Ami File Safe

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 AN!Tools :: Filesystems :: Ami File Safe

External Resources

Aminet

From: http://aminet.net/package/biz/demo/afsdemo159

 Short:	Demo of Ami-FileSafe V2.2 (New filing system)
 Uploader:	afssales flevel demon co uk (AFS Sales)
 Type:		disk/misc
 Architecture:	m68k-amigaos
 Date:		1995-10-10
 Download:	http://aminet.net/biz/demo/afsdemo159.lha - View contents
 Readme:	http://aminet.net/biz/demo/afsdemo159.readme
 Downloads:	104
 
  		    Features of Ami-FileSafe
  		    ------------------------
 
 
 - AFS has much faster disk access than FFS.
 - AFS will store (On average) more data than  FFS on the same disk.
 - AFS gives vastly improved directory scanning.
 - AFS is SAFE - If you crash your machine whilst writing Ami-FileSafe
          partitions will not (unlike OFS & FFS) become invalidated
          or corrupt.
 
                 Ami-FileSafe (AFS) Announcement
                 -------------------------------
 
 Since the initial release of Ami-FileSafe there has been a few changes.
 
 Ami-FileSafe Pro
 ----------------
 
 Ami-FileSafe now becomes Ami-FileSafe Pro. The new version includes:-
 - A MultiUser FileSystem version of AFS.
 - An on the fly FFS to AFS converter.
 
 Current users of Ami-FileSafe can update to Ami-FileSafe Pro free of charge.
 The retail price of Ami-FileSafe Pro is 69.75UKP (Inc Vat).
 
 Ami-FileSafe User
 -----------------
 
 A new version of AFS called Ami-FileSafe User is now available.
 Ami-FileSafe User is a budget version of AFS and has the follow limitations:-
 
 - It may only be used on one hard drive of upto 650MB.
 - It does not include the MultiUser FileSystem version of AFS.
 
 It does however include the FFS to AFS converter.
 The retail price of Ami-FileSafe User is 29.95UKP (Inc Vat).
 Upgrades from Ami-FileSafe User to Ami-FileSafe Pro are 44.80UKP (Inc Vat).
 
 
                   Restrictions and Requirements
                   -----------------------------
 
   The demonstration version of Ami-FileSafe will not handle partitions of
 more than 10MB.  It can be installed and automouted in the RidgidBootBlock.
 Standard  mountlists are also supported.  Autobooting is supported.  Memory
 usage depends on the number of buffers selected.
 
                          Benchmarks
                          ----------
 
 Test             FFS      AFS      Units
 
 DirScan          409      1780     Files/Second
 Create           227      1073     K/Second
 Read             244      1363     K/Second
 
 The DirScan, Create and Read tests were done with DiskSpeed V4.2
 
 SeekTest (x100)  53.6     4.4      Seconds
 
 SeekTest was done using a custom program (Source code available on request).
 It performs the following sequence:
 
 Seek Start of file
 Write 4 Bytes
 Seek to End of file
 Write 4 Bytes
 Repeat
 
                            Reviews
                            -------
 
 A   review   of    Ami-FileSafe    is    available    from   Aminet   and
 comp.sys.amiga.reviews.   If  you  would  like this review send to you then
 please ask.
 
 
 
                            Contacts
                            --------
 
 If  you  are  having  problems  with  Ami-FileSafe  or would like some more
 information  then  please  contact  Fourth  Level  Developments  not  Amiga
 Shopper.
 
 
 Tel: 0117 985 4455 (6 Lines)
 Fax: 0117 955 9157
 
 Email: support at flevel.demon.co.uk
 
  Mail: Fourth Level Developments
      31, Ashley Hill
      Montpelier
      Bristol
      BS6 5JA

Amiga Magazine Rack

German (?) Scans of a magazine reviewing AFS.

From: http://amr.abime.net/review_22106

Amiga Magazine, Issue 37, Pg. 60
Amiga Magazine, Issue 37, Pg. 61

University Miskolc (?)

From: http://mm.iit.uni-miskolc.hu/Amiga/AR/ar318_Sections/news8.html

 Ami-FileSafe (AFS)
 
 Upgrade your Amiga's performance and reliability with new system software
 -- replace FFS with a faster, high data-integrity filesystem.  With
 Ami-FileSafe (AFS), your directory listings will be smoothly displayed, and
 software accessing the disk will run faster.  More importantly, AFS ensures
 your data is safe from invalidation caused by machine crashes and
 accidental reboots.  AFS is always validated -- you will never have to put
 up with invalid disks again.  The consumer version is limited to one 650mb
 (or smaller) HD.  The professional version, perfect for video and audio and
 other intensive use, includes support for HDs to 9gigs and multi-user
 security.
 
 Independent tests reported by CU/Amiga magazine show AFS using 7-11% less
 disk space, with write times up to six times faster, and read times up to
 twice as fast as the best previous file systems.  CU/Amiga tested AFS
 reliability by resetting, powering down and removing SCSI cables while
 writing to the drives.  "Not once through all these heinous eye watering
 tests could we corrupt the AFS partitions!"
 
 US list prices are: Consumer $40, Professional $99.95.
 
 AFS FAQ, 03-OCT-95
 
 Ami-FileSafe (AFS) has generated enormous interest.  The purpose of this
 FAQ is to answer the questions we've heard many times, and to provide you
 with more information about AFS.  This FAQ was prepared by Dale L.  Larson,
 el Presidente of Intangible Assets Manufacturing (http://www.iam.com).  It
 is accurate to the best of his knowledge at this time, but AFS is a new
 product to IAM, and it is a sophisticated piece of software.  This is the
 first preliminary edition of the FAQ, so it is subject to change, we
 disclaim responsibility for any errors and lies, etc.
 
 Q: When/Where can I get AFS?
 
 A: AFS is published and supported by Fourth Level Development.  Intangible
 Assets Manufacturing (IAM) is the exclusive distributor for North America
 (While FLD is the exclusive distributor for IAM products in Europe).  IAM
 makes AFS available through Amiga dis tributors and dealers (both local and
 mail-order), as well as direct (i.e., mail order).  IAM received its first
 major shipment of product earlier this week, and shipments were sent to
 many dealers immediately.  So if your dealer doesn't stock it, ask her to!
 
 
 Product description, etc., is availble from:
 
   Intangible Assets Manufacturing
   http://www.iam.com
   ftp:ftp.iam.com/biz/iam/iam.lha (AmigaGuide catalog)
   info@iam.com
 
   828 Ormond Avenue
   Drexel Hill, PA  19026-2604
   USA
 
   tel: +1 610 853 4406 (orders only)
   fax: +1 610 853 3733
 
 or from:
 
   Fourth Level Development
 
   afssales@flevel.demon.co.uk
 
   31 Ashley Hill Montpelier
   Bristol, England BS6 5JA
 
   tel: 0117 985 4455
   fax: 0117 955 9157
 
 Q: What is the current version of AFS?
 
 A: 2.2.
 
 Q: How much is AFS?
 
 A: There are two versions.  AFS Consumer (also called AFS User) is US$40,
 AFS Pro is US$99.95.
 
 Q: What are the limitations of the Consumer version?
 
 A: The Consumer version can only be installed to a single partition, and
 that partition must be on a drive which is less than 650mb capacity (not a
 partition of 650mb, a drive size of 650mb).  You cannot install Consumer
 onto a 10mb partition of a 700mb disk .  You may have other drives and
 other partitions in your system.  The Consumer version also contains no
 multi-user support.
 
 Q: Why are those limitations in Consumer?
 
 A: This is basically a marketing decision, but one which is forced on us. 
 AFS is a highly technical product which requires a great deal of
 development resources.  We cannot support those resources with sales of
 User alone.  So we selected limitations on User that would allow those who
 truly cannot afford Pro (and who do not need multi-user support, which was
 also expensive to develop) to get use of AFS User, but require those with
 more sophisticated systems to buy Pro, paying a fair price for the
 software.  Note that the benefits of AFS go up with the size of your
 harddrive -- a 1gig drive takes much longer to validate than a 200meg
 drive!
 
 Q: What is the policy to upgrade from the User/Consumer version to the Pro
 version?
 
 A: In the US, the cost of the upgrade is the cost of the difference in
 price plus $10 ($70).  You must send in your original disk with payment,
 then you will be mailed a new Pro disk.  This process should take about
 7-10 days, but is unavoidable due to serial numbers, etc.
 
 Q: Where can I read an independent review of AFS?
 
 A: Dave and Dale both say AFS is cool, so what more do you want to know? 
 For you doubters, the September 1995 CU/Amiga did a two-page review, Amiga
 Computing has a review in their October 1995 issue, and other reviews are
 being written.  Since AFS is evolving fast and magazine reviewers often
 look at a product more than four months before an issue gets to
 subscribers, most of the limitations found by reviewers have already been
 addressed.
 
 Q: When will DiskSalv3 understand AFS?
 
 A: Dave is working hard on this support, and has been doing so throughout
 the summer.  We expect to be shipping something by January of 1996.
 (Please note that earlier dates which have been publicly announced did not
 come from Dave or IAM -- this is IAM's first public statement on the
 subject.)
 
 Q: What is the policy to upgrade DiskSalv3 to AFS-supporting?
 
 A: IAM's commitment to the Amiga is clear -- DiskSalv3 has been upgraded
 through four freely redistributable patches during the last year (the
 current version being 12.19).  The upgrade to support AFS will probably not
 be a freely redistributable patch.  However, it is our intent to ensure
 that loyal customers of DS3 are well-treated, and that you will get a
 better a deal if you buy DS3 now and upgrade later than if you put off your
 DS3 purchase.
 
 Q: What about ReOrg?
 
 A: Yeah, we will take care of that one specifically, and a few other tools,
 too.  We aren't ready to announce the details yet, so please don't ask, but
 we plan to make an announcement in the next month or two.
 
 Q: What's this about AFS Floppy?
 
 A: There is a floppy-only version of AFS.  It is unlikely to be released as
 a stand-alone commercial product, but you may get it bundled with other
 products.  For those of you with floppy-only systems, or those who want to
 try AFS on floppies, this is an excel lent bargain.  MegaBall4, the new
 game from IAM, will include AFS Floppy as a free bonus disk!
 
 Q: Is there a demo?
 
 A: Yes, there is a demo version of AFS which can be installed to a very
 small partition to give you a sense for whether you want to buy the
 commercial product.  The demo isn't always available in the same revision
 as the currently shipping AFS (right now it's demo 2.1, production 2.2),
 since obvious ly it is the lowest priority of the four versions.  An older
 version demo was on a recent cover disk.  IAM has no more information on
 where to get a demo at this time, but we'll put one on our FTP server when
 we get one.
 
 Q: Will AFS work with removable media like Zip and SyQuest drives?
 
 A: Yes.  The Consumer version will work, too, as long as those drives are
 the only one AFS is on and the drives have less than 650mb capacity (which
 is the case for all current models).  Fourth Level Development has special
 removable media support tools which they bundle with drives.  These
 packages are not yet available in the States, but we are aware of the
 demand.  Without that software, you have to do the same thing you would
 with FFS on removable media -- HDToolbox, etc.
 
 Q: How reliable is AFS?
 
 A: It's pretty darn reliable.  Read the magazine reviews.  September's
 CU/Amiga said "AFS doesn't invalidate disks.  During the course of our
 tests we reset whilst writing files, powered down when the buffers were
 being flushed and pulled the SCSI cable out of the drives.  This is just
 asking for trouble, but not once through all these heinous eye watering
 test could we corrupt the AFS partitions!"
 
 That should be good enough for most people, but here is a little more
 detailed and technical information...
 
 FLD says "AFS has been written to take advantage of the atomic theory
 of filsystem construction.  This means that no data pointers are changed
 unless the validity of the data at which it is to be pointed has been
 checked as far as is practically possible.  AFS has been written to take
 advantage of the basic physical features of all hard drives.  In
 particular, the amount of time which is taken for capacitance levels to
 drop in the event of a power outage to the extent that data can be
 corrupted.
 
 Both the MaxTransfer and the DMA mask need to be properly set to ensure
 that the maximum integrety is obtained from the system.  The AFS
 documentation includes detailed information on how to set them. For
 systems that follow these guides, FLD is aware of no instances of data
 loss with AFS since pre-release version 14.7.  The system has been
 exhaustively tested by independent evaluators, none of whom have
 experienced data loss. Any bug reports made to FLD are carefully tracked
 and treated.
 
 In the event of memory corruption, the only known result has been the
 loss of data within individual files or directories which have been
 caused in consequence of programs corrupting memory.
 
 In the event of an attempt to corrupt the filesystem cache, AFS converts
 the filesystem to read-only, protecting your precious data.
 
 With pre-release/beta version 14.3, there existed known and documented
 limitations with the use of some software. Those limitations were fixed
 before the release of AFS, but unfortunately, someone who had been sent
 the beta version used some of the software on the list not to use, ran
 into problems, and posted that they had caused corruption on an AFS drive."
 
 As someone who gets a lot of calls from OFS/FFS users desperate for
 DiskSalv3, I KNOW what kind of data loss you can get from the standard OS
 filesystems. And how crippling invalidation can be.
 
 I can also say that nothing is completely safe, which is why everyone
 should make regular backups, regardless of the filesystem that they use.

 

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