System Programming Course Code: CS609

Cs609@vu.edu.pk

Lecture # 25

This program attempts to perform memory to memory transfer operation. This program
will only work for a 8086 processor, higher processors’ DMA may not support memor to
memory transfer.

#include <dos.h>
#include <bios.h>

char st[2048]="hello u whats up?\0";

char st1[2048]="xyz";
unsigned long int temp;
unsigned int i;

void main (void)

{
temp=_DS;
temp = temp<<4;
i = *((unsigned int *)(&temp));
temp = temp >>16;

outportb(0x87,*((unsigned char *)(&temp)));

outportb(0,*((unsigned char *)(&i)));
outportb(0,*(((unsigned char *)(&i))+1));
outportb(1,0xff);
outportb(1,0x07);
outportb(0x0b,0x88);
temp=_DS;
temp= temp+128;
temp=temp<<4;
i= *((unsigned int *)(&temp));
temp=temp>>16;
outportb(0x83,*((unsigned char *)(&temp)));
outportb(2,*((unsigned char *)(&i)));
outportb(2,*(((unsigned char *)(&i))+1));

Virtual University of Pakistan 206

System Programming Course Code: CS609
Cs609@vu.edu.pk

This program, programs the channel 0 and channel 1 of the DMA. It loads the address of
Source string st in base register and the Latch B and loads the count register for channel 0
and does the same for st1. It then programs the mode, mask and command register for
memory to memory transfer and to unmask channel 0 and channel 1.

outportb(3,0xff);
outportb(3,0x07);
outportb(0x0b,0x85);
outportb(0x08,1);
outportb(0x0f,0x0c);
outportb(0x09,0x04);
while (!kbhit())
{
printf("Channel 0 =
%x,% x\n",inportb(0x01),inportb(0x01));
printf("Channel 1 =
%x,% x\n",inportb(0x03),inportb(0x03));
printf("Status = % x\n",inportb(0x08));
}
puts(st1);
}

File Systems

File System
•Disk Architecture
•Disk Partitioning
•File systems

Virtual University of Pakistan 207

System Programming Course Code: CS609
Cs609@vu.edu.pk

Disk Architecture

•Disk is a circular which is hollow from the center

•This shape is inherently useful for random
access.

On tracks and sectors

Tracks are the circular division of the disk and the sectors are the longitudinal division of
the disk as shown in the diagram above.

Virtual University of Pakistan 208

System Programming Course Code: CS609
Cs609@vu.edu.pk

Addressable unit Parameters

• Heads
•Sectors
•Tracks

An addressable unit on disk can be addressed by three parameters i.e. head #, sector # and
track #. The disk rotates and changing sectors and a head can move to and fro changing
tracks. Each addressable unit has a unique combination of sec#, head# and track# as its
physical address.

Blocks
• Blocks are the sectors per track
•Smallest addressable unit in memory
•Address of block is specified as a unique
combination of three parameters (i.e. track, head,
sec)

Virtual University of Pakistan 209

System Programming Course Code: CS609
Cs609@vu.edu.pk

Density of Magnetic media

• Density of magnetic media is the determinant of
the amount of data that can reside stably on the
disk for example floppy disk come with different
densities.
•Double Density
•High Density

Effect of surface area on disk size

• Increasing the surface area clearly increases the
amount of data that can reside on the disk as more
magnetic media no resides on disk but it might
have some drawbacks like increased seek time in
case only one disk platter is being used

Virtual University of Pakistan 210

System Programming Course Code: CS609
Cs609@vu.edu.pk

Hard Disks
• Greater amounts of data can reside on hard disk
•As greater amount of magnetic media can reside on the
hard surface of the disk
•Also because the surface area of the disk is increased by
increasing the number of platters as shown in the diagram

Hard Disk Architecture

•

Virtual University of Pakistan 211

System Programming Course Code: CS609
Cs609@vu.edu.pk

Cylinders
• In case of hard disk where there are number of
platters the term track is replaced by cylinder
•Cylinder is a collection of corresponding tracks
if track on platter changes so will the tracks on
rest of the platters as all the heads move
simultaneously

Rotational Delay
• While accessing a selected block the time
required by the disk to rotate to the specified
sector is called rotational delay

Virtual University of Pakistan 212

System Programming Course Code: CS609
Cs609@vu.edu.pk

Seek Time
• While accessing a selected block Time required
by the head to reach the particular track/cylinder
is called seek time

Access Time
• The accumulative time that is required to access
the selected block is called access time
•Access time includes the delay required by disk
rotation as well as head movement.

Virtual University of Pakistan 213

System Programming Course Code: CS609
Cs609@vu.edu.pk

Head is like Electric Coil

• Disk follow the basic principle of magnetism of
dynamo.
•When ever a magnetized portion of disk runs
along the coil like head electricity is produced in
the head which is interpreted as a logic 1
•And whenever a demagnetized portion on the
disk runs through the head no electricity is
produced in head which is interpreted as logic 0

Head position and precautions

• The head is touching the surface of floppy disk
which rotates at a low speed of 300 RPM
•The head is not touching the surface of hard disk
which run at high speeds up to 9600 RPM but is
at a few microns distance from the surface
•All the magnetic disk are made out of magnetic
media and hence data may be lost by exposing
them to sunlight, heat, radiation, magnetic or
electric fields.
•Dust is harmful and even fatal in case of head
disk by the virtue of its speed and its distance of
head from the surface

Virtual University of Pakistan 214