There are 3 parts to configurating MINT

• • The Mint CNF file - this is what MINT reads when it boots up.

  • The XaAES CNF file - this is what XaAES reads when it boots up.

  • Teradesk configuration - You manage Teradesk via Teradesk GUI.

You will need an text editor to edit both the MINT.CNF and XAAES.CNF files.

Here list some settings that may be of use for you to configure your OS.

MINT.CNF : MINT configuration

1. Memory considerations

If your system is running on low memory - that's 4MB, in most case. Get more memory, you will need it in MINT.

Alternatively, is to tone down the memory usage of the OS. Following settings can be lowered to conserve memory.

1. 1. 1. • FS_CACHE_SIZE= specifies the size of disk cache in KB for internal caching. Default is 128.

         • TPA_INITIALMEM= set maximum additional TPA size for new processes in KB. Default is 1024.

         • PROC_MAXMEM= set the max amount of memory that any program may use in KB. Default is all available memory.

2. File system configuration

The file system configurations allows you to define the behaviour of certain partition and media.

• 1. 1. • FS_VFAT= enables VFAT extension for selected drives, making MINT understand long filename for that drive.

        • FS_VFAT_LCASE=YES tells the kernel to return lowercase filenames from VFAT directory searches.

        • FS_WB_ENABLE= enables write back cache for selected drives. This makes the system faster but risk losing data if the system stops responding.

3. Mint Commands

There is a section in the MINT.CNF file where commands to MINT can be specified.

You will be able to make symbolic links to your folders, run external porgrams and set environment variables.

• 1. • sln c:/xxx /yyy

Creates links /yyy pointing to the folder c:/xxx. This allows UNIX style root directory structures to be mapped.

A list of default UNIX root directories are configured, but you have to point them to the correct folder on your hard disk (the c:/xxx part).

• 1. • setenv Name c:/xxx/yyy.app

Creates environment variable for the OS. Typical environment variables are as follows but you need to modify it to point to your folders:

• 1. • • • setenv TMPDIR /ram

         • setenv TEMP /ram

         • setenv TMP /ram

         • setenv PCONVERT PATH,HOME,SHELL

         • setenv PATH /bin;/sbin;/usr/bin

         • setenv SLBPATH c:/tools/slb

         • setenv OLGAMANAGER c:/tools/olga/olga.app

         • setenv SDMASTER C:/tools/shutdown/SHUTDOWN.APP

         • setenv TOSRUN c:/tools/toswin2/tw-call.app

         • setenv HOME /root

         • setenv USERNAME root

         • setenv HOSTNAME Falcon

         • setenv SHELL /d/bin/tcsh

         • setenv STGUIDE C:\tools\HYPVIEW\HYP_VIEW.APP

• 1. • exec xxx.prg

Executes the program. This is the powerful part - allows you to execute commands that setup the network or do other important stuff. Some example are listed below:

• 1. • • • exec c:/mint/bin/e2fsck -pC 0 d:

to do a disk check on the ext2 fs partition

• 1. • • • exec ifconfig en0 addr 192.168.0.288 netmask 255.255.255.0 up

configure the network interface ( IP address will depends on your network)

• 1. • • • exec route add default en0 gw 192.168.0.1 metric 1

configure network routing for the network interface

XAAES.CNF : XaAES configuration

1. Screen resolution

You may need to set the screen resolution using the video= keyword. For Falcon, normally video=26

2. Windows Widgets

The design of the window widgets is controlled by the keyword widgets=. Just point to one of the prepared RSC files of choice.

3. Running program

Again this is the powerful section of the configuration. It allows application to be started when Mint/XaAES starts

Following list of applications will make running MiNT more pleasant:

• • • run c:\tools\toswin2\toswin2.app

As already seen, it allows TOS programs to output into a GEM window.

• • • run c:\xxxxx\taskbar.prg

This is a taskbar; somewhat similar to one on Windozes. It makes switching between applications easier. download

It been advised to start taskbar from the Desktop (as per Taskbar HYP), so YMMV.

• • • run c:\xxxxx\boxkite.prg

Replaces the default XaAES file selector with a more functional file selector. download

It's been said that boxkite is not compatible with XaAES. It's been OK for me, so again YMMV.

• • • run c:\xxxxx\clocky.prg

Dispalay corner clock plus keyboard mappings etc (not really needed as Mint itself can map keyboards). download

4. Desktop selection

As configured in one of the step when installing Mint, the desktop of choice can be selected.

Teradesk Configuration

As this can be easily done via the GUI, here are just a list of items that you may want to configure:

• 1. Link the EDIT button dialog of Teradesk to QED.

  2. The font of the director windows as well as the text viewer

  3. The desktop background colour & shading (but you cannot use an image)

  4. The window background colour & shading

  5. Enable save settings on exit, so you ensure that your changes are persistant

  6. Install applications so that certain application is executed based on file extension

Next: 03 Mint Extended filesystem