Dear customer,

here are some useful hints according to some hardware configurations.

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Problems with ST11 controllers:

There is a problem that cannot be solved: Using PARK on a ST11 controller with
microcode revision less than 1.7 will bring you an error:

"Error while accessing ALF.device..."

Sorry. But, in fact, your drive IS parked! So, don't bother yourself with
this error. Autopark should work, even on this Controllertype.
All other controllers seem to work correctly.

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Amiga A2000 "A":

Another big problem is the memory allocation on Amiga A2000 "A" models.
These machines have a memory expansion card in the MMU slot. It is
claimed to be FAST memory, but - in fact - this memory is even slower than
the Chip RAM on the motherboard.

ALF2 is fooled by this "FAST" memory. He always uses fast memory if
possible, because it is usually faster and the CHIP memory is left
untouched for your Sound and Graphic Data.

So, ALF runs much slower on A2000 A machines. In fact, you must increase
the interleave value in InstallALF to get acceptable performance.
InstallALF has no chance to find out, wether you have an "A" model or
not...

In some computer magazines were hints, how to speed up the MMU memory
expansion by soldering some wires. This will increase ALF's speed.

The other solution is to remove the memory expansion and get another one,
which fits in the 100 pin expansion slots. 

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Amiga A2000 "B":

Another problem with memory allocation is on A2000 B models with 512
kByte Chip RAM and an A2620 Accelerator Board. The A2620 board has two or
four MByte of 32 Bit FAST RAM on board. ALF would be VERY fast, if he can
use this memory for his transfer code, buffers and the FastFileSystem.
But on these machines the FAST memory on the motherboard is linked into
the system's memory list BEFORE the A2620 RAM, so he can NEVER use it.

FastMemFirst will NOT help, because if you have a chance to enter it, the
system is already up and running.

First Solution: Remove the "Slow" FAST memory on the motherboard by
cutting a jumper, or solder a switch on the jumper location. Your dealer
can do this for you.

Second Solution: Install a "BIG AGNUS" in your machine, which gives you
one MByte of CHIP Ram. This can be done by your dealer, too.

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Using ALF2 SCSI controllers as an ALF1 ST412 update:

If NO SCSI drive is connected to the ALF2 SCSI controller, he will always
wait up to 10 processor cycles for the (not existing) drive to assert the
SCSI line REQ. This will slow down the transfer of the SoftSCSI_XTC, which
is in the ROM of the SCSI controller. If a SCSI drive is connected, there
should be no delays for the SoftSCSI_XTC.

Solution: Remove Jumpers A-B and/or C-D on the SCSI controller, if no SCSI
drive is connected. The controller is now deselected and the
SoftSCSI_TMC900 is not added to the ALF SoftSCSI Resource. The
SoftSCSI_XTC runs now on its normal speed.

If you do this little trick, don't loose the jumpers! You'll need them,
if you want to use a SCSI drive with your controller!


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One last word on SPEED:

Some people say, that ALF1 is faster than ALF2. Some people say, other
software driving OMTI controllers is faster than ALF2.

I personally measured no or minor differences betwen the two systems.

But remember THIS:

On InstallALF V2.0-2.3 the default value for Buffers was 10. Increase it!

ALF1 switched off multitasking during the transfer to gain speed. ALF2 lets
you keep this incredible Amiga feature: MULTITASKING! The mouse keeps on
moving, typing is not interrupted, and CPU speed is freed during transfer
delays, too.

Some drivers from other manufacturers switch off interrupts during the 
transfer (..uhg!...) to win some microseconds.
ALF2 leaves the Amiga alive!

Having these facts in mind, you must agree, that the EFFECTIVE transfer of
ALF2 is MUCH FASTER than the ALF1 version.

ALF1 is a closed, ALF2 is an open system!

If you measure DRASTIC differences between ALF1 and ALF2 (about 100 kBytes
per second) please give us a note. Describe EXACTLY your hardware (Amiga
model, operating system revision, controller revision, amount of memory,
memory cards, amount of chip memory, ...).

We'll do our BEST get ALF2 running as fast as possible!

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We hope you enjoy ALF2!

And we wish you lots of fun with your harddisk.

Elaborate Bytes, Oliver Kastl

Contact address:

	bsc bueroautomation gmbh
	Schleissheimer Str. 205 A
	D-8000 Munich 80
	Western Germany

	Phone: (89)3084152
	Fax: (89)3071714