CorelSCSI Network Manager: README_1 Contents
============================================

The CorelSCSI Network Manager README files provide information that 
was unavailable before the User's Manual was printed. The information
has been divided into three subject areas, each of which is described
in its own README file.

This README_1.TXT file describes NetWare patches required for 
CorelSCSI Network Manager and information about CDSVR.NLM.

For information about CorelRAID, see the README_2.TXT file. For
information about host adapters, drivers, and ASPI managers
from specific manufacturers, see the README_3.TXT file.

If you have any comments or questions about this product that your 
distributor can't answer, contact Corel Technical Support:

    Telephone:   (613) 728-1010
    CompuServe:  Enter GO CORELA


README_1 Table of Contents
==========================

1.  Backing Up the Server
2.  Required NetWare 3.1x Patches
3.  CDSVR.NLM: Changes to Caching Features
4.  CDSVR.NLM: Conflicts with CorelRAID
5.  CDSVR.NLM: CD-ROM Discs with Multiple Tracks
6.  CDSVR.NLM: Using Animation CD-ROM Discs


1.  Backing Up the Server
=========================

Before installing CorelSCSI Network Manager, backup the
entire server twice.


2.  Required NetWare 3.1x Patches
=================================

Before you install CorelSCSI NetWare Manager, you must obtain three
patches from Novell. These patches, which are available from CompuServe,
resolve some problems with NetWare 386 version 3.1x.

The WORMROFX.NLM and PATCHMAN.NLM patches fix problems related to 
Novell's handling of WORM media. CLIB.NLM (version 3.1xc or higher) 
is an updated patch that's required to load Corel's jukebox software,
TJBOX.NLM.

To download the patches from CompuServe

1. Log in to CompuServe.

2. Enter "Go Netwire".

3. Access the Service and Support forum.

4. Access Files, Patches, and Fixes (Libraries).

5. The patches are located in the following forums:

   WORMROFX.NLM and PATCHMAN.NLM are available from the Top 
   Downloads forum. The file is named 311PTD.EXE.

   CLIB.NLM is available from the Novell File Library forum. In 
   this forum, choose Browse from the Library menu and then choose 
   NetWare 3.x Specific. Retrieve the file named Server Library Update 
   (CLIB.NLM). 

6. Unarchive the three patches and copy them to the SYSTEM directory 
   of your server.

7. Load the patches.

Note: The location of these patches may change. If you don't find the
      patches, contact Novell.

For information about CompuServe, dial (800) 848-8199 and ask for 
operator number 58 or dial (614) 457-0802.


3.   CDSVR.NLM: Changes to Caching Features
===========================================

Using CorelSCSI Network Manager, you can create and name "databases", 
which are collections of related CD-ROM drives. Users can map local 
drive letters to databases and access information from the associated CD-ROM drives.

CDSVR.NLM provides hard drive caching for each CD-ROM drive attached to 
a mounted database. Caching, which is completely transparent to users, 
stores frequently accessed CD-ROM data on the hard drive where it can be 
accessed more quickly than re-reading the CD-ROM disc.

The hard drive caching of CDSVR.NLM provides a significant advantage 
over traditional RAM caching. Extra memory doesn't need to be reserved 
for the cache -- you simply use existing space on your hard drive.

How Caches are Created and Used
-------------------------------

By default, the first time a database is mounted, CDSVR.NLM creates one 
cache for each CD-ROM drive attached to the database. Caches are named 
CDCACHE.000, CDCACHE.001, and so on. Caches are stored in a sub-
directory named CDROM. The CDROM sub-directory is automatically created 
by CDSVR.NLM on the volume you specify when loading CDSVR.NLM.

Initially, each cache contains fill data equal to the size of the cache 
less the first 128K.Depending on the cache size, the process of creating 
and filling caches, referred to as pre-allocation, may take a few minutes.

Note: Before creating the caches, CDSVR.NLM checks that at least 20
      percent of the total volume capacity will remain available after
      the database is mounted and caches are created.

While the database is mounted, data from the attached CD-ROM drives is 
cached, overwriting the initial fill data. When data is requested from a 
CD-ROM disc, CDSVR.NLM first searches the cache. If the data isn't 
located in the cache, CDSVR.NLM reads the data from the CD-ROM disc and 
then stores the data in the cache.

Data found in the cache can be retrieved faster than reading the CD-
ROM disc. A cache "hit" occurs when requested data is found in the 
cache. A cache "miss" occurs when requested data must be read from 
the CD-ROM disc. The more cache hits that occur, the higher the 
efficiency of the cache. When the cache is full, the least recently used 
data is deleted.

When you dismount the database, the caches remain on the hard drive by 
default. The next time you mount the database, the data in the caches, 
like the initial fill data, is overwritten.


Disabling Cache Pre-allocation
------------------------------

You can disable the cache pre-allocation feature. However, overall 
performance of hard drive caching may decrease. With cache pre-
allocation disabled, CDSVR.NLM doesn't create caches with fill data. 
Instead, as data is requested from CD-ROM discs, it's appended to the 
cache. Subsequent reads overwrite existing cached data.

Because it's less efficient to append data than to overwrite 
data, disabling the cache pre-allocation decreases cache performance 
until the cache fills for the first time.

Caching-Related Switches for the LOAD CDSVR Command
---------------------------------------------------

In addition to the switches described in the User's Manual, the 
following cache-related switches are available for the LOAD CDSVR 
command:

   PREALLOC=OFF
       Disables cache pre-allocation.

   SLOWCACHE
       Required only for drives that may cause problems when using
       CDSVR.NLM caching features. These drives include the Toshiba
       3210b and the Panasonic CR-532.
       
       Alternatively, when using these drives, you can disable the cache
       or connect the drive to a dedicated host adapter.

   DELCACHE
       Deletes the cache files for CD-ROM drives attached to a
       database when it's dismounted. When caches are deleted, the 
       space they used becomes available for other operations. All 
       caches are deleted when you exit CDSVR.NLM.


4.  CDSVR.NLM: Conflicts with CorelRAID
=======================================

In rare cases, CDSVR.NLM may cause errors when reading from CD-ROM discs 
if CorelRAID is running on the same server. If these errors occur, install CD-ROM 
drives on a different host adapter than the RAID devices.


5.  CDSVR.NLM: CD-ROM Discs with Multiple Tracks
================================================

Some CD-ROM discs, such as multi-session discs, include more than one 
track. When multiple tracks are recorded on a CD, an unreadable gap 
(typically, 2 seconds or 150 sectors) is required between tracks.

This gap may cause problems if read. Therefore, when you mount 
discs with multiple tracks, CDSVR.NLM disables its readahead feature.
Other caching features remain available.

If you're using a drive that doesn't report that a CD has multiple 
tracks, set READAHEAD=0 when loading CDSVR.NLM.


6.  CDSVR.NLM: Using Animation CD-ROM Discs
===========================================

If you're upgrading from the CorelSCSI Pro version of CDSVR.NLM, you'll 
find that the performance of animation CDs has been significantly 
improved.

