE_SENSITIVITY and SESSION_PRIORITY). Most of the popular DOS/Windows applications on your hard disk will be migrated automatically when you install OS/2 Warp, so that program icons will be set up for them. Applications which are automatically recognized include over 250 of the most popular DOS, Windows, and OS/2 games.
In addition, OS/2 Warp will boot one or more specific versions of DOS in separate sessions, to assist in running particularly difficult applications (e.g. DOS networks, MSCDEX and CD-ROM drivers). So, for example, it is possible to multitask DOS 3.3, DOS 4.0, DOS 5.0, DOS 6.0, DOS 6.2, PC-DOS 6.3, DR-DOS, OS/2 Warp's DOS, and Desqview running atop DOS, all in separate sessions, either windowed or full screen, all with the same and/or separate device drivers, TSRs, environment variables, etc. DOS boot images may be stored on a hard disk. These procedures are described in the online Command Reference (under VMDISK), Master Help Index, and in the printed manual. [See also (5.9) Specific DOS Sessions.]
Standard graphics modes [generally up to VGA resolutions; see (2.2) SuperVGA Support] are supported in DOS windows, as are selectable text mode fonts. Cut/paste to/from windowed DOS applications is supported (to/from other DOS, OS/2, and Windows applications), including graphics cut/paste. Theoretically, OS/2 Warp can run up to 240 simultaneous DOS/Windows sessions; the practical maximum depends on your PC's performance.
OS/2 Warp will, in fact, run virtually all DOS applications in existence, including notorious ones such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, Wing Commander, Maple, MatLab (Version 3.5k or later), AutoCAD (Release 12 requires maintenance version C2 or later), and others. Those that do not run generally fall into the following categories:
1. Programs that use Virtual Control Program Interface (VCPI) memory extenders or other extenders which require direct access to 80386 control registers. Since such applications are also all but incompatible with Windows, most vendors have updates for DPMI compatibility; 2. Applications which attempt to directly address the physical sectors of an OS/2 managed nonremoveable hard disk drive. Such programs include UnErase in Norton Utilities [see (3.4) Disk Utilities]. Fortunately OS/2 Warp has a built-in UnDelete feature which is more robust than Norton's approach. (Consult the online Command Reference for information on how to enable UNDELETE); 3. Timing sensitive DOS applications. Certain DOS programs that generate digitized sound through the PC's internal speaker may have distorted sound. High speed, real time data collection may be compromised. These problems can often be minimized or even eliminated using OS/2 Warp's DOS Settings, including the SESSION_PRIORITY setting. 4. Certain DOS programming debuggers. DOS applications running under OS/2 Warp are not permitted to access debug registers DR0-DR7 from a DOS session. Also, DOS debuggers will not be able to set hardware breakpoints, and all read/write operations to debug registers in virtual 8086 mode will be ignored.
See (3.12) Backup Software for information on OS/2 backup issues.
DOS-based disk caching software is not required since OS/2 Warp includes a built-in, highly configurable, efficient disk cache (available even for CD-ROMs). See the online Command Reference for details.
DOS programs running under OS/2 Warp are extremely fast. A single DOS application (no other applications open) running full screen under OS/2 Warp typically achieves 95-97% of the performance it would have under native DOS. If the DOS application accesses the hard disk frequently, such as with database software, it can actually operate up to several times faster than it would if running under native DOS.
If pure DOS is absolutely required, OS/2 Warp includes a utility called the Boot Manager. The Boot Manager can provide a listing of all the operating systems available on the system and will allow selection of any one at startup, with a default after timeout. The OS/2 DualBoot method (to switch between DOS and OS/2 only) is still available as well. Consult the printed OS/2 Warp manual for instructions on how to use Boot Manager or DualBoot. Note that OS/2 Warp need not be installed on Drive C -- it can reside on other volumes [see (4.3) Hard Disk Partitioning].
Compatibility with Windows, a popular DOS extender, is provided by either Win-OS/2, an environment based on Microsoft's Windows source code, or by an actual copy of Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups 3.1, or Windows for Workgroups 3.11. See (1.2) Differences Between Versions for details. OS/2 Warp supports Windows 3.x enhanced mode (including Win32s) and standard mode applications, either on a full screen Windows desktop (with the familiar Program Manager and one or more Windows applications) or "seamlessly," alongside OS/2 applications on the Workplace Shell desktop. "Seamless" operation is available with all video drivers that ship with OS/2 Warp (VGA or better). [See (2.2) SuperVGA Support.]
Several icon conversion utilities can convert Windows icons for use by the OS/2 Icon Editor and/or OS/2-specific programs [see (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources]. (No conversion is necessary if the icons are to be used with Windows programs running under OS/2 Warp.)
OS/2 Warp directly provides all Windows enhanced mode features save one: support for Windows virtual drivers (VxD). Services provided by WINMEM32.DLL and Win32s are supported. See (0.4) Special Report on OS/2 Warp for more information.
Windows applications are well integrated into the overall OS/2 Workplace Shell environment with DDE and Clipboard hooks, and OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) is supported among Windows applications. Adobe Type Manager [see (5.5) Adobe Type Manager] comes with OS/2 Warp (for both OS/2 and Windows applications), and TrueType fonts still work fine with Windows applications. Windows screen (for a full screen desktop) and printer device drivers will work under Win-OS/2 [see (2.2) SuperVGA Support]. Such notorious Windows applications as Word, Norton Desktop (save portions described above), Toolbook, and After Dark work fine under Win-OS/2. Even applications which rely on the Windows Multimedia Extensions (supplied as part of Windows and Win-OS/2) operate without trouble. [See (3.6) Multimedia for information on the OS/2 multimedia extensions, MMPM/2.] Even the Windows applets run just fine.
OS/2 Warp's Windows support (called Win-OS/2) departs from plain Microsoft Windows in that it allows more than one Windows desktop and can preemptively (rather than cooperatively) multitask Windows applications in separate, robust, protected sessions, at the user's option. Also, both DOS and OS/2 applications can be started from the Win-OS/2 Program Manager.
In short, OS/2 Warp is generally regarded as the most DOS and Windows compatible among the new crop of 32-bit operating systems (NT included). It is also generally regarded as a better DOS multitasker than Desqview.
(1.4) Availability and Cost of OS/2 Warp
Where can I buy OS/2 Warp, and how much does it cost?
In the United States IBM OS/2 Warp Version 3 is available directly from IBM by calling 800-3-IBM-OS2. Call for the latest information on pricing -- promotional pricing may be in effect. Both diskette (3.5 inch media) and CD-ROM versions are available. The CD-ROM version contains diskette images (so you can create a set of installation diskettes from the CD-ROM) as well as extra multimedia and Kodak Photo CD files. Express shipping is provided with all orders placed through this toll free number.
IBM part numbers are as follows:
Part No.
Product
83G8100
OS/2 Warp Version 3 (3.5)
83G8102
OS/2 Warp Version 3 (CD)
83G8103
OS/2 Warp Version 3 (ALC)
83G8700
OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 (3.5)
83G8701
OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 (CD)
83G8702
OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 (ALC)
83G8708
OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 Upgrade (3.5)
83G8709
OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 Upgrade (CD)
83G8710
OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 Upgrade (ALC)
Upgrade packages are designed to upgrade OS/2 2.1 or 2.11. "ALC" means Additional License Certificate, in other words simply a license card (without manuals or media) representing the right to use OS/2 Warp on an additional PC.
OS/2 Warp is now available from almost any software dealer (including Corporate Software, Egghead, Software Etc., and many others). Software dealer pricing is lower than that available directly from IBM -- often $10 or $20 lower.
OS/2 Warp costs about the same as Microsoft Windows for DOS and roughly one fifth to one third as much as the base (not to mention server) versions of Windows NT, NeXTStep, Solaris, and UnixWare.
In Canada phone 800-465-1234 to order. In the U.K. phone the OS/2 Solution Centre at 0285-655888 or IBM at 0256-841818 or 0800-919-929. In all countries, any IBM software dealer or office can fulfill your OS/2 Warp order. Pricing varies from country to country.
IBM is trying to make OS/2 Warp available everywhere DOS is purchased. If your dealer does not stock OS/2 Warp, take your business elsewhere (and explain why). IBM bundles OS/2 Warp with most new PCs, and several other vendors, including AST, Compaq, Everex, Northgate, ALR, Unisys, Dell, Ariel Design, Vobis, Escom, Toshiba, Osbourne, and Tangent, will either preload OS/2 Warp automatically or by request.
IBM offers two money back guarantees in the U.S.: a 30-day, no questions asked, money back guarantee, and a 90-day compatibility guarantee [see (2.1) Hardware Requirements].
If you intend to purchase many copies (usually over 100) of any IBM software product (including OS/2 Warp), be sure to ask your software dealer or IBM representative about VALU agreements. Using VALU, you can save significant amounts of money on your software purchases and benefit from special promotions.
In many countries outside the United States, a fully functioning 45-day trial version of OS/2 Warp on CD-ROM is available through PC oriented magazines, computer shows, dealers, and other outlets.
(1.5) High Performance File System (HPFS)
Why should I use HPFS? What does it offer me? Does it work with DOS?
HPFS is an installable file system (IFS) provided with OS/2 Warp which may optionally be used instead of (or alongside) the standard DOS-style FAT (File Allocation Table) file system. HPFS offers long file names (up to 254 characters including the path, greatly exceeding the "8 dot 3" limit in DOS's FAT file system), contiguous storage of extended attributes (without the EA DATA. SF file used by FAT), resistance to file fragmentation, improved media error handling, smaller cluster size, support for larger file storage devices (up to 512 GB), and speedier disk operation, particularly on large hard disks, on systems with more than 6 MB of RAM. HPFS is not case sensitive, although it does preserve case in file names.
However, HPFS is not currently supported on removeable media, although some programs (e.g. BACKUP) preserve long file names on such FAT disks. Also, native DOS cannot access a HPFS partition without a special utility. However, DOS/Windows sessions running under OS/2 can use all files that conform to the "8 dot 3" naming conventions, even if they are stored on HPFS volumes. (FAT is not required for compatibility with DOS and Windows applications running under OS/2 Warp.)
Note that PowerQuest has released Partition Magic, a utility which can convert the DOS FAT file system to OS/2 HPFS on-the-fly, leaving all your files intact. Partition Magic also allows you (free space permitting) to repartition your hard disk without destroying any files. This utility can save an enormous amount of time in managing your hard disks. Contact your favorite OS/2 Warp software dealer to order Partition Magic.
(1.6) Why Choose OS/2 Warp?
Why should I choose OS/2 Warp over its competitors?
There are many products which compete with OS/2 Warp, at least to some extent. Before comparing OS/2 Warp with those products, it is important to understand what strengths OS/2 Warp brings to the table.
OS/2 Warp requires a PC with a 386SX (or better) and preferably 6 MB of RAM (or more). If you do not have the hardware required to run OS/2 Warp (and cannot conveniently upgrade), other choices should be considered. However, OS/2 Warp is considered by far the "lightest" (in terms of resource requirements) of all the new crop of 32-bit operating systems (which includes Microsoft NT, NeXTStep, Novell UnixWare, and Solaris). Furthermore, IBM has made great strides in reducing the amount of memory required by OS/2 Warp. A PC which is well-equipped to run Windows for DOS is also well-equipped to run OS/2 Warp.
OS/2 Warp is based on a stable, proven design (which started with OS/2 1.0, introduced in 1987). Today's OS/2 Warp barely resembles Version 1.0, yet applications written for that version still run under OS/2 Warp, unmodified. OS/2 1.x found ready markets in so-called "mission critical" applications, including automatic teller machines for banking, point-of-sale systems, process control and factory automation, network software, and more. Other operating systems (particularly NT) have not had the benefit of a long period of testing and reliable operation.
As noted in (1.3) DOS and Windows Compatibility, OS/2 Warp is generally acknowledged to be the most DOS and Windows compatible 32-bit operating system on the market. OS/2 Warp users have access to the broad range of software written for these environments (in addition to the growing library of native OS/2 Warp software) without sacrificing compatibility or performance. Again, this ability stands in contrast to the mediocre DOS and Windows compatibility (and performance) found in such operating systems as NT, NeXTStep, Solaris, UnixWare, Linux, and others. NT, for example, cannot tolerate most DOS device drivers, has no specific DOS session features, and will not run DOS graphics applications in windows on the desktop. (NT also does not include any support for PCMCIA cards or Advanced Power Management, so common in notebook computers.) IBM calls OS/2 Warp "the integrating platform" because it actually lends functionality to all applications, even if you only run DOS and Windows programs.
Currently DOS (with or without Windows) is the most common operating environment on PCs (with OS/2 Warp in second place and closing the gap). OS/2 Warp provides several advantages over plain DOS/Windows, such as:
- Preemptive multitasking. OS/2 Warp can run more than one application at the same time, and no application can ever take all the CPU attention away from the other tasks. Downloading files, formatting diskettes, printing, mathematically intensive tasks, and other computer-hogging jobs can run reliably, in the background, freeing your computer so you can work more effectively and save time.
- Multithreading. OS/2 Warp applications can be written to use threads (also known as subtasks). Threads also run in the background so that an application never stops responding to your input. For example, with the DeScribe word processor's multithreaded printing, you can tell the application to print the file then immediately make another revision, without waiting for the document to even spool to the print queue.
- Enhanced Configurability. Your DOS applications, for example, can have individually tailored CONFIG.SYS settings -- no rebooting required. So, if you want to play that game of Wing Commander, you do not have to get rid of your TSRs and network drivers beforehand.
- Crash Protection. Every application running under OS/2 Warp is isolated from all the other applications. If one application decides to write to random areas of memory, OS/2 Warp will promptly notify you of the offense. All your other applications continue to run, unharmed. Neither DOS nor Windows offer such complete protection. For example, if you have a Windows application which likes to crash (cause a GPF error), OS/2 Warp can run it in a separate Win-OS/2 session. If the application self destructs, all your other DOS, Windows, and OS/2 Warp applications which may be running never miss a beat. No operating system is totally crash proof, but OS/2 Warp is widely considered to be extremely reliable, both because of its design and because of its maturity.
- Workplace Shell. Literally millions of dollars are spent on Windows desktop replacements and accessories (such as Norton Desktop, PC Tools, and so on). If you do not like the Windows Program Manager and File Manager (still available under OS/2 Warp), OS/2 Warp's Workplace Shell is worthy of your attention. Folders can be nested. Objects (including files) can have long names (so you don't have to remember what "Y6EDGQTR.ILK" means). Your desktop is almost infinitely customizable: every folder can have a different color or background, for example. And consistency is maintained throughout the Workplace Shell. Want to print a file? Drag it to the printer object. Fax it? Drag it to the Fax object. Open it? Drag it to an application program object. Delete it? Drag it to the Shredder.
- Access to OS/2 Warp Applications. There's only one way to add OS/2 Warp applications to your PC: add OS/2 Warp. Many of these applications are not available for any other operating system. For example, Watcom's VX-REXX and HockWare's VisPro/REXX let you create fully graphical applications in no time flat. (VX-REXX recently won PC Magazine's Editor's Choice award.) Lotus cc:Mail for OS/2, which takes full advantage of the Workplace Shell, makes e-mail simple. IBM's Ultimedia Builder/2, Workplace/2, and Manager/2 are the best multimedia authoring tools available anywhere, better than anything for Windows, says PC Magazine. And you can only play Galactic Civilizations for OS/2, the Number 1 PC game according to a recent Internet list, when you're running OS/2. OS/2 Warp allows you to run the largest library of 32-bit applications available for the PC.
OS/2 Warp costs less (much less) than its competitors. OS/2 Warp is a best seller and continues to gain ground on plain DOS/Windows, meaning application developers and hardware manufacturers take notice (most recently Corel Systems and Toshiba). OS/2 Warp is likely to be the most popular operating system on PowerPC systems. OS/2 Warp coexists peacefully with your existing DOS/Windows setup (using either DualBoot or Boot Manager), so you can make the switch at your own pace. OS/2 Warp continues to capture industry awards. Most recently, Windows Magazine named OS/2 to its Top 100 list. And, for the second straight year, OS/2 won Overall Product of the Year from the readers of Infoworld. (OS/2 also earned Infoworld's Software Product of the Year and the Interoperability Award. In fact, OS/2, with three of the highest awards all to itself, was the only product to win more than one award.) As an OS/2 Warp user, you'll be joining the over eight million OS/2ers around the world who are experiencing a new level of performance when they use their PCs.
But shouldn't I wait for Windows95 ("Chicago")?
Most industry observers believe that Chicago (Windows95) will not be available until far into 1995. In other words, Microsoft is promising a product which will offer some of OS/2 Warp's features at some point in the future. Even if you think you are interested in Chicago, OS/2 Warp will not suddenly render your PC unable to run it. So why not upgrade to OS/2 Warp in the meantime?
Yet there are several good reasons why you may not be making that upgrade. First, like most first releases, Chicago will suffer from its share of bugs. It will take a considerable amount of time (and expense) to solve these problems. Second, OS/2 Warp is by no means standing still. By the time Chicago is released, OS/2 Warp could possibly enjoy another upgrade. (The time between new releases of OS/2 has been averaging about 14 months. The last major Windows update, Version 3.1, was introduced in April, 1992.) In other words, it will have features (such as support for Symmetric Multiprocessing and the PowerPC) that are not even contemplated for Chicago. Or, in still other words, vaporware (software which does not yet exist) always sounds more appealing than real software on the surface, because software vendors can make whatever claims they like.
Chicago will not support any OS/2 Warp applications (whose number is only growing with time). On the other hand, OS/2 Warp now supports the Win32s programming interface for 32-bit Windows applications. The resource requirements for Chicago will increase over Windows 3.1 (at the same time IBM has fine tuned OS/2 Warp to use less memory and perform better) -- at best Chicago will demand a PC no less powerful than that demanded by OS/2 Warp.
Byte and Windows Sources have pointed to some architectural problems with Chicago. These publications have cited Chicago's pervasive use of 16-bit subsystems (which will cause "thunking," i.e. a performance hit for calls made by 32-bit applications), failure to protect 16-bit Windows applications from crashing the entire system (which OS/2 Warp already prevents), and the 16-bit locking mechanism (which means that 16-bit Windows applications will not be preempted by Chicago, possibly resulting in hung background file transfers, poor multimedia performance, and other problems, even for 32-bit applications). Moreover, reportedly all video and network device drivers for Windows 3.1 must be rewritten to work with Chicago. A recently published book, "Undocumented Windows95," even suggests that new 32-bit Windows applications may still depend on real mode vestiges from ordinary DOS.
Finally, Microsoft made similar promises (on the overwhelming success to be achieved by NT and Windows for Workgroups, most recently). These promises have not come to pass. It is far from certain whether Chicago will satisfy the marketplace.
For a concise, researched, official view of OS/2 Warp when compared to the as-yet-unreleased Windows95, IBM has published a whitepaper which is available from online services such as CompuServe and the Internet.
(2.0) Hardware
The following questions are addressed in this section:
(2.1) Hardware Requirements
What hardware do I need to run IBM OS/2 Warp? Do I need a PS/2?
You need any ISA (AT bus), EISA, VESA LocalBus, PCI, or Microchannel PC compatible with at least an 80386SX CPU, 4 MB (6 MB or more strongly recommended) of RAM, an 80 MB or larger hard disk (with 20-70 MB free, depending on which features you wish to install), a supported video adapter (CGA, EGA, VGA, SuperVGA, 8514/A, XGA, or third party driver) with appropriate display (VGA or better strongly recommended), and a high density 3.5 inch diskette drive for installation. A mouse or other pointing device is strongly recommended. Allow extra RAM and hard disk space for OS/2-based networking [see (3.8) Networking Products], Extended Services [see (3.10) Extended Services], and/or extra system loads (i.e. an extraordinary number of large applications running simultaneously). When calculating hard disk space requirements, subtract space occupied by files already on the hard disk which are functionally included in OS/2 Warp and may be deleted, e.g. DOS, a 386 memory manager, Adobe Type Manager [see (5.5) Adobe Type Manager] with base typefaces, etc.
The performance of OS/2 Warp itself will not be increased appreciably with the addition of a math coprocessor. However, certain applications may benefit.
The Workplace Shell (WPS) will not operate with the Monochrome Display Adapter or the Hercules Monochrome Graphics Adapter. Usually the WPS will fail to work with monochrome EGA. However, some EGA adapters (e.g. Paradise Monochrome EGA Card, ATI EGA Wonder) will emulate all color EGA modes on TTL monochrome monitors and, thus, will work with the WPS.
The following dual monitor configurations are supported: VGA (or most SuperVGA) with Monochrome Display Adapter (not Hercules), 8514/A with VGA, XGA with VGA, and XGA with one or more other XGA. A secondary monitor is most often used with code debuggers that explicitly support such configurations. The Workplace Shell desktop is currently shown only on the primary display (except for the STB MVP-2 and MVP-4 ISA and Microchannel display adapters which do support the Workplace Shell desktop spanning multiple monitors -- contact STB at 214-234-8750 or FAX 214-234-1306 for more information; and the Double Edge video card from Nth Graphics, phone 800-624-7552).
OS/2 Warp specifically supports hard drive adapters which conform to the Western Digital chipset interface standard (nearly all MFM, RLL, IDE, and ESDI adapters) and Adaptec, Future Domain, DPT, BusLogic, MediaVision/Trantor, and IBM SCSI adapters. [True OS/2 Warp drivers for most SCSI adapters, e.g. Always, Trantor, Rancho, Procomp, Corel Systems, Seagate, Mylex, CE Infosys, Ciprico, NCR, and others are available directly from the adapter manufacturers or from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources.] In addition, "generic" INT13 support is provided for all other hard disk adapters. This "generic" support even embraces such devices as Iomega's Bernoulli and SyQuest's removeable media products (but for best results contact Iomega or SyQuest for an OS/2 Warp driver).
OS/2 Warp driver support is available for nearly all CD-ROM drives. The list below describes the drivers included with OS/2 Warp. If your CD-ROM drive is not on the list, it is in all likelihood a close cousin (or follow-on model) to one of the CD-ROM drives on the list, and OS/2 Warp will automatically recognize it using the closest match. Be sure to ask the manufacturer of your CD-ROM drive for advice if OS/2 Warp is not recognizing it.
* CD Technology
o T3301
o T3401
* Chinon
o 431
o 435
o 535
* Compaq
o Dual Speed
* Creative Labs
o OmniCD
* Hitachi
o 1650S
o 1750S
o 3650
o 1950S
o 3750
o 6750
* IBM
o CD-ROM I
o CD-ROM II
o Enhanced CD-ROM II
o ISA
* Mitsumi
o CRMC-LU002S
o CRMC-LU005S
o CRMC-FX001
o CRMC-FX001D
o CRMC-FX001DE
* NEC
o Intersect 25
o Intersect 36
o Intersect 37
o Intersect 72
o Intersect 73
o Intersect 74
o Intersect 82
o Intersect 83
o Intersect 84
o MultiSpin 4Xe
o MultiSpin 4Xi
o MultiSpin 3Xe
o MultiSpin 3Xi
o MultiSpin 3Xp
o MultiSpin 38
o MultiSpin 74-1
o MultiSpin 84-1
o 2vi
o 260
* Panasonic
o 501
o LK-MC501S
o 521
o 522
o 523
o 562
o 563
* Philips
o LMS CM-205
o LMS CM-225
o LMS CM-205MS
o LMS CM-206
o LMS CM-225MS
o LMS CM-226
o LMS CM-215
o LMS CM-207
* Pioneer
o DRM-600
o DRM-604X
* Plextor
o DM-3028
o DM-5028
o 4PLEX
* Sony
o CDU-31A
o CDU-33A
o CDU-7305
o CDU-7405
o CDU-531
o CDU-535
o CDU-6150
o CDU-6201
o CDU-6205
o CDU-6251
o CDU-7201
o CDU-7205
o CDU-55D
o CDU-55E
o 541
o 561
o 6211
o 7211
o 7811
o 6111
* Tandy
o CDR-1000
* Texel
o 3021
o 5021
o 3024
o 3028
o 5024
o 5028
* Toshiba
o 3201
o 3301
o 3401
o 4101
* Wearnes
o CDD-120
Most IDE CD-ROM drives are also supported. For CD-ROM drives that use their own adapter cards (that are not attached to SCSI adapters), you may need to know which interrupt (IRQ), DMA channel (if any), and port addresses are used by the CD-ROM adapter in order to correctly configure OS/2 Warp. Please consult the printed OS/2 Warp manual for guidance.
OS/2 Warp's CD-ROM support includes audio, ISO 9660/High Sierra, CD-ROM/XA, and Kodak Photo CD (including multisession) compatibility for those CD-ROM drives which support these standards. An OS/2 Warp CD-ROM device driver automatically provides CD-ROM services to DOS and Windows applications running under OS/2 Warp. In other words, you do not need to load DOS CD-ROM device drivers when you are running OS/2 Warp. However, in the unlikely event you cannot locate an OS/2 Warp driver for your CD-ROM drive, you may use the DOS CD-ROM device drivers in a specific DOS session [see (5.9) Specific DOS Sessions for details].
OS/2 Warp drivers for some non-SCSI Hitachi CD-ROM models are available by calling either Laser Resources (800-535-2737) or Proline (415-692-5262); ask for CDREXT5D. Storage Devices offers OS/2 drivers for its parallel port attached peripherals, including its CD-ROM drive.
See (2.3) Printer Support for information on OS/2 printer and plotter compatibility.
OS/2 Warp is explicitly supported on non-IBM PC compatibles. IBM is offering a money back compatibility guarantee in the U.S. Should OS/2 Warp fail to work on your compatible within the first 90 days of use, and should IBM be unable to fix the problem, your purchase price will be refunded. To date over 2000 non-IBM models have been tested in IBM's own labs.
(2.2) SuperVGA Support
Will OS/2 Warp work with my SuperVGA adapter?
Consult the OS/2 Warp printed manual for complete information on SuperVGA support.
OS/2 Warp contains built-in 256 (or more) color drivers for most SuperVGA adapters based on the following chipsets:
* ATI
o 28800
o Mach 8
o Mach 16
o Mach 32
* Cirrus Logic
o 5422
o 5424
o 5426
o 5428
o 5430
o 5434
* Headland Technology
o HT209
* IBM
o VGA 256c
* S3
o 864
o 86C801
o 86C805
o 86C928
* Trident Microsystems
o TVGA 8900C
* Tseng Laboratories
o ET4000
o ET4000/W32
o ET4000/W32p
o ET4000/W32i
* Weitek
o Power 9000
o Power 9100
* Western Digital
o 90C24
o 90C31
o 90C33
o 90C11
o 90C30
These chipsets are used in the vast majority of SuperVGA adapters. OS/2 Warp also supplies "generic" SuperVGA support for other chipsets (such as Chips & Technologies and Realtek) which allows full screen DOS and Windows applications to run in SuperVGA modes, but OS/2's Workplace Shell runs in VGA resolution. If a high resolution driver for your SuperVGA card is not included with OS/2 Warp, contact the video card manufacturer for the correct driver. Many drivers included with OS/2 Warp support HiColor (65,536 colors) and even TrueColor (16 million colors) modes if you have enough video memory.
Some SuperVGA adapters (notably ATI's Vantage and Ultra lines) are 8514/A hardware compatible and will function in 1024x768 256 color mode with OS/2's built-in 8514/A driver.
Regular Windows 3.1 display drivers may be used for the full screen Win-OS/2 desktop. To install a Windows 3.1 display driver under Win-OS/2, simply replace the fdisplay= entry in the SYSTEM.INI file with the name of the Windows .DRV file supplied by the vendor, and copy the .DRV file to the Win-OS/2 SYSTEM directory. Note that you may have to use the EXPAND program supplied with Windows or Win-OS/2 to decompress the vendor's .DRV file.
Settings for your SuperVGA display are controlled from the System object in your System Setup folder (which is located inside the OS/2 System folder). There you can change video modes and even set the refresh rates for those modes according to your monitor's capabilities.
(2.3) Printer Support
Will OS/2 Warp work with my printer?
OS/2 Warp includes support for the following printers (partial list; see below):
* AST
o TurboLaser
* Agfa
o Matrix ChromaScript
o Compugraphic 9400PS
o Compugraphic 400PS
* Apple
o LaserWriter II NT
o LaserWriter II NTX
o LaserWriter Plus
o LaserWriter
* Brother
o HJ-100i
o HJ-400
o HL-10PS
o HL-10DPS
o HL-10V
o HL-10h
o HL-1260
o HL-4PS
o HL-4V
o HL-630
o HL-631
o HL-641
o HL-645
o HL-655M
o HL-660
o HL-6
o HL-6V
o HL-8PS
o HS-1PS
o HS-1PS2
o M-1309
o M-1324
o M-1809
o M-1824L
o M-1909
o M-1924L
o M-4309
* Compaq
o Pagemarq 15
o Pagemarq 20
* Citizen
o PN48
* ColorMaster Plus
o 6603
o 6613
o 6613XF
* Colormate
o PS
* Dataproducts
o LZR-1260
o LZR-2665
* Digital
o DECcolorwriter 1000
o LN03R ScriptPrinter
o LPS PrintServer 40
* Epson
o AP-2250
o AP-3250
o AP-3260
o AP-5000
o AP-5500
o ActionLaser 1000
o ActionLaser 1500
o ActionLaser 1600
o ActionLaser II
o DFX-5000
o DFX-8000
o EPL-7000
o EPL-7500
o EPL-8000
o EX-1000
o EX-800
o FX-1050
o FX-1170
o FX-286e
o FX-850
o FX-870
o Generic 24 pin
o Generic 48 pin
o Generic 9 pin
o Generic ESC2P
o JX-80
o LQ-1010
o LQ-1050
o LQ-1070
o LQ-1170
o LQ-150
o LQ-2500
o LQ-2550
o LQ-500
o LQ-510
o LQ-570
o LQ-850
o LQ-860
o LQ-870
o LQ-950
o LX-800
o LX-810
o MX-80
o Stylus 300 Inkjet
o Stylus 800 Inkjet
o Stylus Color Inkjet
* Generic Postscript printer
* Hewlett-Packard
o 7470A Plotter
o 7475A Plotter
o 7550A Plotter
o 7580A Plotter
o 7580B Plotter
o 7585A Plotter
o 7585B Plotter
o 7586B Plotter
o Color LaserJet PS
o Color LaserJet
o ColorPro
o DesignJet 200
o DesignJet 220
o DesignJet 600
o DesignJet 650C
o DeskJet 1200C
o DeskJet 310
o DeskJet 320
o DeskJet 500
o DeskJet 500C
o DeskJet 510
o DeskJet 520
o DeskJet 540
o DeskJet 550C
o DeskJet 560C
o DeskJet Plus
o DeskJet Portable
o DeskJet (Original)
o DraftMaster I
o DraftMaster II
o DraftMaster MX
o DraftMaster RX
o DraftMaster SX
o DraftPro
o LaserJet 2000
o LaserJet 4 Plus
o LaserJet 4
o LaserJet 4M
o LaserJet 4M Plus
o LaserJet 4L
o LaserJet 4ML
o LaserJet 4MP
o LaserJet 4MV
o LaserJet 4P
o LaserJet 4Si MX
o LaserJet 4Si
o LaserJet 4V
o LaserJet 500 Plus
o LaserJet Classic
o LaserJet IID
o LaserJet III
o LaserJet IIID
o LaserJet IIIP
o LaserJet IIISi
o LaserJet IIP Plus
o LaserJet IIP
o LaserJet Plus
o LaserJet II
o PaintJet XL HP-GL/2
o PaintJet XL300
o PaintJet XL
o PaintJet
* IBM/Lexmark
o 2380
o 2381
o 2390
o 2391
o 3816
o 4019 LaserPrinter
o 4029 LaserPrinter
o 4037 LaserPrinter
o 4039 LaserPrinter
o 4070 IJ
o 4072 ExecJet
o 4076 ExecJet II
o 4079 Color Jetprinter
o 4201 Proprinter II
o 4201 Proprinter III
o 4201 Proprinter
o 4202 Proprinter IIXL
o 4202 Proprinter IIIXL
o 4202 Proprinter XL
o 4207 Proprinter X24
o 4207 Proprinter X24E
o 4208 Proprinter XL24
o 4208 Proprinter XL24E
o 4216-031
o 4224
o 4226 Model 302
o 5183 Portable Printer
o 5201 Quietwriter II
o 5202 Quietwriter III
o 5204 Quickwriter
o 6180 Plotter
o 6182 Plotter
o 6184 Plotter
o 6186 Plotter
o 7371 Plotter
o 7372 Plotter
o 7374 Plotter
o 7375 Plotter
o Personal Page Printer II
o Personal Page Printer
o 4047
o 4076 Color
o WinWriter 600
* IBM Null (Plain Text/Daisy Wheel)
* Kyocera
o F-1000
o F-1000A
o F-2000A
o F-2200S
o F-3000A
o F-3300
o F-5000
o F-5000A
o F-800
o F-800A
o F-820
o FS-1500
o FS-1500A
o FS-1550
o FS-1550A
o FS-3500
o FS-3500A
o FS-400
o FS-400A
o FS-5500
o FS-5500A
o FS-850
o FS-850A
o P-2000
o Q-8010
* Linotronic
o 100
o 200
o 300
o 500
* NEC
o Colormate PS/40
o Colormate PS/80
o LC-890
o Silentwriter 1097
o Silentwriter 95
o Silentwriter 95f
o Silentwriter 97
o Silentwriter S62P
o Silentwriter LC 890XL
o Silentwriter2 290
o Silentwriter2 Model 90
* Okidata
o OL830-PS
o OL840-PS
o OL850-PS
o OL870
o ML-192
o ML-193
o ML-320
o ML-321
o ML-3410
o ML-380
o ML-390
o ML-391
o ML-393
o ML-395
o ML-395B
o ML-520
o ML-521
o ML-590
o ML-591
* Olivetti
o LP-5000
* Panasonic
o KX-P1123
o KX-P1124
o KX-P1124i
o KX-P1150
o KX-P1180
o KX-P1191
o KX-P1624
o KX-P1654
o KX-P1695
o KX-P2023
o KX-P2123
o KX-P2124
o KX-P2130
o KX-P2135
o KX-P2180
o KX-P2624
o KX-P3123
o KX-P3124
o KX-P3624
o KX-P4400
o KX-P4401
o KX-P4410
o KX-P4420
o KX-P4430
o KX-P4440
o KX-P4450
o KX-P4450i
o KX-P4451
o KX-P4455
o KX-P5400
o KX-P5410
* Phaser
o Phaser Card (Postscript)
* QMS
o 1060 Level 2
o 1660 Level 2
o 1725 Print System
o 2025 Print System
o 3225 Print System
o 420 Print System
o 4525 Print System
o 860 Print System
o 860 Plus Print System
o ColorScript 100 Model 10
o ColorScript 100 Model 30
o ColorScript 100 Model 30si
o ColorScript 100
o ColorScript 210
o ColorScript 230
o ColorScript Laser 1000
o IS X320T
o Magicolor Laser Printer
o PS 1500
o PS 1700
o PS 2000
o PS 2200
o PS 2210
o PS 2220
o PS 410
o PS 800 Plus
o PS 800
o PS 810 Turbo
o PS 810
o PS 815 MR
o PS 815
o PS 820 Turbo
o PS 820
o PS 825 MR
o PS 825
* Qume
o ScripTEN
* Seiko
o ColorPoint PS Model 4
o ColorPoint PS Model 14
o ColorPoint PSN Model 14
o ColorPoint PSN Model 4
o ColorPoint2 PSF
o Personal ColorPoint PS
o Personal ColorPoint PSE
o Professional ColorPoint PSH
* Star
o LS-5 EX
o LS-5
o LS-5TT
o NX-1001
o NX-1040R
o NX-1500
o NX-2415
o NX-2420R
o NX-2430
o SJ-144
o SJ-48
o XB-2420
o XB-2425
o XR-1020
o XR-1520
* Texas Instruments
o MicroWriter
o OmniLaser 2108
o OmniLaser 2115
o MicroLaser PS
o MicroLaser Pro 600
o MicroLaser XL PS
o MicroLaser 16 Turbo
o MicroLaser 6 Turbo
o MicroLaser 9 Turbo
o MicroMarc Color
o MicroWriter PS
* Tektronix
o Phaser 200J
o Phaser 200e
o Phaser 200i
o Phaser 220J
o Phaser 220e
o Phaser 220i
o Phaser 300J
o Phaser 300i
o Phaser 440
o Phaser 480
o Phaser 480J
o Phaser II PX
o Phaser II PXe
o Phaser II PXi
o Phaser II PXiJ
o Phaser III PXi
o Phaser III PXiJ
o Phaser IISD
o Phaser IISDJ
o Phaser IISDX
o Phaser PX
o Phaser PXi
* Varityper
o VT-600
* Wang
o LCS15 FontPlus
o LCS15
The above list is abbreviated; certain models are not listed. If your printer is not listed, consult both the OS/2 Warp printed manual and your printer's manual to see if your printer emulates one of the above models. For example, the Canon BubbleJet Model BJ-10e printer works well with the IBM 4070 IJ driver.
IBM, NEC, Canon, and other printer manufacturers have OS/2 Warp drivers for their printers available for download from BBSes. Contact your printer's manufacturer for assistance. These downloadable drivers include older IBM models (such as the IBM 5152 Graphics Printer and 5201 Quietwriter I), NEC dot matrix printers, and Canon laser and BubbleJet printers. The IBM/Lexmark BBS can be reached at 606-232-5653.
DOS and Windows printer drivers continue to work for DOS and Windows applications. Use the Win-OS/2 Control Panel to install Windows printer drivers for use with OS/2 Warp.
Printer Troubleshooting for OS/2 Warp
If you are experiencing trouble printing, be sure to consult the "Printing in OS/2" online document (located in your Information folder) and the OS/2 Warp printed manual for assistance. Common problems are usually solved using one of the following methods:
1. If you are using a Postscript printer, and you are having difficulty printing with Windows applications, particularly over a network, try adding the following line to the Postscript section of your WIN.INI file:
CtrlD=0
2. If you experience slow printing, or if you see a long series of repeated characters (or garbage) appearing in your printed documents, try editing your CONFIG.SYS file using any text editor (such as the OS/2 System Editor or Enhanced Editor). Locate the line BASEDEV=PRINT01.SYS and add the parameter /IRQ so that the line reads BASEDEV=PRINT01.SYS /IRQ. Shutdown and restart your system for the change to take effect. This change will not affect printing over a network and it does not apply to Microchannel systems. 3. Make sure that your printer port is properly configured, at the correct port address for LPT1 (or LPT2, if used), and that your printer port is generating the correct interrupt (IRQ), and that no other adapter in your PC is using the same port address or interrupt. See (4.1) Installation for details. 4. Make sure that the cable to your printer is properly shielded, grounded, has all 25 pins wired, and that it does not extend more than 15 feet or 5 meters. Ideally the cable should be no more than 6 feet or 2 meters in length. 5. To improve performance when printing from DOS or Windows applications, configure your application to print to LPT1.OS2 (or LPT2.OS2 for printer port 2). (WordPerfect for DOS benefits greatly after making this change.) Use the application's "print to file" feature, if necessary. For Windows applications, use the Win-OS/2 Control Panel to route printer output to LPT1.OS2.
(2.4) COM3 and COM4 Support
Can I use COM3 and COM4 in OS/2 Warp?
COM3 and COM4 are supported on most PS/2s without any additional effort. On ISA, EISA, PCI, and VESA LocalBus machines, some additions are required to CONFIG.SYS. Using a text editor, include "(port number, base address, interrupt number)" parameters next to the COM.SYS filename. One example:
DEVICE=C:\OS2\BOOT\COM.SYS (3,3E8,5) (4,2E8,10)
Parameters for COM1 and COM2 need not be included (unless they are somehow nonstandard). OS/2 Warp must end up with sequentially numbered logical COM ports, if possible. For example, if (physical) port two is not installed but port three or port four is installed, start numbering using (2,...) in the DEVICE lines. See the OS/2 Warp printed manual and the online Command Reference for more information. If these efforts fail, try the SIO drivers [available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources]. Note that IRQ 2 is actually redirected to IRQ 9 on the AT bus, so use (...,...,9) in the above COM.SYS settings if your serial port is set to use IRQ 2.
AT bus COM ports cannot be used at the same time if they share interrupts because of bus design limitations (cf. "Under the Hood: How Interrupts Work," Byte, February, 1992). An adapter which provides more flexibility in interrupt selection [e.g. the 16-bit model from STB; see (2.5) Specific Hardware Recommendations] may prove helpful. Also, PolyCom, a replacement driver available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources, supports up to eight ports with the right hardware (Xenix-compatible multiport adapters).
"Smart" (coprocessor controlled) multiport communication adapters should be used when installing more than four ports. Such an adapter will work with OS/2 if the manufacturer has written an appropriate driver. Examples include:
Company
Telephone Number
IBM (ARTIC)
(800) PS2-2227
Digiboard
(612) 943-9020
Stargate
(216) 349-1860
Arnet
(615) 834-8000
Computone
(404) 475-2725
Comtrol
(612) 631-7654
CTC Systems
(415) 966-1688
Equinox
(305) 255-3500
I-Concepts
(214) 956-7770
Specialix
(408) 378-7919
Stallion
(408) 395-5775
Quatech
(216) 434-3154
(2.5) Specific Hardware Recommendations
Are there any specific hardware recommendations?
Here are some of the peripherals and adapters that are particularly well suited to OS/2 Warp. Use these recommendations as general guidelines for adding peripherals to your OS/2 Warp PC. When you buy a new PC, remember to ask for OS/2 Warp preloaded. When you purchase a new add-on for your PC, remember to ask about OS/2 Warp drivers and compatibility.
- Sound cards. There are many excellent sound cards on the market for OS/2 Warp. Two of the best are the IBM Audiovation (available for both AT bus and Microchannel) and the Creative Labs SoundBlaster 16 SCSI-2. This model SoundBlaster includes a built-in SCSI port for CD-ROM drives, tape backup devices, etc., and OS/2 Warp's built-in Adaptec 152x SCSI driver will work with the card. OS/2 Warp also includes the correct SoundBlaster audio driver. An OS/2 Warp driver diskette for the Audiovation adapter is available either with the card or from the IBM PC Company BBS at 919-517-0001.
- 16550AFN Buffered UART Serial Port Adapters. Improves high speed serial communications performance. Price: $35 for a two port adapter from Zero-One Networking (phone 800-255-4101 or 714-693-0808). Ask about adapters with parallel ports.
- Four Port 16550AFN Buffered UART Serial Adapter. The STB 4-COM adapter is available for $110 delivered by calling 800-735-5266 Ext. 64 (or 919-286-1502 Ext. 40). The 16-bit STB adapter provides four buffered serial ports, each with an independently selectable interrupt and address. IRQs above 7 are supported for each port. Up to two of these adapters may be installed in the same system (for up to eight buffered serial ports). Four six inch 8-pin DIN to DB9 male converter cables are supplied. Fifteen month manufacturer's warranty and free technical support from STB.
- CD-ROM Drives. True SCSI-2 CD-ROM drives (double speed or better) are preferred over other CD-ROM drives. They are easier to configure, perform better, and can be easily transferred to another PC (particularly portable, external drives). They can also be more easily attached to many notebook computers. The SoundBlaster 16 SCSI-2 adapter, mentioned above, can provide the SCSI port for a CD-ROM drive.
- SuperVGA cards. A wide variety of SuperVGA cards work well with OS/2 Warp. Many users find that cards based on the S3 chipsets are among the most compatible and represent the best values.
- RAM (Memory). Your first choice when you wish to upgrade your PC to enhance the performance of OS/2 Warp. Choose good quality, name brand memory, and make sure that parity checking is included. (Some new PCs are attempting to get by with non-parity RAM. To ensure that all your memory is operating correctly, parity checked RAM is preferred. In fact, many higher end systems, especially servers, use error correcting memory for reliability.)
- Hard Disk Drives. For a PC with one or two hard disks, each 512 MB or less in size, IDE hard disks represent the best value. They are inexpensive, and they perform well. However, SCSI hard disks with a good quality OS/2 Warp compatible SCSI adapter are generally a better choice when you have more than one hard disk in your PC and/or you wish to use hard disks larger than about 512 MB in size. SCSI also provides the opportunity to add tape backup, CD-ROM, and other devices. Caching hard disk adapters are generally useful only after you have added main memory (RAM) to the PC itself.
- Tape Backup Devices. Cheap tape drives (which attach to your PC's diskette controller quite often) are quite tempting, and they work well under OS/2 Warp with backup software such as IBM's DualStor and MSR's BackMaster. However, a SCSI tape drive (such as a 4 mm DAT drive) is now only a little more expensive. Each 4 mm cartridge can hold 2 GB of data (uncompressed) or more. With hard disks growing larger and larger, you may wish to invest in a high capacity tape drive.
- Processor/Motherboard. If you need to save money, save it by getting a system with a less powerful processor. OS/2 Warp will benefit most from adding main memory (RAM), and generally least from upgrading the processor. Since OS/2 Warp multitasks so well, the need for raw speed is usually less. (If you use another operating system, where you spend time waiting for tasks to complete, and where you cannot put tasks in the background and still get other work done, you can imagine that a faster processor would be of greater benefit.) However, make sure that your PC's motherboard contains an OverDrive socket, and preferably one that supports symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) and the Intel MPS 1.1 standard. That is, a system into which you can place a second processor chip and have both processors run at the same time. If you then run OS/2 for SMP, which supports two or more processors, you have a much more powerful system should you choose to upgrade. Also, the more processor cache memory you can afford in your PC, the better. However, if you can find a system which also uses so-called interleaved memory, OS/2 Warp will benefit tremendously. Many systems designed as servers use faster interleaved memory.
- Notebook Computers. The critical factor when choosing a notebook computer for OS/2 Warp is support for PCMCIA card slots. Most notebooks are now supported, but be sure to check ahead of time. If your notebook computer is not listed in OS/2 Warp's list of PCMCIA drivers, choose either the closest match (in terms of manufacturer) or try each, one by one, in turn. Midwestern Micro notebooks, for example, appear to work well with OS/2 Warp's AST PowerExec PCMCIA driver. Toshiba now preloads OS/2 Warp on its notebooks, on request, and all IBM Thinkpads will ship with OS/2 Warp preloaded.
- Network Adapters. Any network adapter with an "IBM LAN Server" or "IBM OS/2 NDIS" driver (usually supplied on a diskette with the card) will work fine with OS/2 Warp. Ethernet (especially 10BaseT) is a popular choice for PC networking. IBM, 3Com, Cabletron, Intel, and SMC are some of the most popular brands. However, many large companies have upgraded their Token Ring networks to 16 Mbps, so if you are looking for a good value for a small network, 4 Mbps IBM Token Ring adapters for both AT bus and Microchannel are inexpensive and thoroughly standardized. Setting up a small OS/2 Warp network with Artisoft's LANtastic for OS/2? Try an IBM MAU (Multistation Access Unit), as many Token Ring cards as you need (used 4 Mbps cards are under $50), and cables. Look in the back pages of LAN Times, The Processor, PC Week, and other publications which are read by larger corporate computer users, and you'll see great bargains on good quality networking products. See (3.8) Networking Products for some more advice.
(2.6) More Than 16 MB RAM
Can I use more than 16 MB of RAM?
OS/2 Warp will address all the RAM in your system. If the BIOS recognizes the memory, OS/2 Warp will find it and use it.
However, on certain systems the RAM beyond the 16 MB boundary may be used as a fast swap area. OS/2 Warp relies on its swap file, SWAPPER.DAT, to hold code and data which cannot fit into real memory (i.e. to provide virtual memory). If the swap file (and applications) can only be accessed via a hard disk adapter which uses 24-bit DMA for disk access (e.g. the Adaptec 154x series), then the system must move code and data below the 16 MB boundary before it can write it to disk. This "double move" is costly (in terms of performance), and often OS/2 Warp will merely use all the RAM above the 16 MB boundary as a fast swap area (before writing to disk) to avoid the problem. It is up to the hard disk adapter driver, however, to decide how to handle this situation.
Only AT bus adapters are limited to 24-bit DMA. Microchannel, EISA, VESA LocalBus, and other 32-bit adapters are not so limited. Moreover, only a select few AT bus hard disk adapters utilize DMA. Nearly all MFM, RLL, ESDI, and IDE adapters, and most SCSI adapters, do not use DMA for disk access.
Suffice it to say that, regardless of your present hardware, OS/2 Warp will take advantage of it as best it can. However, if you are planning new hardware purchases, you may wish to take this particular hardware design limitation into account. Specifically, if you plan to install more than 16 MB of RAM in your system, either choose a 32-bit hard disk adapter (Microchannel or PCI, for example) or choose an AT bus adapter which does not utilize DMA for disk access (a standard IDE adapter, an Adaptec 152x series SCSI adapter, or a Future Domain SCSI adapter, for example). The performance trade-off is highly system dependent, however. You may find that even DMA adapters such as the Adaptec 154x series outperform the alternatives in certain cases.
(2.7) Device Driver List
What device drivers are available that aren't included with OS/2 Warp?
Here is a list of a few of the device drivers (and their common filenames) available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. New and updated OS/2 Warp device drivers are being released almost every day, so use this list only as a rough guide. If you do not see the driver you need listed, you may be able to use one of OS/2 Warp's built-in drivers or a "generic" driver. If you develop PC hardware, and wish to create an OS/2 Warp driver, contact the IBM Developer Connection (800-6-DEVCON in the United States, for example) to obtain the OS/2 Device Driver Development Kit.
* 3Com Etherlink III: 3C5X9.ZIP * 8255 PIO Adapter: 2.ZIP * Allied Telesis AT-1700T Ethernet: 17LANOS2.ZIP * Alpha Research SCSI: SCSIOS.ZIP * Always 7048 CD-ROM: AL7048.ZIP * Always AL-7000 SCSI: IN2000.ZIP * Always IN-2000 SCSI: ALIN2OS2.ZIP * AMI SCSI: AMI0OS2.ZIP * Apple CD-150/Sony CDU-8002 CD-ROM: CD-150.ZIP * Appoint Gliffic Plus: GLIFF1.ZIP * ARNET SmartPort Plus: ARNETOS2.ZIP * Artpad (Pen for OS/2): ARTPAD.ZIP * Aztech 268-01 CD-ROM: AZT268-1.ZIP * Aztech 268-03 CD-ROM: AZT268I.ZIP * Beethoven Superspin CDD-110 CD-ROM: WEARNES.ZIP * Boca Vortek: OS21_VR.ZIP * Boca Voyager: VOYOS2.ZIP * Calcomp (Pen for OS/2): CALCMP.ZIP * Canon BubbleJet printers: BJOS2.ZIP * Canon Laser printers: CANLBP.ZIP * CE-Infosys SCSI: CEI5630.ZIP * Chinon 431, 435, 535 CD-ROM: CHINON.ZIP * Chips & Technologies video: C&T643.ZIP * Compaq Concerto (Pen for OS/2): CNCRTO.ZIP * Conner IDE hard disks (automatic power down): CONNER.ZIP * Cornerstone and ImageAccelerator: IAOS2102.ZIP * Cyrix 486DLC Cache Enabler: CYRIX.ZIP * Diamond Stealth 64: 8OS21.ZIP * Diamond Viper VLB video: OS2102.ZIP * Digiboard PC/X: 594M.ZIP * Digiboard PC/X, MC/X: 309K.ZIP * Digiboard driver for IBM LAN Distance: 1142A.ZIP * Dolphin 8000 AT CD-ROM: DOLAT001.ZIP * DTC 2290 EISA IDE: 32EIDE2.ZIP * DTC SCSI: DTCSCSI.ZIP * DTC VESA LocalBus IDE: 32EIDE.ZIP * Generic 800x600-16 video: SVGA16.ZIP * Goldstar R400/R420 CD-ROM: GSCD4X.ZIP * Gravis Ultrasound: GUSOS202.ZIP * Hercules Dynamite: DYNAMITE.ZIP * Hercules Graphite: AGX1596.ZIP * IBM 4/10 GB 4 mm DAT: IBM410.ZIP * IBM Image Adapter/A: IAAOS2.ZIP * IBM Infrared Wireless LAN Adapter: IRLAN.ZIP * IBM LANStreamer: DB12.ZIP * IBM MWave DSP: OS_2D.ZIP * IBM PS/2 Model 95 Info Panel: PS2INF.ZIP * IBM Token Ring Busmaster: IBMTRBMO.ZIP * Inmos Transputer: TRANSP.ZIP * Iomega Bernoulli: BERN231.ZIP * Logitech MouseMan/Sensa: L_MS_OS2.ZIP * Matrox MGA II+ video: MATROX12.ZIP * Microsolutions Backpack CD-ROM: BPCDOS2.ZIP * Miro 10SD, 20SD, ERGO video: MISD111.ZIP * Miro 20SV, 40SV, ERGO video: MISV101.ZIP * Mozart audio: MOZART06.ZIP * NCR 53C810 SCSI: NCR810.ZIP * NCR video: NCROS215.ZIP * NEC 260 IDE CD-ROM: NEC260.ZIP * NEC Pinwriter printers: NECPIN.ZIP * NET-420C Ethernet: NET420C.ZIP * Novell NE-2000 Ethernet: LSNE2.ZIP * Number 9 GXE, GXE64, GXE64P: 64OS2.ZIP * Number 9 Trio: TRIOOS2.ZIP * PC Speaker (MMPM/2): SPKRDD22.ZIP * Pentium Workaround (For Flawed CPU): 586NPX.ZIP * Promise IDE: OS2DRV11.ZIP * QLogic SCSI: QL10OS.ZIP * RACAL Interlan NI5210 Ethernet: NI5210O.ZIP * RACAL Interlan NI9210 Ethernet: S12963.ZIP * Reveal/AZI audio: SCROS2.ZIP * Seagate ST-01/ST-02 SCSI: ST01_102.ZIP * Sixgraph Wizard 900 video: P9OS2140.ZIP * SPEA Mirage P-64 video: MIRAGEP.ZIP * Spider Black Widow: BWPOS2.ZIP * Spider SC-100E Ethernet: S12960.ZIP * STB Express PCI video: EXPOS2.ZIP * SummaSketch II: SUMMA.ZIP * Teac CD-55 CD-ROM: CD55OS.ZIP * TEKRAM DC-800B SCSI: TEKRAM.ZIP * TEKRAM IDE Caching controller: DC620OS2.ZIP * Texas Instruments TI-4000 Quickport mouse: OS2MICE.ZIP * Trantor SCSI: OS2-TSL6.ZIP * Trident 9440 video: OS2_9440.ZIP * V-7 Mercury video: OSMIP202.ZIP * V-7 Mirage video: OSMIR202.ZIP * Wacom (Pen for OS/2): WACOMD.ZIP * Wearnes DD110/Orchid CDS3110 CD-ROM: CDD110.ZIP * Weitek P9x00 video: P9X00HI.ZIP * Western Digital/SMC Ethercard Plus: EOO215.ZIP
(3.0) Software
The following questions are addressed in this section:
(3.1) Applications
What applications are available for OS/2 Warp?
In addition to the thousands of applications available for DOS and Windows, there are over 2,500 OS/2-specific applications representing almost every category imaginable. OS/2 Warp provides an attractive, 32-bit, Workplace Shell environment for new applications; many do not have DOS/Windows predecessors. Here are just a few:
* AIM/SDS
o Galactic Civilizations
o Tensor
* Alpha Software
o AlphaFour
* Artisoft
o LANtastic for OS/2
* Athena Designs
o Mesa 2 Spreadsheet
* BocaSoft
o System Sounds
o WipeOut Screen Saver
* Borland
o C++
o ObjectVision
o Interbase
* Cawthon Software
o Chipchat Wireless Communicator
* Computer Associates
o CommonView
o Compete!
o Datacom
o dBFast
o Easytrieve Workstation
o IDMS
o PAN/LCM
o QbyX
o Realia COBOL
o Realizer
o RET
o Simply Accounting
o SuperProject
o Telon/PWS
o Textor
o Unicenter
* Corel Systems
o CorelDraw
o CorelOffice
o Ventura Publisher
* Creative Systems Programming
o Golden CommPass
* DeScribe
o DeScribe 5
* DUX
o SimCity
* Global Village
o Faxworks Pro
o Faxworks LAN
* Hilgraeve
o HyperAccess 5
o KopyKat
* HockWare
o VisPro/REXX
o VisPro C/C++
* IBM
o ADSM
o AnyNet/2
o APL
o Book Manager
o C Set ++
o CallPath/2
o CICS
o Communications Manager/2
o Continuous Speech Series
o DB2
o DCAF
o DCE
o Developer Connection
o Device Driver Kit
o DirecTalk/2
o DualStor
o EduQuest educational software (including Columbus and Illuminated Books)
o FlowMark
o FormTalk
o HyperWise
o LAN Distance
o LAN Server 4
o LAN Server for Macintosh
o LAN Server Ultimedia
o NetFinity
o Person to Person/2
o PL/1
o Programmer's Toolkit
o Prolog
o Screen Magnifier/2
o Screen Reader/2
o SearchManager/2
o SOM Toolkit
o TCP/IP
o THINKable/2
o Time and Place/2
o TranslationManager/2
o Ultimedia Builder/2
o Ultimedia Perfect Image/2
o VideoCharger
o VisualAge
o VisualGen
o VisualInfo
o Visualizer
o VoiceType Dictation for OS/2
o VRPG
o (Many others)
* Lotus Development
o 1-2-3
o Freelance Graphics
o Notes
o cc:Mail
o Ami Pro
* Maxis
o SimCity 2000
* Micrographx
o Draw
o Designer
* Microrim
o R:Base
* OneUp
o S.M.A.R.T.
o WindowWasher
* Online Data
o OnCmd xBase
* Proportional Software
o DCF/2 (disk compression)
* Software Corp. of America
o Poly/PM
o TalkThru
* Stac Electronics
o Stacker 4
* Sundial Systems
o Relish
* Sybase
o System 10 SQL Server
* Symantec
o Fastback Plus
o Norton Commander
o Zortech C++
* Watcom
o C++
o Fortran
o SQL Server
o VX-REXX
OS/2 Warp versions of popular utilities include Info-Zip's Zip and Unzip, ARC, LHA, Zoo 2.1, many GNU tools, tens of different file finders, desktop clocks, calculators, and many more. Programming languages include Ada, APL, Assembler, BASIC, C, C++, COBOL, Forth, Fortran, Icon, LISP, Modula-2, Pascal, PL/1, Prolog, REXX (included with every copy of OS/2 Warp), Smalltalk, and still more, from vendors such as Borland, Cabot, Clarion, IBM, Microway, Symantec (through its Zortech subsidiary), Watcom, and many more. Two free ports of the 32-bit GNU C/C++ compiler, GCC/2 and EMX/GCC, are available [see (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources]. See the Programmer's Edition of the OS/2 Warp Frequently Asked Questions List for more information on OS/2 Warp programming tools and utilities.
The IBM PC Company BBS (919-517-0001) provides an online product database of OS/2-specific software. A directory of OS/2 applications, IBM document number G362-0029, is published by Graphics Plus (phone 800-READ-OS2). The OS/2 Development Tools Guide is available free of charge by calling the IBM Developer Assistance Program at (407) 982-6408. TINF [see (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources] is an applications directory (for use with the OS/2 VIEW facility).
Where can I obtain OS/2 Warp shareware and freeware?
See (4.11) OS/2 Warp BBSes for information on bulletin board systems that support OS/2 Warp.
On the Internet, the Usenet conference comp.binaries.os2 carries OS/2 software. And several sites are available via anonymous ftp. (No ftp? Send a single line message with the word HELP to bitftp@pucc.bitnet or ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com to learn about ftp mail servers.) Some are (with Internet node numbers and subdirectories):
ftp-os2.cdrom.com 192.153.46.2 pub/os2 ftp-os2.nmsu.edu 128.123.35.151 os2 software.watson.ibm.com 129.34.139.5 pub/os2 mtsg.ubc.ca 137.82.27.1 os2: access.usask.ca 128.233.3.1 pub/archives/os2 luga.latrobe.edu.au 131.172.2.2 pub/os2 funic.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 pub/os2 pdsoft.lancs.ac.uk 148.88.64.2 micros/ibmpc/os2 ftp.uni-stuttgart.de 129.69.1.12 soft/os2 src.doc.ic.ac.uk 146.169.2.1 computing/systems/os2 zaphod.cs.uwindsor.ca 137.207.224.3 pub/local/os2 ftp.luth.se 130.240.18.2 pub/pc/os2 ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de 131.159.0.198 pub/comp/os/os2
The ftp-os2.cdrom.com library is available on CD-ROM from Walnut Creek (phone 510-947-5996). A quarterly subscription is available. Profit Press (phone 800-843-7990) also offers OS/2 shareware and freeware on CD-ROM. EMS (phone 301-924-3594) offers an OS/2 shareware/freeware library on diskette.
Other sources include CompuServe, Prodigy, America Online, GEnie, BIX, and numerous other online services. See (4.7) Online Services.
IBM has been releasing freely distributable employee written software (e.g. Excal, Visual REXX) and OS/2 patches to these electronic archives.
What are the "must have" shareware and freeware titles?
Here are some of the shareware and freeware selections that have proven popular among OS/2 Warp users. Where available, an approximate filename is provided. However, since version numbers are changing frequently, please bear in mind that some of this information may be dated. Also, please register any shareware you use -- your support will ensure a continuing supply of capable OS/2 Warp shareware.
- 4OS2 Version 2.5 (4OS225B.ZIP): A replacement command interpreter from JP Software. A must for command line users.
- BlackHole (BLCKH3.ZIP): A Workplace Shell object that destroys anything dragged to it.
- BookShelf (BOOKSHLF.ZIP): Utility which presents a coherent menu of all available INF files on your system. Creates an OS/2 bootable diskette.
- C-Kermit 5A(190) (CKO190_.ZIP): A terminal emulation and modem communications program featuring the Kermit file transfer protocol.
- CONFIG.SYS Editor (CFGED1B.ZIP): A Presentation Manager utility which eases CONFIG.SYS editing.
- emTeX (various): Provides professional typesetting and document composition.
- EMX/GCC (various): Powerful C/C++ compiler with programming aids and enhanced libraries.
- Enhanced Editor Toolkit and Accessories (various): Add-ons to the Enhanced Editor (EPM) which provide editor macro capabilities, documentation, and various accessories.
- Extended Attributes Backup (EABK23.ZIP): Saves extended attributes so that non-EA aware backup software preserves all necessary OS/2 data.
- FM/2 Utilities (FM2UTILS.ZIP): FAT/HPFS defragmenters and more.
- Galleria (GALLER22.ZIP): Graphics manipulation and screen capture utility. Also try PM Camera for screen capture.
- GhostScript PM (GSPM26.ZIP): Postscript interpreter and viewer.
- GTAK GNU tar (GTAK24.ZIP): Tape archive (backup and restore) utility. Supports SCSI tape drives.
- HSwitch (HSWTCH02.ZIP): A task list for full screen sessions.
- IBM Configurator and Pricer (ICPAUSA.ZIP): Prices IBM personal computer systems and accessories.
- Icon Extractor (ICON_170.ZIP): Converts Windows icons to OS/2 format. Icons can be extracted from Windows executables. Assigns icons via drag and drop. Deletes undeleteable objects.
- Icon Programming Language (ICON88.ZIP): A simple yet powerful programming language for many platforms, including OS/2 Warp. Supports graphical applications.
- Info-Zip's UnZip 5.1 (UNZ512X2.EXE): Extract files from ZIP archives. PKZip 2.x compatible. Supports extended attributes. Companion utility, Zip 1.9, also available.
- INI Maintenance (INIMT33D.ZIP): Edit and maintain your vital OS/2 INI files.
- Internet Relay Chat (IRC2_021.ZIP): Connection to the Internet Relay Chat system. Works with OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection software.
- McAfee's Virus Scan (OSC214.ZIP): Detects viruses. Companion Virus Clean and Net Scan utilities also available.
- Minesweeper (DMINE121.ZIP): A game which requires you to avoid the mines in a minefield. Several other versions are available.
- MR/2 (MR2_220.ZIP): Reader for BBS QWK mail packets. File manager and program launcher.
- NetSuite (NSUITE1B.ZIP): A collection of popular Internet software packages.
- OS2Exec (OS2EXEC.ZIP): Start any OS/2 program from any OS/2 DOS session.
- OS2You (OS2YOU30.ZIP): OS/2 remote control over a modem or LAN connection. Companion program PM2You, for control of graphical applications, including DOS and Windows, is also available.
- PMMPEG (PMMPG21A.ZIP): A software-only MPEG video player for OS/2 Warp -- perfect when using the Internet.
- PM 'Poze (PMPOZE.ZIP): Music composition software for OS/2 Warp with support for MOD music files.
- PM UUEncode/Decode (PMUUE120.ZIP): A friendly UUEncode/Decode utility for converting binary files to plain ASCII text and vice versa. Handy when using OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection.
- PMView (PMVU86B.ZIP): Shareware GIF, JPEG, etc. image viewer with slideshow and drag-and-drop features. Other image viewers include JoeView, Image Archiver, and PMJPEG.
- Pretty Good Privacy (PGP26OS2.ZIP): Encryption/decryption of files for enforcing privacy.
- PS Assistant (PSAST101.ZIP): Provides information on most of the IBM personal computer product line, including OS/2.
- psPM (PSPM2.ZIP): Displays a graphical representation of the processes running on an OS/2 system and allows termination of any or all.
- 'Roids (ROIDS23.ZIP): The classic Asteroids game updated for OS/2 Warp, with multimedia.
- Screen Blanker (BLANKR47.ZIP): Customizable screen saver and desktop lockup utility.
- SIO COM Drivers (SIO145.ZIP): Replacement serial port drivers which offer enhanced performance.
- Souper (SOUPER12.ZIP): Downloads e-mail and new messages in newsgroups from the Internet for later reading, offline. Works well with Yarn for OS/2.
- StartD (STARTD22.ZIP): Provides the capability to start DOS sessions with specific, custom DOS Settings from the OS/2 command line.
- UUPC/Extended (various): Provides uucp connection for mail, news, and other services.
- Visual REXX (VREXX2.ZIP): Provides the ability to write REXX programs which use Presentation Manager windows, scroll bars, menus, and other features.
- Workplace Shell Backup (WPSBK30.ZIP): Backup the OS/2 desktop.
- Workplace Shell Tools (WPTOOL09.ZIP): Creates or deletes standard Workplace Shell objects.
- Worldwide OS/2 BBS List (OS2WORLD.ZIP): List of BBSes around the world where OS/2 is the predominant area of discussion and where large OS/2 software archives are held.
- Zap-o-Com (ZOC203.ZIP): A popular, full featured modem communications application from Germany.
- ZipStream (ZS103A.ZIP): On-the-fly disk compression using a safer, file-by-file approach. Works with both FAT and HPFS.
- ZTreeBold (ZTB120.ZIP): One of several file managers for OS/2 Warp. Others include FileJet, ADU/2, OS/2 Commander, and literally over a dozen others.
(3.4) Disk Utilities
Is there a Norton Utilities for OS/2 Warp?
Not yet, although Norton Desktop, Norton Utilities, and Norton Commander all work under OS/2 Warp's DOS/Windows sessions [with limitations; see (1.3) DOS and Windows Compatibility]. Also, Norton Commander is now available for OS/2 Warp.
However, there are at least three sets of system utilities just for OS/2 Warp: GammaTech Utilities, JFS Utilities, and Graham Utilities. All are available from dealers specializing in OS/2 Warp software. Note that OS/2 Warp has a built-in UNDELETE command (see the online Command Reference for instructions on how to enable UNDELETE), and HPFS is resistant to fragmentation [see (1.5) High Performance File System].
(3.5) Running a BBS Under OS/2 Warp
I would like to set up an OS/2 Warp BBS. What is available?
OS/2 Warp is an excellent environment for BBS operation (even using DOS/Windows software), including large multiline facilities. Related software will enable FidoNet capabilities, gateways to Usenet/UUCP, nodelist processing, additional file transfer protocols, and more.
Six popular OS/2 Warp BBSes are Maximus, Lora, and Simplex [available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources), Omega Point/2 (BBS 404-564-1961), Magnum (phone 818-706-9800, BBS 818-706-9805), and Multi-Net (phone 503-883-8099, BBS 503-883-8197).
For more information on operating a BBS under OS/2 Warp (with conferences devoted to the subject) log on to one of the OS/2 Warp BBSes listed in (4.11) OS/2 Warp BBSes.
(3.6) Multimedia (MMPM/2)
What do I need for OS/2 Warp multimedia applications?
OS/2 Warp includes support for both the Windows multimedia extensions and MMPM/2, the OS/2 Warp multimedia extensions, at no extra charge. OS/2 Warp's MMPM/2 includes software motion video support for IBM Ultimotion, Intel Indeo, and Autodesk FLI/FLC files. Software motion video provides playback of video clips in a window under OS/2 Warp. (Video for Windows will operate correctly under Win-OS/2, but Ultimotion is far more capable than Video for Windows. Ultimotion supports higher frame rates, larger image sizes, better synchronization of video and audio, stretching, and, often, simultaneous playback of two or more video clips, even with background tasks running.) An accelerated display adapter and a fast processor can help improve the quality of software motion video.
Drivers for the following multimedia adapters (audio, video capture, video display, MPEG, etc.) are included with OS/2 Warp:
* AITech WaveWatcher * AudioDrive (ESS 688) * Business Audio (AD1848) * CEI Video Clipper * Compaq Business Audio * Creative Labs SoundBlaster * Creative Labs SoundBlaster 16 * Creative Labs SoundBlaster AWE32 * Creative Labs SoundBlaster Pro * Creative Labs VideoBlaster * Hauppauge Win/TV * IBM M-Audio * IBM Thinkpad Audio (Crystal) * MediaVision Jazz 16 * MediaVision ProAudio Spectrum 16 * New Media Graphics Super VideoWindows * OmniComp M&M Basic * Samsung VideoMagic * Sigma Designs Reel Magic * Sound Galaxy NOVA 16 Extra * Toshiba 4700C * Toshiba 6600C
If you have an audio card that is not on this list, it may still work with a similar driver. For example, the MediaVision ProAudio Studio and ProAudio Spectrum Plus (see below) sound cards will work with the ProAudio Spectrum 16 driver. Also, many ATI sound cards work with the Creative Labs SoundBlaster or SoundBlaster Pro driver. Some ATI sound cards, however, require a BIOS upgrade.
Other drivers (including one for the popular Gravis Ultrasound) are available either from the manufacturer of your sound card or from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources.
If you do not have a sound card, there is a MMPM/2 driver for the standard PC speaker, also available from OS/2 Warp shareware and freeware sources. However, this driver demands a huge amount of processor attention and does not provide sound quality that even approaches the simplest sound card.
Note that the MediaVision ProAudio Spectrum Plus operates correctly when using the built-in MMPM/2 ProAudio Spectrum 16 driver. However, to obtain full functionality you must change the PARAMSTRING line in the [ibmwavepas1601] section of the file \MMOS2\MMPM2.INI after installation of MMPM/2. Using a text editor (like the OS/2 System Editor), change the line so that BPS=8 instead of BPS=16. This change causes MMPM/2 to default to 8-bit audio (since the ProAudio Spectrum Plus does not support 16-bit audio).
REXX programs [see (5.11) REXX] can be used to play, record, and manipulate MMPM/2 audio and video files. For more information on REXX and MMPM/2, consult the online Multimedia with REXX document (located in the Multimedia folder).
More information on IBM's OS/2 Warp multimedia extensions (MMPM/2) and tools, Ultimotion, multimedia hardware, and IBM multimedia titles (e.g. Illuminated Manuscript) is available through IBM's Multimedia Office (phone 800-426-9402 ext. 150).
Support for DOS and Windows applications which require access to a sound card will depend on which sound card you have. Generally such applications will work fine. At the worst you may have to turn off MMPM/2 support and/or run only one DOS or Windows application which requires use of the sound card at a time. At best you can run DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications which use the sound card at the same time. For advice on setting up DOS, Windows, and OS/2 multimedia applications, consult the Multimedia online document, located in your Information folder.
(3.7) Viruses
Should I worry about viruses when running OS/2 Warp?
At present there are no viruses specific to OS/2 Warp. However, DOS/Windows viruses can conceivably infect an OS/2 Warp system. DOS/Windows antivirus tools are just as useful in preventing such infection. Also, IBM has an antivirus package (AntiVirus/2) which runs under OS/2 Warp directly (without using a DOS or Windows session). To order AntiVirus/2, call 800-551-3579 (800-465-7999 in Canada). Other antivirus packages for OS/2 Warp include Central Point's AntiVirus, McAfee's SCAN and CLEAN, and Dr. Solomon's Antivirus Toolkit, Dr. Cohen, and F-PROT.
But OS/2 Warp is likely to be much more resistant to viruses because of its design. Viruses running in one virtual DOS/Windows session are likely to be confined to that session. Low level disk access is curtailed under OS/2 Warp, thus preventing most virus infection at that level. And when a DOS/Windows virus does trigger, it is far less likely to disrupt the entire system. In fact, OS/2 Warp is most vulnerable when it isn't in charge (i.e. when native DOS is being used). A DOS virus then has free reign to write to the hard disk and possibly disable OS/2 Warp. The greater risk comes from leaving OS/2 Warp.
OS/2 Warp is by no means virus proof -- no system is. But it should prove more resistant to virus infection.
(3.8) Networking Products
What networking products are available for OS/2 Warp?
Unfortunately, PC networking can be a complicated subject. The simple act of connecting two PCs can be easy, though, if you understand a little bit about how networks operate (and how they relate to OS/2 Warp). With that caveat in mind, here is a plain English introduction to networking with OS/2 Warp.
Drivers for Network Adapters
OS/2 Warp drivers are available for nearly all network adapters because of OS/2's dominant position as the software of choice for PC networking. There are two types of OS/2 Warp network drivers in general use: NDIS and ODI. ODI is only used by the Novell Netware Client Kit for OS/2. NDIS drivers are used for all other OS/2 networking software in common use.
If you only wish to connect your OS/2 Warp PC to Novell Netware servers using the Novell Netware Client Kit for OS/2, then you should use an OS/2 ODI network card driver. The driver will likely be supplied with the Novell Netware Client Kit for OS/2 (see below).
If you do not plan to run the Novell Netware Client Kit for OS/2, or you plan to run it in combination with other OS/2 networking or communications software, you should plan on using the OS/2 NDIS (also sometimes known as the IBM LAN Server) driver for your network card. The OS/2 NDIS driver is almost always found on a diskette accompanying your network card or can be obtained directly from the manufacturer. It may also be included in the OS/2 networking software you purchase (for example, IBM LAN Server 4 or Artisoft's LANtastic for OS/2). OS/2 NDIS drivers for many network adapters are also available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources, as well as vax.ftp.com via Internet anonymous ftp. Drivers for 3Com adapters are available via anonymous ftp from ftp.3com.com, from the 3Com Support BBS, or from CompuServe (GO THREECOM). Drivers for Cabletron adapters are available via anonymous ftp from ftp.ctron.com.
Make sure you request the driver intended for OS/2 Version 2.0 or later. OS/2 NDIS drivers written for earlier releases of OS/2 can be used, but they will require that you edit the accompanying .NIF file so that more recent installation programs will recognize it.
The Novell Netware Client Kit for OS/2 can use OS/2 NDIS drivers if you install an ODI to NDIS converter. This converter (or "shim") is supplied as part of either IBM's Network Transport Services/2 (LAPS) or the replacement product, IBM Multiprotocol Transport Services (MPTS/LAPS). (NTS/2 should be considered an earlier version of MPTS.) MPTS forms the core of all OS/2 Warp networking software. It provides the installation and configuration utility for matching network card drivers with networking protocols. IBM licenses MPTS to many vendors, and it is included with most OS/2 networking products. MPTS is almost always the first software you should install (after OS/2 Warp) to allow your PC to access a network. Using MPTS, you simply select your network card(s), then select which networking protocol(s) you wish to run with your network card(s), and MPTS takes care of the rest.
What Networking Protocols are Available?
There are few (if any) networking protocols which are not available for OS/2 Warp. A networking protocol is simply the language used for communicating with other systems across the network. OS/2 Warp allows you to use multiple networking protocols, at the same time, over the same network card, should you need to, so you can mix and match as need be (without taking away precious memory from your DOS applications). Sometimes networking protocols are available by themselves (packaged without any client software to take advantage of the protocol). For example, the IBM LAN Server 4 requester (client) software includes all the programs you need to access a server (or peer) running IBM LAN Server 4. It also includes MPTS with NetBIOS (the primary protocol used for communicating with systems running LAN Server, Windows for Workgroups, and NT, among others). However, the same MPTS includes other protocol support, including TCP/IP, 802.2 (SNA/APPN), and the ODI to NDIS converter (used to run the Novell NetWare Client Kit for OS/2). Other times OS/2 networking software comes with everything you need in one box. Still other times the software which uses a particular networking protocol is packaged separate from MPTS and the protocol support. For example, the Internet Connection, part of OS/2 Warp's BonusPak, works only with a modem using a dial-up connection to the Internet unless you add MPTS (which provides TCP/IP protocol support for network cards).
There are four primary networking protocols for PCs in use today. If you are just starting to venture into the world of PC networking, you need not understand everything about these protocols, but you should know what popular OS/2 Warp networking software uses each.
* TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
As the name suggests, TCP/IP is the predominant protocol used for connecting systems into the Internet. Due to the popularity of the Internet, and due to the fact that TCP/IP is available for a larger variety of systems than any other networking protocol, TCP/IP use is growing rapidly. TCP/IP is designed to be routed over wide area networks, so it is well suited for campus environments and for connecting many remote locations. However, TCP/IP has several disadvantages. It can be difficult to configure (although OS/2 Warp's TCP/IP support is the easiest yet devised). It treats all network traffic the same, regardless of its importance. It is not very efficient handling exceptionally busy network links. It cannot guarantee delivery of real time information (and thus doesn't work particularly well with audio and video). Finally, NFS (Network File System), the software used to share disks over a TCP/IP-based network, lacks features and performance.
The following software packages for OS/2 Warp provide TCP/IP protocol support for network adapters (in other words, they include MPTS):
o IBM DCE Client Kit for OS/2
o IBM LAN Server 4
o IBM LAN Server 4 Requester (Client) for OS/2 (comes with LAN Server 4)
o IBM AnyNet/2
o Most other products with MPTS
The following software packages for OS/2 Warp provide TCP/IP protocol support plus TCP/IP access software beyond that included with OS/2 Warp:
o IBM TCP/IP Version 2 for OS/2 Base Services Kit (requires latest Service Pak)
Includes both client and server software, including telnetd, ftpd, rshd, rexecd, and more.
o IBM TCP/IP Version 2 for OS/2 Accessory Kits (require latest Service Paks)
Add-on kits are available for NFS (server and client), X Window Server, Domain Name Server, X.25 Extended Networking, and more.
Other protocols (such as NetBIOS) can be encapsulated and routed over TCP/IP. (MPTS provides the support to do so.) WinSock support is provided with OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection software, so you can run any TCP/IP or Internet software designed for Windows under OS/2 Warp. See (0.4) Special Report on OS/2 Warp for additional information on TCP/IP, the Internet, and OS/2 Warp. * NetBIOS/SMB
NetBIOS is the "native" protocol used by IBM LAN Server, Artisoft's LANtastic (Version 5 and later, including LANtastic for OS/2), Windows for Workgroups, Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft LAN Manager, and several other PC-based network software packages. The protocol is fairly well standardized, and all these systems can "talk" to one another. NetBIOS is the highest performance networking protocol available for PCs (or, more precisely, IBM LAN Server 4 Advanced has been rated the fastest PC network server by LANQuest Labs when compared with Microsoft NT Advanced Server, which uses NetBIOS, and Novell Netware, which uses the IPX protocol). However, its major disadvantage is that it cannot be easily routed over wide area networks (see above).
The following software packages for OS/2 Warp provide NetBIOS protocol support for network adapters:
o IBM LAN Distance
o IBM Network Transport Services/2
o IBM Communications Manager (Version 1.1 or later)
o Most other products with LAPS
o IBM DCE Client Kit for OS/2
o IBM AnyNet/2
o Most other products with MPTS
The following software packages for OS/2 Warp provide NetBIOS protocol support for your network card plus access software for sharing disks, printers, etc., over a NetBIOS-based network:
o Artisoft's LANtastic for OS/2
The premier peer-to-peer networking package for OS/2 Warp. Quickly, easily, and inexpensively connects you to other OS/2 Warp PCs with LANtastic or IBM LAN Server, and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups and NT PCs. LAN Times raves that LANtastic for OS/2 is much easier to use than any other version.
o IBM LAN Server 4
Rated the fastest network operating system by LANQuest Labs. Available in both Entry and Advanced versions, and second only to Novell Netware in marketshare, IBM LAN Server 4 now includes both TCP/IP and NetBIOS protocol support, drag-and-drop administration, better documentation, and a host of other enhancements. Winner of "Best of Show" at Networld+Interop.
o IBM LAN Server 4 Requester (Client) for OS/2
Offers connection to any NetBIOS-based server, even using NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Also offers limited peer-to-peer networking. Diskettes containing this software are included with IBM LAN Server 4 only.
In short, for small peer-to-peer networks, Artisoft's LANtastic for OS/2 is an excellent choice. When your needs grow, IBM LAN Server 4 Entry Edition fits the bill. And, when your needs require the fastest PC server you can get, IBM LAN Server 4 Advanced Edition is the wise move. * IPX/SPX
IPX is a protocol which was designed by Novell. It is used to connect to Novell Netware servers and to PCs running Personal Netware.
The following software packages for OS/2 Warp provide IPX protocol support and Netware access software for your network card:
o Novell Netware Client Kit for OS/2
Updated regularly (the latest version is Release 2.11), the Netware Kit for OS/2 is freely available from Compuserve, OS/2 Warp BBSes, and many other electronic sources. (Novell collects revenue from higher priced servers and provides free or nearly free client software.) To use the Netware Kit with OS/2 NDIS drivers (and other OS/2 Warp networking software), be sure to select Netware support when you configure your network card using MPTS. If you only plan to use your network card to access Novell Netware servers, you can use an OS/2 ODI driver (if available).
o Novell Netware for OS/2 (from IBM)
A kit which allows you to install the regular Novell Netware 4.01 server software on an OS/2 PC. Your complete Netware server can then run alongside any other DOS, Windows, or OS/2 applications, even IBM LAN Server 4, on the same PC. * 802.2/SNA
IBM's enterprise networking protocols are collectively referred to as SNA (Systems Networking Architecture). These are the protocols used to connect PCs to other PCs, midrange systems (such as the AS/400), and mainframe systems (such as the ES/9000). SNA protocols are similar to TCP/IP in that they are being used to connect a variety of different systems together. However, SNA protocols offer features such as rollback/commit options (for keeping databases in sync), priority markers (for giving more important traffic preference), and better utilization over busy networks.
Communications Manager/2 is a comprehensive package designed for enterprise networking with SNA protocols using dial-up, ISDN, coax, or network links. Terminal emulation (IBM 3270, IBM 5250), file transfer (IND$FILE), APPC/APPN, SDLC, LU 8.2, and more are all included. In other words, all the access software you need for taking advantage of IBM's enterprise networking is in one integrated package. Communications Manager/2 Version 1.1 (or later) includes NTS/2 (LAPS).
What Other Networking Packages are Available for OS/2 Warp?
The four primary protocols are not the only protocols in use today (and they are not the only protocols which are available for OS/2 Warp). Other packages include:
* DEC Pathworks (DECnet) * Banyan Vines Requester (Client) for OS/2 * AppleTalk (included with Lotus Notes for OS/2) * IBM LAN Server for Macintosh
Designed to run alongside a PC running IBM LAN Server 4, LAN Server for Macintosh allows the same server to be accessed by Apple Macintoshes on the network. It makes an IBM LAN Server 4 system look like an AppleShare server.
In addition, there are many other software packages designed for networks which are also designed for OS/2 Warp. Some are servers (Lotus Notes, cc:Mail Post Office for OS/2, and database servers such as IBM DB2 for OS/2 and Sybase System 10 SQL Server). Some are gateways and middleware (for example, IBM LAN Distance, which provides secure dial-up access to your office network; your modem behaves just like a network card, up to the speed of your modem). Some help manage networks (like IBM Netview for OS/2, IBM NetFinity, and CA-Unicenter from Computer Associates). Some let you control a PC over the network (IBM DCAF, Hilgraeve's KopyKat, and SCA's Poly/PM, for example). Some automate backups over a network (IBM ADSM). Some check for viruses (IBM Antivirus/2, McAfee ViruScan for OS/2). Some help you install software over a network (IBM LAD/2, IBM NetView Distribution Manager). And some just simply don't fit into any neat category (including Global Village's Faxworks LAN, IBM DCE, IBM SOM Toolkit, and IBM Time and Place/2). By no means is this a comprehensive list. And these software packages aren't reinventing the wheel; they all use one (or more) of the above mentioned networking protocols to communicate. So, for example, you might choose Artisoft's LANtastic for OS/2 and the Lotus Smartsuite for OS/2 (which includes cc:Mail for OS/2) to set up a small PC network with electronic mail, since cc:Mail works fine with NetBIOS.
Suffice it to say that OS/2 Warp is the most connected PC operating system, and it connects with style. Infoworld, in fact, calls OS/2 the best network client (and awarded it the "Interoperability Award").
(3.9) Peer-to-Peer Networking
How do I connect an OS/2 Warp machine into a peer-to-peer network?
There are three preferred packages for connecting your OS/2 Warp PC into a peer-to-peer network:
- Artisoft's LANtastic for OS/2
Simplest, easiest, and least expensive. Rated 4.5 (out of a possible 5 points) by LAN Times. Connects with other LANtastic PCs (DOS, Windows, and OS/2), IBM LAN Server, Microsoft LAN Manager, Windows for Workgroups, and Windows NT.
- IBM TCP/IP Version 2 for OS/2 with NFS Kit
NFS (Network File System) is the standard way to share disks with other systems across a TCP/IP network (including the Internet). The IBM NFS Kit turns any OS/2 Warp PC into an NFS client and server. If you want to participate in a peer-to-peer network with many Unix-based workstations (including IBM's RS/6000s), this choice is best. If you have TCP/IP protocol support from some other networking product (such as one which includes MPTS), the IBM TCP/IP Version 2 for OS/2 Base Services Kit is not absolutely required.
- IBM Communications Manager/2
APPN/APPC protocols for peer-to-peer networking are provided in this comprehensive package for IBM enterprise networking with SNA. Your OS/2 Warp PC is a full peer with midrange systems (such as the IBM AS/400) and mainframes (such as the IBM ES/9000). If these acronyms are foreign to you, try LANtastic for OS/2.
(3.10) Extended Services
What is Extended Services?
Prior to Version 2.0, IBM offered two separate packages with each release of OS/2: Standard Edition and Extended Edition. Extended Edition included extra, bundled software products: the Communications Manager (for communication with IBM mainframes, minicomputers, and other hosts), Database Manager (a full, network aware, relational database), and LAN Requester.
Later, IBM unbundled the Extended Edition features, dropped LAN Requester from the package (now available separately, with IBM's LAN Server), updated it for OS/2 2.x, and renamed it Extended Services 1.0. ES, by itself, did not include the base operating system as Extended Edition once did.
Most recently, IBM has stopped selling Extended Services, splitting it up into DB2 for OS/2 (a full 32-bit relational database) and Communications Manager/2. With each component available "a la carte," you can configure your OS/2 Warp system to your exact specifications (almost always at a lower cost), and you are free to substitute similar products from other vendors (so you aren't locked into IBM's offerings).
To install the now obsolete Extended Services 1.0 under OS/2 2.1 or later, you must replace the ESSTART.CMD file on ES Diskette 1 with the ESSTART.BAK file found in the \OS2\INSTALL directory. Remember to keep a backup of the old file.
(3.11) Internet Connection
How do I connect my OS/2 Warp PC to the Internet?
The following information is adapted from a chapter appearing in the forthcoming book Internet Secrets from IDG Books, a comprehensive guide to the Internet.
IBM's flagship software for PCs, OS/2 Warp, ships with a BonusPak of full fledged 32-bit applications, including a suite of Internet access applications. This section describes those capabilities, why you might choose OS/2 Warp to connect to the Internet, and how to configure and customize some of the special features found in the OS/2 Warp Internet Connection.
What is OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection?
The Internet Connection supplied with the basic OS/2 Warp package provides everything you need to access the Internet using a direct dial-up SLIP or PPP connection. There are two modem dialers supplied with the package. One registers you with the IBM Global Network (currently the only worldwide dial-up Internet service provider) and the other lets you sign onto any third party provider of your choice. Three free hours of Internet access on the IBM Global Network are provided with every copy of OS/2 Warp.
OS/2 Warp's BonusPak also includes Person to Person, Video IN, Multimedia Viewer, and other applications which enhance the capabilities of the Internet Connection software. Person to Person allows you to engage in "conference calls" on your PC, where you can exchange information using a shared chalkboard and even broadcast video signals if you have a high speed connection and the necessary hardware. Whatever you copy into your chalkboard (such as a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet) is seen by others in your Person to Person conference. Participants can draw lines, add text, point to items, and annotate inside the shared chalkboard window. Person to Person works over many types of networks, including the Internet Connection. Video IN allows you to record video clips from a VCR, laserdisc player, or other video signal using any of several video capture adapters for your PC. However, even if you do not have a video capture card, you can use OS/2 Warp's Video IN to create animated weather sequences, for example, like those you see on television as part of the weather forecast. You can use the Internet Connection to download weather maps of your favorite part of the world, then assemble those weather maps into a movie using Video IN. Multimedia Viewer extends OS/2 Warp's multimedia capabilities so that you can view and collect several image types (such as Kodak Photo CD, TIFF, GIF, Targa, and others) as well as play back audio files from other systems (such as the Sun .AU format), file types which are common on the Internet.
OS/2 Warp has several key benefits, all by itself, which make it a powerful platform for accessing the Internet. One of OS/2's key strengths for years has been its ability to reliably handle communications (including modem traffic) in the background along with other tasks. OS/2 Warp provides true preemptive multitasking and multithreading (often called "real multitasking"). Other operating environments, including Microsoft Windows and Macintosh System 7, provide cooperative multitasking. The difference is that OS/2 Warp, and not individual applications, is in charge of your PC's processor. In a cooperative multitasking system, if one programmer writes one application which does not yield control of your PC's processor back to the operating system in timely fashion, everything else stops running. Unfortunately that failure happens all too often. With OS/2 Warp, you can reliably and confidently download a file from the Internet using ftp, browse the World Wide Web using the IBM Web Explorer, format a diskette, print a document using your favorite word processor, and still run other DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications. File transfers will not abort, and connections won't be dropped, simply because you try to go do something else.
With OS/2 Warp, you are encouraged to go spend your time doing other things while receiving information from the Internet (or doing anything else, for that matter). That capability allows you to save a lot of online time (and charges), because you can have several tasks running at once. (Many OS/2 Warp users, for example, run two or more copies of the IBM Web Explorer simultaneously. While one is retrieving a page from the World Wide Web, the other can be read, without in any way disturbing any other task.) Preemptive multitasking also means that OS/2 Warp can be used just as easily as a server, delivering information over the Internet as requested. OS/2 Warp systems are used as ftp, gopher, and even World Wide Web servers, for example.
Finally, many "Internet in a Box" packages are sold in software dealerships, often for $100 or more. The entire OS/2 Warp package, including the BonusPak with the Internet Connection, is typically priced at $79 or less. The user community for OS/2 Warp is active, enthusiastic, and fast growing, and you can get help, advice, and assistance from members of that community through the Internet, even on a real time basis.
Installation
The Internet Connection (and other BonusPak applications) comes on a separate set of diskettes (or CD-ROM) in the OS/2 Warp package. Inside the BonusPak box you'll find a brief manual explaining each of the BonusPak applications and how to install them. A common installation program is provided (INSTALL.CMD) which you should ordinarily use. Select those applications you wish to install, one-by-one, from the common installation program.
If you have the CD-ROM version of the OS/2 Warp BonusPak, be sure to select the correct version for the country where you live. The BonusPak CD-ROM contains directories (such as US for United States and NO for Norway) for the various countries of the world. Run INSTALL.CMD from the correct directory.
Note that you do not have to shutdown and reboot your PC until after you have installed all the BonusPak applications you wish to use, after you have exited the common installation program. You do not need to reboot after installing each single application.
To shutdown your OS/2 Warp PC, either:
1. Move the mouse pointer so that it is pointing anywhere on the desktop background. Tap the right (second) mouse button. Select Shutdown. Or, 2. Click on the Shutdown button (can also be a little picture of a PC with a moon on the screen) located on the LaunchPad.
A proper shutdown will assure that all the changes you have made to your desktop will be saved.
Registering with the IBM Global Network
Even if you plan to use a third party Internet provider, you should register with the IBM Global Network to use your three hours of free time. The Internet Connection software is designed to be upgraded over a modem, and the IBM Global Network will automatically update your OS/2 Warp Internet Connection to the latest version when you first sign on. Plus, you can download the IBM Web Explorer (a free World Wide Web browser for OS/2 Warp) by double clicking on the Retrieve Software Updates icon, located in your IBM Internet Connection for OS/2 folder. If for some reason you do not wish to sign onto the IBM Global Network, you can retrieve the latest version of the Internet Connection software and the Web Explorer via anonymous ftp from ftp.ibm.net.
The latest rate information for your country is provided when you sign on to the IBM Global Network. When the rates are displayed, you are given the opportunity to then proceed with sign on or abort. Generally speaking, IBM Global Network's rates are attractive if you either travel from place to place (and need local access to the Internet from two or more cities, especially abroad) or if you must dial long distance (and incur extra charges) to dial another Internet service provider. If you live in a major metropolitan area, well served by other Internet service providers, and you rarely (if ever) need access to the Internet from other cities, you might want to investigate other providers (which may be less expensive).
After you have installed the Internet Connection and restarted your OS/2 Warp PC, you should see a folder called IBM Information Superhighway on your desktop. Double click on this folder to open it, then double click on the IBM Internet Connection for OS/2 folder. Inside you will see a folder called IBM Internet Customer Services. Double click on this folder, then double click on the Registration icon located inside. Follow the instructions provided to sign on. Make sure your modem is turned on and working. If you do not know which type of modem you have, just choose Default. Make sure you select the correct speed for your modem. A V.32bis modem, for example, usually will work best set to 19,200 bps.
If you ever need help accessing the IBM Global Network, double click on the Customer Assistance icon (located inside the IBM Internet Customer Services folder), and click on the Ask for help button. Telephone numbers and other ways of reaching IBM Global Network support worldwide are provided.
Be sure to write down your account information (especially your password). You will need your password every time you wish to sign on to the IBM Global Network to access the Internet. You can sign on to the IBM Global Network using the IBM Internet Dialer program (in your IBM Internet Connection for OS/2 folder) or by double clicking on any of the available applications (such as Gopher).
You can modify the settings for your modem, local access number, and other settings from the Dialer. Start the Internet Dialer, then click on the Cancel button to prevent your modem from dialing. A second window, which provides information on the commands send to your modem, will pop up. Just click on the settings button, and an OS/2 settings notebook for the Dialer will then appear. This settings notebook is a common fixture in OS/2 Warp, and it is used for altering the properties of virtually any object. Click on the tabs of the notebook to switch among categories of settings, and click on the arrows in the lower right of the notebook to flip pages back and forth.
Internet Connection Applications
The key Internet applications are included with OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection. They include Gopher, NewsReader/2, Ultimedia Mail/2 Lite, telnet, telnet 3270, and ftp. (The IBM Web Explorer is available for download using the Retrieve Software Updates program.) These applications are straightforward counterparts to versions for other platforms. However, there are some special features unique to OS/2 Warp.
NewsReader/2
The Internet Connection's NewsReader/2 is a graphical application to access NNTP (Network News Transport Protocol) Internet news servers. This application communicates with the news server over your connection with the Internet provider to receive messages contained in the 7,000 plus forums found on the Internet. Facilities are provided for reading messages, posting or mailing replies, using your favorite text editor, and even decoding so-called Rot13 messages, which is an encoding method often used by people who wish to provide mild protection against accidental reading of a message. For example, Rot13 can be used to encode messages which contain information about the plot in a new movie, including its conclusion, and you as a reader have to go through the task of directing NewsReader/2 to decode the Rot13 text if you want the information. :note.NewsReader/2 is not a "threaded" newsreader, meaning that it does not provide total flexibility over following "chains" of messages by subject. However, you can achieve nearly the same effect by changing NewsReader/2's settings to sort newsgroups by subject. :note.Many Internet messages are intended to be viewed on dumb terminals, where the characters on a given line can line up exactly with characters located on lines below. People often construct elaborate (or not so elaborate) text "drawings," using vertical bars, dashes, and other characters to create boxes and other shapes, lines, and pictures. These features will not display correctly unless you are using a monospaced (as opposed to proportionally spaced) typeface. In NewsReader/2, you can select either the System VIO or System Monospaced screen fonts (in your choice of sizes) to get better results when viewing messages that contain these features.
The first time you start NewsReader/2, you will be prompted to obtain the full list of available newsgroups. Allow NewsReader/2 to fetch this list, but go ahead and use some of the other Internet Connection applications while the list is downloading.
Ultimedia Mail/2 Lite
This mailer is POP compliant, so you can use it with any Internet service provider which provides a POP mail server. It also supports MIME mail, so you can easily send and receive binary attachments to e-mail (including multimedia files, Kodak Photo CD images, etc).
The Ultimedia Mail/2 Lite folder contains the various parts of this e-mail application. To check whether you have received any electronic mail, simply double click on the In-basket icon. After Ultimedia Mail has connected to the server, any e-mail in your in-box will be displayed with some basic information (subject, author, etc). The icon to the left of each piece of mail may contain a number inside. If so, it indicates that the message has not only a text part, but also attachments (such as binary files). The number indicates the total number of parts contained in that piece of e-mail (the main text counts as one part). Simply double click on a piece of e-mail to open and read it. A menu is available for each piece of e-mail. Simply point to the piece of e-mail and tap the right (second) mouse button. You can use this menu to delete e-mail that you do not wish to read, for example. :note.Use the sample e-mail that the IBM Global Network sends you to practice reading, editing, and deleting Internet electronic mail.
You can save e-mail in folders, collecting related pieces of mail in any chosen categories. Mail that you send is automatically saved in its own folder so that you have a record of correspondence with other people. To draft a new piece of e-mail (and send it to someone else), double click on the New Letter icon. The main window for composing e-mail will then appear. :note.Every time you connect to your Internet service provider, be sure to check your In-basket. You will not be automatically notified that you have e-mail waiting. However, most POP mail servers will hold your e-mail for long periods of time, so if you do not remember to check, your mail won't be lost just because you hang up. :note.Ultimedia Mail Lite supports drag-and-drop extensively. To attach a file or picture to a new letter, for example, simply drag the file or picture to the rectangular area to the left of the message entry area. To save a file attached to received e-mail, drag out of the rectangular area to the desktop or a folder.
When you use the IBM Global Network to access the Internet, your e-mail address is username@ibm.net, where "username" is whatever name IBM assigned to you when you registered. You can give this Internet address out to other people, and they can send e-mail to you from anywhere in the world.
telnet and telnet 3270
The templates for these applications are located in the Application Templates folder (located in the IBM Internet Connection for OS/2 folder). To create a telnet session, for example, simply "tear off" one of the telnet templates and drag it to any other folder (or to the desktop). Remember that OS/2 Warp, by default, uses the second (right) mouse button to drag and drop. Then fill in the host information with the name of the system you wish to reach using telnet. The telnet 3270 (for accessing mainframe computers across the Internet) and ftp templates work similarly. If you don't want to create an icon for every system you log onto, use the telnet, telnet 3270, and ftp icons located in the Internet Utilities folder.
You can cut and paste using the Internet Connection's telnet and telnet 3270 applications. (The telnet 3270 icon is used for accessing IBM mainframe systems over the Internet. For example, you can reach the IBM OS/2 BBS subscription service and other IBMLink services by using telnet 3270 to connect to ibmlink.advantis.net.) Command line (character mode) versions of these applications are available as well (from any OS/2 command line, full screen or windowed). :note.The telnet and telnet 3270 applications do not include built-in file transfer capabilities. If the system you wish to connect to supports it, simply open another window and use ftp to transfer files. However, some systems will not allow ftp for sending and receiving files (CompuServe, for example, which is reachable by using telnet to connect to compuserve.com). If so, you may wish to use the freely available C-Kermit for OS/2 as a replacement for telnet. C-Kermit, and many other OS/2 Warp Internet packages, are available from the ftp sites listed below.
ftp
The OS/2 Warp Internet Connection comes with both command line (character mode) and graphical versions of ftp (file transfer program) for sending and receiving files from various servers on the Internet. (Popular ftp servers for OS/2 software are listed below.)
The graphical version (FTPPM) first presents a window which prompts you for login information (such as user name and password). Many servers are so-called "anonymous" servers (meaning that a user name of "anonymous" will allow you to log on and retrieve any files located in public directories). You should, however, still enter your e-mail address as a password. (Some anonymous ftp servers even require it.) Ordinarily you can leave the Account entry blank; some systems (primarily IBM mainframes) may require it, but most do not.
The main FTPPM window has two primary sections. At the top you will see a view of your own PC's hard disk, and you can navigate through directories and select files just as you would with most other applications. In the section below, you will see a directory listing from the remote ftp server, and you can navigate through its directories very similarly.
There are two common pitfalls encountered by first time users of FTPPM. The most common is forgetting to select the correct file type before transferring a file. There are two file types available: ASCII (plain text) and binary. The default is ASCII, but the default may not be appropriate depending on the type of file you are trying to send or receive. Also, you should remember that most remote ftp servers are case sensitive (so if you have to type a file name, be sure the case you type matches its directory listing, letter for letter). Finally, be sure that you have indicated where you want files to go when you download files from remote servers. Otherwise, FTPPM is likely to place them in the root directory on your PC's hard disk, and you may not want them there.
Gopher
Gopher is supplied with OS/2 Warp and provides the ability to navigate through a set of servers on the Internet which are all interconnected. You can double click on menus and files listed in your Gopher window to navigate across various Internet servers. Weather maps, software, library catalogs, and much more are available.
OS/2's Gopher is quite straightfoward. You can readily distinguish between files and submenus by looking at the icons to the left of each menu item. Submenus are indicated by gopher icons. If you double click on a submenu, you will get a window with a new set of options displayed. :note.Gopher will, by default, create a new window when your menu selection takes you to another server. You can use this fact to speed up your searches, because you can go back to the original window and select another menu option to branch off in a different direction. In fact, as with other applications on OS/2 Warp, you can use other Gopher windows while one is still downloading information from a server. To get a list of all the open Gopher windows, simply bring up the OS/2 Warp Window List by pressing CTRL-ESC.
IBM Web Explorer
The IBM Web Explorer is a free, downloadable addition to your Internet Connection. You can install it on your system by double clicking on the Retrieve Software Updates icon.
The Web Explorer, like Mosaic and other browsers, is designed to access the Internet's World Wide Web. It is a fully multithreaded browser, meaning that it can receive multiple incoming streams of information simultaneously. This multithreaded design speeds up retrieval of WWW pages.
You can configure the Web Explorer to use practically any external program for viewing various file types (audio, video, pictures, etc). However, by default the Web Explorer will use both internal viewers and (if installed) the BonusPak's Multimedia Viewer, to handle the wide variety of file types stored in WWW pages. Many of these file types are not native to the PC, and the Multimedia Viewer can convert such files to PC readable formats. (For example, Sun .AU audio files are very common, and the Multimedia Viewer includes support for listening to these audio files.)
Because the World Wide Web is highly graphical, you will get best results by using the Web Explorer on a display with 256 colors or more. Also, WWW pages can be large (and take lots of time to download). However, there are many ways you can make your time on the World Wide Web much more efficient using the Web Explorer. These tips include:
1. Use two (or more) copies of the Web Explorer simultaneously. While one is downloading a page, you can be reading and selecting a link in another. By default, OS/2 Warp will not start multiple copies of any object simply by double clicking on its icon again. To change this default behavior, simply point the mouse pointer at the Web Explorer program object, tap the right (second) mouse button, then select Settings. The familiar OS/2 settings notebook will appear. Click on the Window tab, and change the object open behavior to open another window. Close the settings notebook, then double click on the Web Explorer icon to launch another copy. 2. Use the QuickList feature to save favorite pages you have visited. The Web Map feature can help you track where you've been. 3. Save pictures and even entire WWW pages using OS/2 Warp's drag-and-drop features. The pictures and other elements in a WWW page, as viewed by the IBM Web Explorer, are objects. Using the right (second) mouse button, you can drag and drop a picture of Barney the Dinosaur, for example, to your OS/2 Warp desktop or any folder to save it. You can use this method to rapidly create an animated weather sequence from weather maps (in tandem with the BonusPak's Video IN application). Be careful, though, that you do not violate any copyright restrictions.
Resources on the Internet for OS/2 Warp Users
You can receive help, information, tips and techniques, and other assistance using OS/2 Warp through the Internet. The OS/2 Warp community on the Internet is large and friendly. Here are just some of the places to visit:
Newsgroups
comp.os.os2.misc comp.os.os2.advocacy comp.os.os2.apps comp.os.os2.networking.misc comp.os.os2.networking.tcp-ip comp.os.os2.programmer.oop comp.os.os2.programmer.tools comp.os.os2.programmer.porting comp.os.os2.programmer.misc comp.os.os2.games comp.os.os2.setup comp.os.os2.bugs comp.os.os2.beta comp.os.os2.announce comp.binaries.os2 comp.lang.rexx
anonymous ftp
ftp-os2.cdrom.com ftp-os2.nmsu.edu software.watson.ibm.com
gopher
index.almaden.ibm.com
World Wide Web
http://www.ibm.com http://www.ibm.net http://www.mit.edu:8001/activities/os2
Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
- os/2
Popular Additions to the Internet Connection
You can retrieve free and low cost software to add to your OS/2 Warp system from the anonymous ftp sites listed above. Here are some of the most popular:
Name
Description
C-Kermit
Used as a replacement for telnet, providing Kermit file transfer capabilities
NetSuite
A collection of popular Internet applications (ftp, gopher, news reader)
IRC/2
Internet Relay Chat for OS/2 Warp
GoServe
An IBM-written Gopher server for OS/2 Warp; takes advantage of REXX
OS2HTTPD
A World Wide Web server for OS/2 Warp
P2P-FT
A file transfer capability for OS/2 Warp's Person to Person application
More applications are being written and released with each passing month, so consult the OS/2 newsgroups and ftp sites for the latest.
You can also use any Windows Internet software with OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection. The Internet Connection includes WinSock support (using the WINSOCK.DLL file). Please be sure, though, that the WINSOCK.DLL file supplied by the Internet Connection is the only file by that name on your PC's hard disk.
Using Third Party Dial-Up Internet Providers
You need not use the IBM Global Network to access the Internet with OS/2 Warp. (However, three hours of free access is free time, and you should use it at least to get the latest versions of Internet software.) The Internet Connection (after using the Retrieve Software Updates program) supports connections to almost any third party Internet service provider using the standard SLIP or PPP protocols. The dialer even supports scripting using OS/2's built-in REXX programming language, so it can respond to any given login procedure used by your preferred Internet provider. (A sample script, ANNEX.CMD, is provided with the Internet Connection to get you started. Consult the online help for complete information on how to create such a script. In most cases, though, either you will not need a special script or your Internet service provider of choice has the necessary information you need to get connected. Be sure to ask your provider for instructions using OS/2 Warp to connect.)
The Dial Other Internet Providers icon is located in the Internet Utilities folder and is the application used (instead of the IBM Internet Dialer) to access third party providers. You can place several different providers (and dial-up access numbers) in the Dial Other... directory. Be sure to select SLIP, CSLIP (SLIP with VJ compression), or PPP protocol, as appropriate. Once connected to your Internet provider, all the Internet Connection applications will operate exactly the same way, provided the numeric Internet addresses for the various servers required (nameserver, POP mail server, etc.) are correctly configured.
Using OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection with a Network Card
See (0.4) Special Report on OS/2 Warp.
At the time of this writing, IBM has started testing a release of OS/2 Warp with additional bundled applications (including full support for ethernet, Token Ring, and other network cards) formerly sold separately. This so-called "OS/2 Warp for Networks" is scheduled for release sometime in the first half of 1995. The larger BonusPak, with the extra networking software, will be available as an upgrade for base OS/2 Warp as well.
(3.12) Backup Software
What backup software is available?
Generally DOS backup programs will work under OS/2 Warp, but they may not capture some OS/2 data (especially extended attributes) on the hard disk without the assistance of utilities such as EABackup [see (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources].
OS/2 Warp backup tools are available, notably:
ADSM IBM 800-IBM-CALL ARCsolo Cheyene 800-243-9462 Back Again/2 Computer Data Strategies 612-730-4156 Back in a Flash! CCT Inc. 612-339-5870 BackMaster MSR Development 409-564-1862 BakupWiz PCX 619-259-9797
800-800-4PCX
DMS/Intelligent Backup Sterling 916-635-5535 DualStor IBM 800-IBM-2-YOU NovaBack NovaStor 818-707-9900 Sytos Premium Sytron 508-898-0100
508-898-2608 (BBS)
Note that BackMaster now supports portable tape drives designed to attach to a parallel port, including those made by Colorado/HP, as well as other tape drives (SCSI and non-SCSI).
Keeping your data and applications safe and secure means that you have a well rehearsed backup and restore strategy. This strategy should be tested, because your backup is only useful if it can be restored. Make sure that the OS/2 Warp backup software you choose has the features you need for your backup strategy and that it supports a wide variety of tape backup systems (including yours).
(3.13) Multiuser Extensions and Security
What multiuser extensions and security options are available?
OS/2 Warp, as it ships, does not provide multiuser capabilities. These capabilities are provided by add-ons which deliver security, network access by many users, remote control capabilities, or some combination of features. Commercial products for remote and network access include:
Citrix Citrix Systems 305-755-0559 DCAF IBM 800-IBM-CALL KopyKat Hilgraeve 313-243-0576 LAN Distance IBM 800-IBM-CALL LAN Server IBM 800-IBM-CALL OS2You/PM2You Ridax programutveckling Sweden 031-196074 Poly/PM Software Corp. of America 203-359-2773 Remote-OS Software Lifeline 407-994-4466
Products which provide security features (including software designed to protect OS/2 Warp in a computer lab, where PCs are used by many different people, one at a time) include:
DeskMan/2 DevTech 803-790-9230 Desktop Observatory Pinnacle 317-279-5157 PC/DACS Pyramid 203-257-4223 Restricted Workplace IBM (Limited Availability) Secure Workplace Syntegration 909-464-9450
As always, you should contact each vendor for additional information so that you can determine which software best meets your needs for security, remote access, network access, and multiuser capabilities with OS/2 Warp.
(3.14) Disk Compression Software
What on-the-fly disk compression software is available?
Stacker 4 for OS/2 and DOS (Stac Electronics, phone 619-431-7474), DCF/2 (Proportional Software, phone 303-484-2665), and ZipStream (shareware, Carbon Based Software) are available for OS/2 Warp.
Stacker provides on-the-fly disk compression for FAT drives only. The product provides compression for both DOS and OS/2 in the same package, and it will convert MS-DOS DoubleSpace, DriveSpace, and PC-DOS 6.x SuperStor/DS disk compression into Stacker format.
DCF/2 compresses both FAT and HPFS drives. The DCF/2 container file can even be located on other devices besides hard disks.
ZipStream is available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. It works with both FAT and HPFS, and it compresses files individually (without using a large container file).
(3.15) Dealers Specializing in OS/2 Warp
Are there any dealers that specialize in OS/2 Warp products?
The following software dealers are either totally or predominantly geared to OS/2 Warp customers:
- Below Zero (800-461-2777, 403-547-0669, or FAX 403-547-1018). Based in Calgary. Will export to the United States and other countries.
- Indelible Blue (800-776-8284, 919-834-7005, or FAX 919-783-8380). Offers a huge selection of OS/2 software at reasonable prices. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and will export.
- Mfg's Rep. Co. (800-808-4672, 415-525-2700, or FAX 415-525-2707). One of three California-based dealers specializing in OS/2 Warp software.
- Office Solutions (800-897-APPS, 310-439-5567, or FAX 310-438-7888). Another major California-based OS/2 Warp software vendor. "Supported by Team OS/2," and courts OS/2 user group members aggressively.
- OS+ Resource (800-804-8588 or FAX 310-804-6154). The third California-based OS/2 software dealer, stocking a wide variety of applications.
- OS/2 Solution Centre (44-285-641175 or FAX 44-285-640181). Primarily for European OS/2 Warp users, but will export elsewhere. Offers some OS/2 Warp titles available no where else. Located in Gloucestershire, England. Discounts available to members of the International OS/2 Users' Group.
- OS/2 Express (800-672-5945 or FAX 301-770-1720). OS/2 Professional magazine's mailorder operation for OS/2 software and accessories.
(3.16) Image Scanners
How can I use my scanner with OS/2 Warp?
There are three basic approaches to using your image scanner with OS/2 Warp. In decreasing order of attractiveness:
1. Buy Native OS/2 Warp Software. Real 32-bit OS/2 software gives you the best results, integrates well with other OS/2 applications, and works reliably. OS/2 software packages for scanners are now available, including Applause from Solution Technology (407-241-3210 or FAX 407-997-6518) and ImpOS2. (Applause is available in versions for Logitech and HP scanners.) 2. Use Existing DOS/Windows Software (SCSI-based Scanner). Many scanners for PCs are attached to SCSI adapters (like those from Adaptec) for which there are OS/2 .ADD device drivers. You can use your existing DOS or Windows scanner software if you follow these steps:
- 1. Load the OS/2 .ADD driver for your SCSI adapter. OS/2 Warp will do so automatically for Adaptec, BusLogic, DPT, IBM, and MediaVision/Trantor SCSI adapters. You need a BASEDEV=XYZ.ADD line in your CONFIG.SYS file in order to load the correct driver, where XYZ.ADD is the name of the OS/2 driver file for your SCSI adapter.
- 2. Configure OS/2 Warp for ASPI support. Make sure that the following two lines are in your CONFIG.SYS file:
BASEDEV=OS2ASPI.DMD
DEVICE=X:\OS2\MDOS\VASPI.SYS
where X is replaced with the drive where OS/2 is installed.
- 3. Load TWAIN device drivers in a DOS/Windows session and run the software. Your scanner or scanning software probably came with a device driver for so-called TWAIN support which is designed to work with ASPI (Adaptec SCSI Programming Interface). Since you have just configured OS/2 Warp to provide ASPI services to your DOS and Windows sessions, you can now load device drivers (such as TWAIN drivers) and software which uses ASPI. (Since OS/2 Warp is providing ASPI services, do not attempt to load DOS or Windows SCSI or ASPI drivers.) Consult the documentation accompanying your scanner and/or scanning software for additional advice.
3. Use Existing DOS/Windows Software (non-SCSI Scanner). If your scanner is attached to a proprietary adapter (often not a SCSI adapter), you may use a specific DOS session under OS/2 Warp to load the necessary device drivers (including a driver for the proprietary adapter) and run your scanning software.