About Device Definition

Use this view of the Device Definition window to view, modify, and create DOS disk volumes (sometimes called DOS Drives).

For more information about the general subject of device definitions, managing them, and interacting with the controls that are common to all views of the Device Definition window, see About Device Definition.

DOS Drive Definition

DOS drives include any physical DOS partitions available on your system as well as virtual disk volumes. The list of token names can be used to select a particular volume in order to view or modify its configuration parameters.

DOS drive definitions are automatically created for all physical DOS partitions that exist on your system. The tokens are named dosc, dosd, and so on, to correspond to the drive descriptions Native DOS c: and Native DOS d:, respectively.

You also have one virtual DOS volume token available (named homevdrv) which defines a virtual volume for each user. For general information about virtual disk volumes and when to use them, see About Virtual Disk Volumes.

You can modify the attributes of any DOS drive using this window. See Modifying Volume Attributes.

You can also create new virtual disk volumes. See Creating a New Virtual Disk Volume.

Creating a New Virtual Disk Volume

1. Click on the New button to create a new token to identify your new virtual disk volume. (Alternatively, you can modify the attributes of an existing volume and then use the Save As button to save it as a new token.)

2. In the Virtual Device File text box, type the name of the UNIX file to be created and used as the virtual volume.

3. Select whether you have entered a full UNIX path or a path relative to a user's home directory. (If you create a virtual disk volume file name relative to a user's home directory, each user will have his or her own volume referred to by this token name.)

4. Enter a description for the volume in the Description text box, and specify the appropriate Usable By and Failure Action settings. See About Device Definition if you need an explanation of the appropriate settings for these fields.

5. Make any necessary changes in the Drive Options area to configure volume access attributes. See Modifying Volume Attributes for a complete description.

6. Save the new drive definition by clicking on the Save button (or use Save As if you have not already created a new token).

7. If you are creating a virtual device file using the full UNIX path, click on the Create Virtual Disk Volume button. (If your path is relative to users' home directory, each user will be prompted to create the volume at the time he or she attaches it.)

   Another window is displayed in which you can specify the volume's size and the type of access that other users can have to the volume. After you specify the needed information, you are returned to this window.

• Enter a description for the volume in the Description text box, and specify the appropriate Usable By and Failure Action settings. See About Device Definition if you need an explanation of the appropriate settings for these fields.

• Set the access attributes for the volume in the Drive Options area.

  Individual users cannot relax the access attributes that are specified here. However, they can further restrict the access attributes, if they choose, when they attach this volume to their DOS or Windows sessions through the Personal Merge Session Configuration window.

  • If only Read-Only is selected.

    DOS and Windows sessions that attach this volume can read files on the volume, but cannot update, create, or delete them.

  • If only Exclusive is selected.

    DOS and Windows sessions have exclusive use of this volume. Only one session at a time can attach it successfully.

  • If both Read-Only and Exclusive are selected.

    Only one DOS or Windows session can attach this volume at a time. Applications running in that session can read the files on the volume, but not update, create, or delete them.

  • If neither Read-Only nor Exclusive is selected.

    Multiple DOS and Windows sessions can read, update, create, and delete files on this volume at the same time.

• Click on the Save button to save your changes.