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Non-Tech : Iomega Thread without Iomega -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Herb Fuller who wrote (9982)	5/19/1999 8:55:00 AM
From: John Solder	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10072

Slightly OT: For those out there who don't really understand how Flash memory works or how it will compete with Clik! I've pulled this letter from a company that makes software to utilize flash. In my mind the only drawback to flash is cost. As we all know, memory costs are dropping daily. If flash continues to evolve I can't really see how Clik! can compete. Thank you for the inquiry to Datalight. In regard to your question on the comparison between FlashFX and MicroOS, an operating system made by e.Digital: FlashFX is not an operating system, it is the software which, once loaded onto the target system, makes flash arrays appear as a disk to the operating system. I have attached a data sheet on FlashFX for your convenience. We provide embedded system software to Intel for their 386, 486 and Pentium chipsets. We are under NDA, as you probably can imagine, so more detail can only be given with proper authorization. Please let us know if or how I can be of further assistance. Laurie Walker Inside Sales Associate Datalight, Inc. 18810 - 59th Ave. NE Arlington, WA 98223 (360) 435-8086 ext. 133 office (360) 435-0253 fax lauriew@datalight.com" "The unique characteristics of flash memory make it ideally suited for embedded systems. Flash memory is non-volatile, has low power requirements and a rugged nature, making it superior to standard hard disks for embedded system applications. A single flash memory device can serve as ROM for the storage of code and also as a disk drive for the storage of data. The characteristics of flash memory also require a significant level of software support. FlashFX provides this software which, once loaded in the target system, makes flash arrays appear as disk drives to the operating system and applications. These drives are appropriately referred to as flash disks. In short, FlashFX allows you to use a flash array as if it were a standard disk. Applications use normal operating system calls to read and write data to and from the flash disk. Advanced features provided by FlashFX, such as wear-leveling, garbage collection, and programming algorithms are transparent to applications and operating systems using the flash disk. FlashFX 4.0 . . . ? FlashFX uses a patented technology called Variable Block Flash (VBF) format to access data in flash memory more efficiently than existing solutions. VBF is the format previously used by CardTrick v3.01 and FlashFX features a number of enhancements. ? FlashFX uses optimum wear leveling to extend the life of the flash disk. This wear-leveling algorithm ensures that all erase zones are used evenly across the entire flash disk. Wear leveling takes place even in extreme cases where large portions of the flash, used for long-term storage, are not erased on a regular basis. Wear leveling can significantly extend the useable life of a flash array. ? FlashFX includes additional source code and documentation necessary to integrate into a wide range of hardware environments. ? FlashFX allows the flash array to be paged into system address space, accessed through a small I/O address, or mapped entirely into the CPU's address space. ? FlashFX can be configured to execute from ROM, using as little as 7KB of RAM and 9KB of ROM. ? FlashFX, through the fault tolerant VBF format, provides a high level of data protection through automated write-interruption recovery. This protects the low-level data structures to avoid losing data in harsh environments where power interruptions are common. ? FlashFX allows hard and floppy disk drive emulation via the PC AT x86 BIOS extension. Source code for an interrupt 13h interface is provided for easy customization and high compatibility with ROM BIOS. ? FlashFX supports flash arrays of up to 2GB. Only 16 bytes of RAM space is needed for each megabyte of flash memory. ? FlashFX includes source code and support for many flash memory devices. ? FlashFX includes programming algorithms for common flash parts from Intel and AMD. FlashFX for Windows® CE With the FlashFX Porting Kit, FlashFX is portable to any microprocessor supported by Windows CE. While Windows CE provides software drivers for a third party hardware solution, Datalight's FlashFX allows the flexibility to select an optimum flash solution at the most competitive price, rather than being tied to a single source for flash hardware. FlashFX is written entirely in portable ANSI C code, and all code that may require modification is clearly designated. Wear leveling algorithms included in FlashFX, assure even usage of flash parts, maximizing flash longevity. Reduced code and data requirements provide more flash memory and RAM for your applications and data storage. FlashFX is a fault tolerant system which prevents data corruption if a battery fails, a power cord is disconnected or the flash media is removed while writing data. FlashFX uses a patented technology called Variable Block Flash format (VBF). While the minimum sector size (granularity) that can be allocated varies from 512 bytes down to 64 bytes, VBF can allocate data blocks of up to 64KB. This means that performance is enhanced significantly due to better use of resources for tracking data. FlashFX for Windows CE: ? Provides the most reliable solution ? Provides a high level of fault tolerance ? Includes true wear leveling ? Is the fastest flash file system ? Includes patented VBF format ? Includes 100% portable ANSI C code ? Includes full source code ? Means low cost license fees ? Is easily customized ? Supports common NOR, NAND and AND parts ? Supports Windows CE 2.0 and 2.10 About the FlashFX Software Development Kit A Software Development Kit is available for FlashFX that allows configuration to a wide range of x86 target systems. These systems can run the DOS or QNX operating systems and x86-compatible CPUs, or several Windows CE target platforms. The SDK includes: ? Minimal source code needed for configuration to target environments. ? Tools to aid in development and manufacturing of flash disks. ? Microsoft® Windows CE, Borland®, and Watcom® libraries. ? Source code of algorithms for numerous flash parts from AMD, Intel, and others. ? Printed and bound User's Guide. ? Library files for DOS x86 and QNX environments. ? An enhanced formatter with auto detection of bad blocks and allocation of extra spare blocks. ? Sample code to build new FlashFX configurations. ? Tools to build BIOS extensions and DOS, QNX, and Windows CE device drivers. About the FlashFX Porting Kit A Porting Kit is also available for FlashFX, making it portable to other operating systems and CPU families. FlashFX is written entirely in ANSI ‘C' for portability. The Porting Kit includes: ? Printed and bound User's Guide. ? Full source code in ANSI C. ? Instructions for porting FlashFX to non-supported operating systems and CPUs. ? Tools to aid in development and manufacturing of flash disks. ? Support for Microsoft Windows CE. ? Modifiable code for configuration to target systems. ? Sample code showing usage of the FlashFX API." Datalight is a registered trademark of Datalight, Inc. FlashFX Pat. 5,860,082 1/12/99. Microsoft and Windows CE are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.