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SCSI2_ToolBox - A set of SCSI tools for NeXTSTEP 3.2 users and
developers on Motorola and Intel hardware.
Beta Release: 940921 (Sep 21, 1994)
Software, Documentation and Source Code
Copyright 1994, Christopher A. Wolf
INTRODUCTION
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The SCSI2_ToolBox provides a powerful set of tools for interacting with SCSI peripheral devices. The package consists of two components: the SCSI_Inspector.app for users and the SCSI2_Class for developers. One of the major advantages of the SCSI2_ToolBox over previously available solutions is that the SCSI2_ToolBox works, without modification, on both Intel and Motorola based NEXTSTEP 3.2 systems. For more information about each component of the SCSI2_ToolBox please refer to the documentation included within each of the following folders:
SCSI2_Class -- An Objective-C class which provides the ability to access and issue commands to SCSI-2 and SCSI-1 devices. The methods and header files provided hide the many architecture dependent implementation details of low-level SCSI access so that the developer can easily write SCSI tools which will build and execute, without modification, on both Intel and Motorola architectures. The SCSI2 parent class provides a framework which can be extended via sub-classing to provide additional device specific capabilities. DriveSCSI and TapeSCSI sub-classes are provided as an example of how to extend the parent-class to provide control of disk and tape drive devices. A CDSCSI sub-class is also in progress but is completely undocumented and not yet in a useful state. Full documentation and complete commented source code is included.
SCSI_Inspector -- A ready-to-run application which provides extensive technical information about any SCSI peripherals which are attached to the computer. In addition to displaying device specifications and parameters, SCSI_Inspector.app can also perform sophisticated benchmarking and simple diagnostic functions. All of these features are accessible through an easy to use NEXTSTEP graphical interface. SCSI_Inspector.app is distributed as a FAT executable which uses the SCSI2_Class to provide architecture independent SCSI functionality on both Intel and Motorola NEXTSTEP 3.2 systems. Complete (but at this time sparsely commented) source code is provided as an example of how to use many of the features of the SCSI2_class.
The current version of SCSI2_ToolBox is a beta test version which is still under development and portions of it have not been exhaustively tested. Programs using these tools to perform low level SCSI access functions have the potential to destroy data if bugs exist in the program or the SCSI2_Class. Please exercise caution when using these tools and, as always, be sure to keep current back-ups of all your important data.
LEGAL
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The software, documentation and source code provided as a part of SCSI2_ToolBox are Copyright 1994, Christopher A. Wolf. Portions of the source code and documentation of this kit are directly derived from source code and documentation included with an earlier work, SCSI_Inquirer.app, Copyright 1990, 1991, 1992 by Jiro Karen Nakamura and Focal Point Computer.
In personal e-mail dated July 1, 1994, Jiro Karen Nakamura <jn19@cornell.edu> stated that she is no longer actively developing or supporting SCSI_Inquirer and granted me permission to assume responsibility for its continued development and maintenance. In personal e-mail dated July 2, 1994, Jiro Nakamura provided the following statement releasing previous distribution restrictions on her work:
> Focal Point Computer, Inc. has transferred all rights to SCSI Inquirer
> to Jiro Nakamura. Jiro Nakamura allows both the source code and object
> code of SCSI Inquirer to be used as learning tools on the NeXTSTEP
> computer. They may be freely distributed and modified so long as no
> attempt at profit is made. If you want to go through the minor steps
> to make SCSI Inquirer a Free Software Foundation GNU program, I give
> you my blessing...
In accordance with these terms the components of SCSI2_ToolBox are distributed under the GNU Public Licenses. SCSI_Inspector.app is distributed under the GNU General Public License, whose complete text can be found in this archive in the file SCSI_Inspector/Documentation/COPYING. SCSI2_Class is distributed under the Library GNU Public License, whose complete text can be found in this archive in the file SCSI2_Class/Documentation/COPYING.
This software and documentation is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
DISTRIBUTION AND FEEDBACK CHANNELS
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SCSI2_ToolBox is available for ftp from the NEXTSTEP archive on cs.orst.edu. New versions of SCSI2_ToolBox will be uploaded to the /pub/next/submissions directory but will probably be quickly moved to a more permanent home by the archive maintainer. New versions of SCSI2_ToolBox will be announced on the Usenet newsgroup comp.sys.next.announce when they are available.
Bug-reports, comments, suggestions, and feature requests can be sent via e-mail to chris@alchemy.geo.cornell.edu. (NeXTmail accepted and preferred.) This is my first publicly released complete NEXTSTEP application so any and all feedback will be appreciated. Please be sure to consult the documentation and TODO files before complaining about missing or broken features. Also please be sure to mention which revision of the SCSI2_ToolBox tools you are using. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Christopher Wolf
($Id: README_FIRST,v 0.4 94/09/21 14:17:53 chris Exp Locker: chris $)These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.