This is FreeMiNT 1.14.5 beta:

Since FreeMiNT 1.14 has been released, it turned over, that Profesore's VM
extension doesn't work stable on many TT computers and doesn't work at all
on Falcons. From that time, VM extension has got some dedicated patches
and fixes and it started really working. However, before the VM has been
gotten to work, I decided to split the 030 kernel into two versions. This
left until now, as somebody may prefer non-VM kernel (which is actually
more stable than the other with VM enabled). There are three supplied
binaries:

mint.prg - 68000 version
mint030.prg - 68030 version
mintvmx.prg - 68030 version with VM extension

That last may be used for some experiments which (I hope) would finally
lead to fix the VM completely. If you have suggestions, please contact me
directly (draco@mi.com.pl) or via MiNT mailing list.

Notice: even if you use the VM kernel version, but name it MINTNM.PRG in
your AUTO folder, the VM extension will be disabled.

OK, here are main differences between 1.14.5 and original 1.14:

- VM is fixed so that it can (hopefully) initialize & start on any
  030-based computer with any drive and any hard disk driver. Tested on a
  Falcon030, 14 MB ST RAM, HDD Conner CFS 1621A (IDE) and HDDRIVER
  (NOTICE: it seems to work *much* better than before, but still isn't
  100% stable)
- PMMU cookie will be set in the Cookie Jar when VM is active.
- the Cookie Jar has been increased and has now 8 free entries more.
- serial patch is applied so that data transfers up to 230000 baud via 
  RS-232 seem to be possible.
- pexec() patch is applied to avoid possible crashes on 040-based machines
  while loading filesystems (XFS).
- unaligned block memory moves (quickmov.spp) should be now faster on 030.
- new command, SECURITY, is introduced to the MINT.CNF. Default is
  SECURITY=NO. If set to YES, Rwabs() and Dwritelabel() are available
  for superuser (root) only.
- a bug in procfs.c is fixed (function proc_remove()), so that regular
  users are no longer able to remove processes those aren't their own
  (it was known as "ftpd /proc bug").

Security oriented stuff has been experimentally introduced as a result of
long and sometimes hot discuss on the MiNT mailing list. It is intended to
prevent regular users, who don't have root privileges in multiuser
configurations, from doing ugly things to the system. For now, only
Rwabs() has been protected so that any user but root has no possibility to
reformat the drive. Also Dwritelabel() will be denied for user processes. 
Please test these new features carefully and report any found problems to
either MiNT mailing list (mint@atari.archive.umich.edu) or directly to me
(draco@mi.com.pl). 

Note it is planned for the future to fix Super() and all XBIOS functions
so that they would be superuser-only, when the SECURITY option is enabled.
However, it needs additional kernel functions, those are currently under
development. Super() and XBIOS will work traditional way until new
MiNTLibs and the complete new MiNT distribution would be prepared.

If you run MultiTOS or any other non-multiuser setup, please set
SECURITY=NO.

Serial patch has been done by Torsten Lang (Torsten.Lang@jung.de). Pexec
patch has been done by Harry Eaton (haceaton@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu). The
responsibility for all other changes (see changes.mh) and this kernel
version is taken by me (draco@mi.com.pl). No warranty as ever, use it at
your own risk.

Enjoy,

Draco,
Warszawa, 13.IX.1997.

PS. Binaries are compiled with gcc 2.7.2

****************************************************************************

This is FreeMiNT 1.14 BETA:

FreeMiNT 1.14 has virtual memory which use a dedicated 
swappartition. The swappartition is created by the doswap
utility included in the distribution.

MiNT now also have a new recognised "nameparameter". If you rename
mint.prg into mntnm.prg or mintnm.prg and run it from the autofolder
then both memory protection and virtual memory will be disabled.
Virtual memory is only enabled if memory protection is disabled,
you have a swappartion installed,you have enough memory in your 
computer and have a true 68030 in your computer.
Memory protection is turned off by for example renaming mint.prg
into mintnp.prg and running it from the autofolder.

VM will not work with 040,060 or 020 with 68851 coprocessor. It
will only work with a true 030 with mmu. It will not work with a
68EC030 or similar processor.

WARNING: The specific type of 030 is not tested. The VM will try
to run and will crash on a EC030. If you have such a processor
you should always run MiNT with both memory protection and VM
turned off!

I strongly suggest you to make a backup of your harddisk before
experimenting with VM. Bevare that this version is a beta and is
not tested on all systems. It is tested on a plain 8 MHz 2.5 meg
520ST and a TT clocked at 32 MHz with 4 meg ST-ram and 4 meg TT-ram
using a Quantum 850 meg Trailblazer scsi harddisc fitted to the internal
TT scsibus and using AHDI V5.00 as harddisc driver. It is not tested on
any other machine and may perhaps not run on other machines. Although
that is highly unlikely.

VM larger than 64 meg is not supported and doswap will complain
if you try to install a larger swappartition than 64 meg.

By default all TT-ram and all ST-ram but 4 meg is used as page
memory ie only 4 meg ST-ram will be left. This can be changed
if the symbol ST_LEFT_AFTER_VM in mem.h are changed to the amount
of ST-ram needed. On a TT you can set this as low as 1 or 2 megs if
the program flags on your applications are properly set. On a Falcon
you might want to have more ST-ram free.


Version 1.14 (ie VM extension) was made by Sven 'il Profesore' Karlsson.
Patches from 1.12.5 to MiNT 1.12.6 were collected by Charles 
Briscoe-Smith <cpb4@ukc.ac.uk>.  Versions of FreeMiNT up to and 
including 1.12.5 were collected by Michael Hohmuth 
<hohmuth@inf.tu-dresden.de>

21th of September 1996


/*
 * This file belongs to FreeMiNT.  It's not in the original MiNT 1.12
 * distribution.
 */

This is an attempt in helping to re-synchronize the MiNT source tree
between the MiNT Mailing List folks.  This effort has previously been
known as "MH-MiNT".

Please note that FreeMiNT is unsupported.  There is no warranty.  See
the file COPYING for details.

Please report bugs to the MiNT mailing list <mint@atari.archive.umich.edu>

The supplied binary is compiled with gcc 2.3.3.

WARNING: This is only a beta. There is a binary version in this distribution
but it is only meant for people who are willing to risc their harddisc in the
quest to find all bugs. The VM extension took 3 days to write. It has been
tested only on the machines listed above during 2 weeks. There are probably
configurations that will lead to problems. You should backup all your vital
data before trying this piece of software. It is stable on my TT but I do not
take any responsibility for any lost data or damaged media or hardware.

NOTE: The reltime clock in my TT has stopped working. Since I have not fixed
it yet a lot of files have strange timestamps.

Regards Sven Karlsson, Istari Software
