[336] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
NEW RELEASE: ZipStream version 1.10
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (100351.2052@compuserve.com)
Mon Nov 6 17:57:37 1995
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 08:45:36 GMT
From: 100351.2052@compuserve.com
Reply-To: 100351.2052@compuserve.com
Submitted by: Mick Gray (carbon@onthenet.com.au)
Source: Carbon Based Software
Date received: 1995 November 4
Date posted: 1995 November 4
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ZipStream V 1.10 Release Announcement
The Next Generation Disk Compression Software for OS/2 has just been
greatly improved and enhanced. The V1.10 version of ZipStream is faster, and
uses less memory. It features a NEW Graphical Control Panel and NEW Graphical
Status Monitor.
Simplicity, Safety, and Speed are three of the design elements that make this
program so appealing... especially for those that thought they would never
use this type of utility disk and file management software. This simplicity
makes ZipStream very practical to try, because you can remove it just as
easily as it installs.
ZipStream is an OS/2 Installable File System (IFS) that mirrors access to
existing OS/2 File Systems and simultaneously provides automatic, transparent
file compression and decompression. Its 32 bit implementation exploits
OS/2's pre-emptive multi-threaded processing capabilities, which allows for
complex processing to be carried out in an optimum manner. ZipStream's
transparent background compression operations and intelligent caching
techniques means there is no noticeable loss in system performance.
Installation takes about 1 minute with basically no pre-planning. We do a
default to the \CBASED subdirectory that the install creates on the OS/2 boot
partition. Pop the disk in A: bring up OS/2's device driver install. Click
on ok, done, reboot, and you will have ZipStream _available_ to your system.
We say available, because you can do just about whatever you want with it at
that point simply by attaching a mirror of a physical drive or physical drive
path via a simple command. Once the attachment is made it is always there
for you. Removeable media that are not "in place" at boot up such as an
empty "A" drive can be attached and re-attached with a simple single button
click.
If you want to simply use it only on removeable media (floppies etc) to store
historical or infrequently accessed data, you can. This is one advantage of
the fact that ZipStream is file based. We will be collecting many more from
our users for the hints and tips page on the ZipStream Web page.
ZipStream features:
Supports HPFS and FAT File Systems.
Any OS/2 supported file system can be utilised.
Supports Diskettes. Diskettes don't have to be specially
formatted, just attach and compression is available.
Supports LAN File Systems. Any LAN file system that is
mapped as a drive letter can be used for compression operations.
Additionally, there are no Server overheads, as all compression
operations are performed by the workstation. Because of this
feature, it is probable that LAN traffic will be reduced by at
least 50 pecent which in turn means impoved LAN throughput. A
real bonus for congested LANs.
ZipStream is IBM CID (Configuration, Installation and Distribution)
enabled so that an administrator can elect to do the installation
from a LAN/WAN code server.
Supports Long File Names. No restrictions are imposed other than
those imposed by OS/2's native File Systems.
Supports Extended Attributes. Full support of Extended attributes
and compatible with OS/2's Workplace Shell.
Automatic Compression of New Files. Newly created files or any files
copied to the compressed drive letter are automatically and transparently
compressed.
File Based Compression not Disk Based. Being file based, you have
complete control of what files are compressed and what are not. That
is, uncompressed files can reside on the compressed drive.
Ultra High Compression Ratios. Using state of the art and background
compression techniques yields compression ratios equal to or better than
that of popular archiving programs.
Native OS/2 32 bit Application. This isn't a port of a DOS compression
application, it has been built specifically for OS/2 and designed to get
the most out of OS/2.
Outstanding Performance. Background compression and 32 bit code gives
real pay offs in performance.
No Reformatting Required. Just attach to a driver letter or path and
compression is available.
No Container Files. Using existing File Systems means reliability and
safety. You don't have to create a container to dedicate drive space to
it. ZipStream uses in-situ compression. The file being compressed is
replaced in the standard file system with a compressed version. The
safety benefit of this is that unlike a container system where any failure
of the container compression system could possibly result in a catastrophic
loss of data, ZipStream uses standard OS/2 File Systems. It benefits from
the years of File System technology and reliability that have gone into the
design of OS/2. In the unlikely event of some type of system failure where
the system can no longer boot, files compressed with ZipStream can be
interactively decompressed with a small included ZipStream utility called
ZSUnpack. This means, that if you are ever in a situation where you have
a system problem and you are unable to get your system running well enough
to use the transparent ZipStream compression system, you can manually
decompress your files on your system, or take them to another system where
they can be decompressed just using the utility.
One thing that begs mentioning is that although ZipStream's compression is
typically at least 2.0 to 1 on various _applications_ they are substantially
better with _user data_.
Here is a very small sample from a list that is being putting together:
[Application] WinWord v2.0 50% or 2.0:1
[User Data] WinWord Documents 68% or 3.78:1
[Application] IBM CSet++ V2.1 64% or 2.82:1
[User Data] C++ Source Code 83% or 5.98:1
Bitmaps 90% or 10.25:1
GCP Message Files 61% or 2.57:1
DBase Randomly Pick Mail List Data 80% or 5.00:1
Also consider that ZipStream compressed file access should be faster and more
useable than files you may have formerly ZIPed and then used a utility that
would allow you to read/use the ZIP file while it is still ZIPped. It could
be that this feature alone would make ZipStream a valuable tool for you in
managing those files you keep on removeable media.
The version available for downloading from Compuserve in the OS2BVEN Lib 1,
the OS2USER Lib 4, or ZNT:EXEC Lib 14, and
ftp://ftp-os2.cd-rom.com/pub/os2/diskutil/zs110.zip
or ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/os2/demos/zs110.zip
is a time limited (45-day) fully functioning copy of the newest version.
See below for new features in this version. If you are already a registerd
ZipStream user of a version prior to 1.10, then simply installing this
version using the OS/2 device driver install faciltiy will update your prior
version with no time limit. This was/is a free upgrade to all registered
users.
This is a short list of what's new and improved in the 1.10 version.
1. NEW GRAPHICAL CONTROL PANEL: It allows for a wide variety of compression
and performance options to be configured by the user.
2. NEW GRAPHICAL STATUS MONITOR: This reports sytem operation, cache
utilization, and compression performance.
3. IMPROVED SEARCH CACHE SPEED FOR FASTER ACCESS TO COMPRESSED FILES: By
using a new search cache algorithm. Additionally the search cache
size is now configurable via the new graphical control panel.
4. IMPROVEMENTS IN MEMORY UTILIZATION OF THE VIRTUAL FILE CACHE: This
means more performance for lower end systems.
5. AUTOMATIC VIRTUAL FILE CACHE SIZE CONTROL ALGORITHM: This optimizes
performance to host system configuration.
6. CAN NOW BE CONFIGURED TO COMPRESS READONLY FILES.
7. EXPANDED SUPORT FOR CHKDSK IMPLEMENTED: Now reports estimated remaining
space after compression.
8. MORE EFFICIENT MEMORY UTILIZATION OF THE COMPRESSION SYSTEM: Results
in lower system overheads and improved compression (speed) performance.
9. NEW VERSION OF THE ZIPSTREAM SYNC UTILITY: It's been rewritten from
scratch, and it is now possible to set the background compression to
fixed high priority mode.
10. A LOT OF SMALL CHANGES IN THE FINE TUNING AREA:
Algorithmic improvements: less time is spent with files locked and
less time is spent with threads locked which means ZS can get greater
concurrency of operation.
Streamlining of file operations has been implemented and some redundant
operations eliminated.
Detecting that the background compression queue is almost full and
in that case boosting compression priority so that files do not end up
not getting compressed.
ZipStream Web Page
==================
The ZipStream web page can be accessed at:
http://www.onthenet.com.au/~carbon
More Information is Available from
==================================
Z.G.C., Inc.
264 Morris Avenue
Mountain Lakes NJ 07046
USA
Ph: (201) 335 4460
Fax: (201) 335 4560
Internet zgc@mhv.net
Internet 73257.2231@compuserve.com
CompuServe: 73257,2231
Carbon Based Software
PO Box 912
Runaway Bay Qld 4126
Australia
Ph: [61] (7) 5537 1949
Fax: [61] (7) 5529 1544
CompuServe 100351,2052
Internet carbon@onthenet.com.au
Web http://www.onthenet.com.au/~carbon
