For the past couple of months Bernd and ECM did an outstanding job studying, cleaning and fixing the (recently open-sourced) kernel from EDR-DOS.
I am happy to announce that in result it has been integrated as the default SvarDOS kernel today. For the time being it is available only in the /bleeding edge/ release, but I fully expect it to propagate into the stable release in a very near future.
Thank you Bernd & ECM!
Mateusz
The EDR kernel proves to be exceptionally stable and works flawlessly on a wide range of PCs. The current SvarDOS bleeding edge release is therefore likely to become the new "stable" in a couple of days. It includes the EDR kernel along with all the programs that had to be adjusted and improved for multi-kernel compatibility (the installer, pkg, SvarCOM, SYS, ...).
This is a major milestone for SvarDOS, but care has been taken for it to be as transparent as possible to current users. The only inconvenience being that current users will have to change their kernel package if they wish to keep getting kernel updates from pkgnet. Indeed, the old "KERNEL" package became obsoleted and will not receive any further updates (a KERNEL update has been pushed recently so PKGNET will display an explicit warning about this). Now, users have the choice to either continue using the FreeDOS kernel by installing the KERNLFD package, or migrate to the EDR kernel by installing the KERNLEDR package. Either way, the procedure would be:
1. Make sure your SYS, SVARCOM and PKG packages are up to date (you can use PKGNET CHECKUP)
2. update your boot sector with the latest bootcode:
--> SYS /BOOTONLY C:
3. get the kernel package you wish to switch to:
--> PKGNET PULL KERNLEDR (or KERNLFD)
4. uninstall your current "KERNEL" package (it's safe, this package does not control the actual running kernel)
--> PKG RM KERNEL
5. delete your running kernel (this is safe as long as you DO NOT REBOOT your PC until step 6 is finalized)
--> DEL C:\KERNEL.SYS
6. install your new kernel (this will install a new running kernel)
--> PKG INSTALL KERNLEDR (or KERNLFD)
7. reboot your computer
Mateusz
The KERNLEDR package was updated to release 20240914. It is contained in the SvarDOS bleeding edge image 20240915.
http://svardos.org/?p=files&dir=20240915
Thank you for your help, Bernd!
I have set now the EDR build to be the newest stable (and advertised as such on the SvarDOS website). I have also:
- removed the "EN-only" flavors since they no longer serve any purpose now that the 360K floppies are internationalized
- removed the "2.88M" build - it has no added value now because the 1.44 version fits on a single floppy
- added the 360K build to be advertised on the Download section of the website
SvarDOS is thereby officially EDR-based :-)
Mateusz
Nice! Will the bleeding edge build re-appear on the main page once a new build is generated? I found that differentiation useful.
> Will the bleeding edge build re-appear on the main page once a new build is generated? I found that differentiation useful.
Yes of course. The bleeding edge section is not displayed when "stable == bleeding", but as soon as the two are different, it will reappear. It is controlled here, line 52:
http://svn.svardos.org/blame.php?repname=SvarDOS&path=%2Fwebsite%2Findex-main.php&rev=2012#l52
Mateusz
Stable release seems to be stable :) Compiling the EDR kernel under 20240915 works flawlessly. Windows 3.11 works in enhanced!! mode with the SvarDOS provided himemx.sys (not using the himem and emm386 provided by windows). This is something that sets SvarDOS apart from the default FreeDOS installation! SvarCOM command prompt under Windows also seems to work (though I mainly tested with 4DOS).