Owner`s manual
Page 3-2 Chapter Three
As the computer processes the commands in the system initialization file, each line of
the file displays on the operator terminal. When all of the commands in the initialization
file have been processed successfully, the computer is up and running. The last
command in any system initialization file is MEMORY 0. When you see MEMORY 0 on the
operator terminal, and the front panel status display changes to blank, the computer has
finished booting.
DEVICE NAMES
Device names are how AMOS identifies the different pieces of equipment that make up
your computer. Each disk drive and other storage device has its own device name
(terminals and printers are defined somewhat differently). These device names are
defined in the system initialization file.
Alpha Micro device names conform to a specific format to make it easy for you and the
computer to refer to the same piece of equipment. All device names contain three letters
and a number, and end with a colon (:). For example, DSK#:, where # is a number, is
usually the name for a hard disk device and STR0: is the name of a streaming tape
drive.
Having names for each device lets you specify which device you want to use for a
specific command. For example, you can see a list of files from just one of your disk
drives, or copy data from your hard disk to a diskette.
You can set up your computer to use each hard disk drive as if it were two or more
separate devices. In this case, the actual disk drive is called the "physical device" and
each portion of it is a "logical device." This is an important distinction, since in most
cases with AMOS you refer to the logical device name. For example, a single 240MB
hard disk drive could contain devices named DSK0:, DSK1:, DSK2:, DSK3:, and so on.
The disk device containing your system initialization command file and other system
software, the device AMOS "boots from," is always called DSK0:. Normally this is the
first logical device on the hard disk, but if for some reason you boot from your diskette
drive, the diskette drive becomes DSK0:. When you change the device you boot from, it
may also change the names of other devices on your computer—since you are using a
different system initialization command file the devices may be defined differently.
For example, if your computer contains one hard disk drive, split into three logical
devices, and one diskette drive:
When your computer boots from the hard drive (the usual state of affairs), the
hard drive would be referenced as three disk devices named DSK0:, DSK1:, and
DSK2:. The diskette drive is named FLP0: if it takes 31/2" diskettes, and MIN0: if
it takes 51/4" diskettes.
If you modify your computer to boot from the diskette drive, the hard drive might
be referenced as three disk devices named WIN0:, WIN1:, and WIN2:, and the
diskette drive is named DSK0:.
Eagle Series Computer Owner’s Manual, Rev. 03