                        
                        Artisoft Technical Bulletin
 
                           Updated: 04.11.94
        Running LANtastic v5.0 or v6.0 in an OS/2 Virtual DOS Machine
                           Engineers: AEJ/MWF
               

     Your computers running OS/2 can use LANtastic features by running the
     network software in an OS/2 Virtual DOS Machine (VDM, or VMB).
 
Note Before you begin, make sure you have the latest version of the
     FSFILTER.SYS file. LANtastic will not run using the version
     included in most OS/2 packages. The correct version of this file
     is available on the Arti-Facts bulletin board. See the LANtastic
     User's Manual for information on downloading files from the Arti-
     Facts BBS.

     1. On a computer running DOS, or in a DOS window on an OS/2
     computer, prepare a bootable floppy diskette. It's recommended
     that you use a 1.2 MB or 1.44 floppy diskette. To create a
     bootable floppy disk, type FORMAT A: /S <Enter>* at the DOS
     prompt, where "A:" represents the drive containing the diskette
     you want to create.

     2. Using a text editor, create a CONFIG.SYS on the bootable floppy
     diskette. It should contain these commands: 

     DEVICE=FSFILTER.SYS 
     FILES=50 
     BUFFERS=32 
     LASTDRIVE=Z 
     FCBS=16,8

     You may also include any other commands that you want executed
     from the CONFIG.SYS.

     3. Create an AUTOEXEC.BAT for the bootable floppy. It should contain
     these commands:

     @ECHO OFF 
     PROMPT $P$G 
     PATH=C:\;A:\;C:\LANTASTI; 
     C:
     CALL C:\LANTASTI\STARTNET.BAT

     As with the CONFIG.SYS, you may also include any other commands
     that you want executed.

     4. At the OS/2 machine, open a DOS window. Choose the OS/2 System
     icon, choose Command Prompts, then choose the DOS Window icon.

     5. In the DOS window, change to the directory C:\OS2\MDOS.

     6. Download the file FSFILTER.SYS from the Arti-Facts bulletin
     board, as instructed in your LANtastic User's Manual. LANtastic
     will not run using the older version of FSFILTER.SYS included in
     most OS/2 packages. Copy the new FSFILTER.SYS to the bootable
     floppy diskette.

*    Native OS/2 DOS does not support FORMAT /S. WARNING!        Do not
                                                                 attempt to
                                                                 run
                                                                 LANtastic
                                                                 without
                                                                 obtaining
                                                                 and
                                                                 loading
                                                                 FSFILTER.S
                                                                 YS.


     7. Create a virtual DOS image file on the OS/2 computer. To do this,
     enter the following at the prompt: 

     VMDISK A: C:\OS2\MDOS\LANTASTI.IMG

     where A: is the drive containing the bootable floppy diskette.

     8. Place the LANtastic installation diskette in a floppy drive. At
     the DOS prompt, type A:INSTALL <Enter>. Run the LANtastic
     installation program as directed in Chapter 2. When the
     installation is complete, follow the bulleted steps below if you
     want the OS/2 computer to share resources with other nodes on the
     LANtastic network.

         At the C:> prompt in the DOS window, type NET_MGR <Enter>.
         Choose Shared Resources Management.
         Choose a drive that you want to share.
         Select Disk Drive Type, then choose OS/2.
         Repeat steps 3 - 4 for each drive you want to share. Press
          Esc at each screen to return to the NET_MGR main menu.
         Choose Server Startup Parameters. Enter the requested path
          information <Enter>. From the Server Startup Parameters
          screen, choose NON-DOS Disk Support and type 100 <Enter>.
          Press Esc at each screen to return to the DOS prompt.

Note:     Don't forget to change Disk Drive Type for the " . =>
          C:\LANTASTI.NET" resource to OS/2, or you won't be able to
          see any directory listings.

     9. Close the DOS window by double-clicking in the upper left corner
     of the window.

     10. Click the right mouse button on DOS FULL SCREEN to bring up a
     menu. Choose Copy to create a new object for the virtual DOS
     machine.

Note:     You can click on a DOS window, but DOS FULL SCREEN will
          allow you to run WIN.EXE (from OS/2 for Windows) or
          WINOS2.EXE (from regular OS/2) from within the VMB.

     11. Click on the New Name box and enter a name for the object. For
     example you might type LANtastic VDM <Enter>.

     12. Click the left mouse button on the new object, then click the
     right mouse button to bring up the object menu. Click the arrow
     next to the Open menu option to bring up the Settings menu, then
     choose Settings.

     13. Click on Session to bring up Session parameters, then click on
     DOS Settings.

     14. Click on DOS_STARTUP_DRIVE. Click on the Value box and type in
     the drive and path as created in step 7
     (C:\OS2\MDOS\LANTASTI.IMG). Click on Save.

     15. To allow printing, or if you're running Central Station from
     OS/2, you must:

         From the OS/2 Desktop, click on OS/2 System, then click on
          System Setup.
         Click once with left button to select Spooler, then click
          once with right button to open a menu.
         Select Disable Spooler to allow direct access to the printer
          port.

     16. Restart the virtual DOS machine by double clicking on the new
     object (LANtastic VDM in the example above) and the network will
     load. The OS/2 machine will now function as a LANtastic server
     and/or workstation. 

     Special Considerations for OS/2 Workstations and Servers

         The network adapter card must be in 8-bit mode. If you have
          Service Pak XR06055, available from IBM, you may be able to
          run in 16-bit mode.
         You cannot NET USE drives on your local computer from the
          virtual DOS machine. You can (and should) NET USE your local
          printers if your machine is configured as a Server.
         If you're using OS/2 V2.1, you must install the LANtastic
          server using the SERVER/NO_5D switch. If you're using a
          STARTNET.BAT file to run the network, place this switch on
          the SERVER line. For example SERVER/NO_5D <Enter>.
         Don't run the DOS SHARE program in the virtual DOS machine.
          Because SHARE does not function correctly in the VDM, please
          be aware that sharing a database from the OS/2 VDM is not
          supported since record locking will not function and data
          corruption may occur if multiple users access the same
          database. File locking IS functional.
         Disk writes to OS/2 show problems with workstations under
          NetWare DOS. Don't install LANtastic on workstations running
          NetWare DOS if you're connecting to an OS/2 server.
         VMDISK returns a CRC error when a floppy disk is formatted
          with MS-DOS 6.2. ServicePak XR06200 is required to use MS-
          DOS 6.2.

     ARTISOFT, Inc. makes no warranties as to the completeness or accuracy
     of this document.  LANtastic is a registered trademark of ARTISOFT,
     Inc.  Company names, brand names, and product names are trademarks or
     registered trademarks of their respective companies. 