#CD-ROM cache under DOS
16 messages in this thread
Can someone point me in the right direction to find some CD-ROM caching
software. We are accessing a CD-ROM on a Novell Network using a PC
equipped with MapAssist(a peer-to-peer solution). This works great but
I feel that it would be better if I could use the 4 meg of ram that we
have in this PC. Any ideas? I've tried Smartdrive, Cache86, and PC Kwik
5.0 Thanks for help!!!!
A good solution would be to set up your node with CD Speedway in a cache to
local hard disk if available, otherwise set up a RAMdrive and cache the
CDROM files there.
Info on speedway is available in CDROM libs under the key: Speedway or
cache. If you need more info, let me know.
Reese.
Any idea where I can buy this, and what it costs? Thanks!!
Do you know anything about a CD-ROM cache utility called Speedcache 4+ I've
seed advertised lately?
Gordon,
Reese will tell you about CDSpeedway, but there is also a program called
SpeedCache + that caches CD-ROMs. Call 219/447-1625.
robin
Yes. Speedcache + has been reported on the forum from time to time. It is
published by Future Systems Solutions (no relation to Future Computer
Systems (the makers of FAST!).
Retail is $129.95, but I've seen it for less. A few points on performance
attributes compared to our product CD Speedway. 1) CD Speedway uses a
patented file caching algorythm for its read ahead, where Speedcache uses
standard hard disk caching algorythms. They are not the same technology.
There are benefits to both, but we've found specific examples where
Speedway is much faster.
I've also heard that it(Speedcache) is identical to Norton cache and
Smartdrv from an algorythm standpoint (maybe the same developer?)
CD Speedway is a top ten multimedia product at Egghead and is the leading
seller worldwide.
Feel free to contact me for more information. I'd also like to be
corrected on my comments re: Speedcache if I'm incorrect on any of my
assumptions.
Reese.
Reese,
I think it's important to note that, since CD-Speedway is a file cache (it
copies the CD-ROM file to the hard disk when accessed), it's impractical
for applications that have large files, like, er, most CD-ROM
applications….
Dave
That's where we disagree. My point is that since it is a file cache, large
files can be cached to hard disk or RAM and get very good results. Or, you
can set Speedway to ignore large files and cache small ones only.
Let me give you an example. Let's say you're working a database
application where the data file is huge….say 50+ Meg. The index is
smaller (2Meg.). I would set Speedway to cache the index and ignore the
data file. By doing this the data Speedway would grab optimizes the
application.
Animations are another good example. By caching the file, there is no
jerkiness or pausing to the application. A track or sector cache may give
some improvement, but no where near the performance gain of the file cache.
IMHO, file caching is significantly faster than sector/track caching for
one important reason. Our 'read ahead' can't be better than having the
whole file, where a normal cache must try to guess to retrieve the correct
information from the file.
The GO in mammels for example improves over 1600% with Speedway. With
other caches, the best improvement I could get was only 140%. In this case
it's either GO in 91.2 seconds with no cache, 54.7 with Speedcache+ or 5.1
seconds with CD SPEEDWAY. I significant difference.
Reese.
Reese,
On the other hand, in your example (50MB data file and 2MB index), it would
take a file cache about 13 seconds just to read the index into the cache
(assuming 150KBps transmission, which is most common). After that much
time, I'd have assumed that the application had hung.
As you say, though, it depends on the applications you use. Most of my
applications have large files that combine the data and index.
Dave
Dave,
Have you ever used SpeedCache Plus?
I use it and I think it might be more what you are looking for. It caches
the CD the same way it caches your hard drives.
You DON'T need to have to have two separate caches running to cache your CD
and hard drives. You might want to check it out.
Bill
Is SpeedCache Plus shareware or commercial? Thanks <<KEVIN>>
It might, if not for our patented technology for how we read the
information.
Where you have large files, you might consider using Speedway to cache to
hard disk and use a good disk cache to speed things even faster.
Reese.
Andy, the only CDROM caching program that I know of is CD-SPEEDWAY. I have
use it with satisfactory results.
Phil Haase 🙂
I have been looking for this in Computer Shopper, but it seems to be
eluding me. Where can I buy Speedway and what does it cost? Thanks!!
Andy, the name of the product is CD-Speedway. It runs about 50 bucks and is
published by BLOC which has a forum here on CIS. You should be able to find
somebody selling it in Computer Shoppe. Try looking at a vendor that sells
CDROM.
Phil 🙂