Minimizing Conventional Memory Usage by InvisibleLAN for DOS and Windows 3.X

Minimizing Conventional Memory Usage by InvisibleLAN for DOS and Windows 3.X

The following procedure will assist you in minimizing the use of conventional (DOS) memory by the InvisibleLAN Network Operating System.

This procedure requires the following:

You are using a 386SX or higher computer.
You have InvisibleLAN version 3.13 or higher.
You are using DOS version 5.0 or higher.

NOTE: This procedure should not be performed on an Ultra Server machine.

The information in this document pertains to the DOS and Windows 3.X version of InvisibleLAN. The Windows 95 version of InvisibleLAN does not use any conventional memory.

STEP ONE - Identify Shadow RAM "include regions"

1. Without the network software or Windows running, and after having removed any "include" or "exclude" regions from your EMM386.EXE device driver line in CONFIG.SYS, reboot your computer and issue the following command at the DOS command prompt:

SHADOW /M (you will need to be in the \NET30 directory if it is not in your PATH)

The Invisible RAM Memory Analysis Program will provide you with a memory map of the "shadow" or upper memory area of your computer (the area between 640K and 1MB).

2. Make a note of any address ranges (such as C800-EFFF) of any regions that do not show as being allocated to anything else (the rightmost column of the display is blank).

3. Note that it is possible for no ranges to be unallocated, thus indicating that no "include" regions will be possible. If no ranges are unallocated, it may be possible to turn off "shadowing" of various components of your system by making changes to your system's CMOS Setup. This should only be done by people experienced in this area. Due to the lack of similarity between various systems' CMOS and the potential hazards of making changes to CMOS, Invisible Software cannot assist you with nor be responsible for changes made in this area.

STEP TWO - Modify your CONFIG.SYS file.

1. Should no include regions, from STEP ONE above, be available, your CONFIG.SYS should include the following series of statements, which must be in the order listed. Note that this is only a partial listing of the contents of CONFIG.SYS. Note also that the following assumes that the network software is in the \NET30 directory and that DOS is in the \DOS directory.

DEVICE = C:\NET30\CACHE30.SYS
DEVICE = C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE = C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS (see also below)
DOS = HIGH,UMB
DEVICE = C:\NET30\N30DEV.SYS

NOTE: Do not use DEVICEHIGH statements on the CACHE30.SYS or N30DEV.SYS drivers.

2. The "NOEMS" parameter listed above can only be used if you have no applications that specifically require EMS memory. Should you have an application that does, "NOEMS" should be replaced with "RAM". Applications that require EMS are comparatively uncommon; if unsure of one of your applications, check the documentation of the application, contact the applicable technical support organization (not Invisible Software), or simply try the "NOEMS" parameter first.

3. If you had "include" regions from STEP ONE, above, add them after the "NOEMS" or "RAM" keyword on the EMM386.EXE device driver command line in a manner similar to one of the examples below:

DEVICE = C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS I=B000-B7FF I=E000-EFFF (or)

DEVICE = C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM I=C800-CFFF I=D7FF-EFFF

Note the following:

Multiple "include" regions each have their own "I=" statement, separated with a space.

Do not places spaces anywhere else within the "I=" statements.

If you are using Windows (or plan to be in the future) do not use any include regions with starting addresses lower than C800 (regions starting between A000 and C7FF) unless you are certain you can include them safely. Inclusion of such regions often will cause Windows to hang or fail to operate properly.

STEP THREE - Configure the InvisibleLAN Software.

1. At the DOS command prompt, type the following (you will have to be in the \NET30 directory if it is not in your PATH):

SETUP30

2. Load your Initialization File and go to the Advanced Configuration. Within the Advanced Configuration, set the following parameters (if you are not currently using the feature listed below (i.e. Mail), we recommend you set the parameters as listed anyway to provide compatibility and consistency should the feature be desired in the future.): [Be sure to save each of the changed screens following with the <F9> key]

In Transbios Parameters:

Set Code Memory Location to SHADOW

Set Data Memory Location to SHADOW

In Server Parameters:

Set Use Shadow to Y

Set Use EMS to N (Y if "RAM" parameter was used above)

In Share Parameters:

Set Use Shadow RAM to Y

In Disk Cache Parameters:

Set Program Location to SHADOW

Set Data Location to XMS (EMS if "RAM" parameter was used above)

In Redirector Parameters:

Set Use Shadow to Y

Set Use EMS to N (Y if "RAM" parameter was used above)

In Mail Parameters:

Set Use Shadow to Y

Set Use EMS to N (Y if "RAM" parameter was used above)

3. After making (and saving with <F9>) the above changes, hit <ESC> once to leave the Advanced Configuration Menu, Save the Initialization File and Exit from the Setup Program.

STEP FOUR - Reboot the computer and restart the Network Software

You have now minimized the conventional memory usage of the InvisibleLAN Software.

Additional information on minimizing memory usage can be found in Chapter 9 of the Invisible LAN Operating System Installation Manual.

SPECIAL NOTE with DOS versions 6.X and products such as QEMM and 386Max

DOS versions 6.X include a program called MEMMAKER, a memory usage optimization program. If MEMMAKER is run on a system running InvisibleLAN, it will very likely place DEVICEHIGH statements on the network's device drivers in the CONFIG.SYS file (CACHE30.SYS and N30DEV.SYS) and may place a LOADHIGH (or LH) statement on the NET30 or NET30.EXE command in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Other memory management products often make the same or similar changes. These must be removed, as they may cause a wide variety of problems loading and/or operating the network.

Notices: Copyright 1994 by Invisible Software, Inc. Invisible Software and InvisibleLAN are trademarks of Invisible Software, Inc. Other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

This document was prepared on 09/05/94, and was believed to be accurate as of that date. Procedures, specifications, and compatibility may change without notice, and therefore this document may be out-of-date and/or inapplicable to current product versions. Invisible Software provides this document "AS IS" and without warranty of any kind. Under no circumstances shall this document be construed as creating or expanding any warranty of product performance.

Go back to Support FAQ.