=== eComStation 2.0 beta 3 README ===

Thank you for your interest in trying the latest beta of eComStation
2.0.  We have worked hard to make this release worthwhile, please see
the 'WHATSNEW.TXT' document for an overview of all changes.

This product is available for download to all registered eComStation
customers of Software Subscription Services.  For more information on
that, please visit:  http://www.ecomstation.com/subscription/

This beta offers a number of improvements that we would like to have
tested on a larger number of configurations.  These are:

** Preboot harddisk integrity check **  
there are a couple of situations that cause installation problems with
LVM later on in the install process.

- PBR problems:  Set when either the 'hidden sectors' or the geometry
fields in a bootsector do not match the position of the partition or the
used disk-geometry.

- CHS problems:  Set when the CHS-values in a partition-table for a
partition do NOT match the current disk-geometry used by the operating
system.  This may lead to error from (mini)LVM about the disk being
'corrupt'.  Another possible cause for this error is that if there are
any partitions present on a disk that have NO LVM information at all,
and are of a type that gets a default driveletter assigned in that case
(by OS2LVM.DMD/OS2DASD.CMD)

- Boot problems:  Set when extended-containers are marked ACTIVE, when
multiple primaries are marked ACTIVE, or if any non-standard flagbyte
values are used in the partitiontable.  These errors MAY lead to the
system failing to boot properly!

These will now be detected before the installer starts and an option to
fix them is being presented.  If you choose not to fix them, you are not
able to proceed the installation.  
This technology uses a custom DFSee 'engine' and should be safe, however, 
neither Serenity Systems International nor Fsys can be held liable for 
any damages that may occur to the data on your harddrive.  

!!! When testing beta software, always be sure to have a tried and tested
backup of your system !!!

** Harddisk volume resizing **

This beta has a custom DFSee engine that enables reliable RESIZING of
FAT32 and NTFS filesystems to allow shrinking an existing Windows
installation to make room for eComStation on the same system.  While
this functionality has been available in DFSee (and the OEM Engine) for
quite a while, it was NOT considered reliable enough to offer to
end-users during eComStation install.  Starting with DFSee release 7.12,
and the OEM Engine based on that, the reliability of resizing has
improved to the point where it can be used without hesitation for this
purpose.  A Windows NTFS filesystem resized by DFSee will pass a
subsequent Windows CHKDSK with NO ERRORS now. The engine included in 
Beta 3 is at level 8.08.

To use this feature in this beta, you need to select it from the
Maintenance Console (when booted from CD) and select "Resize Disk" 
under the "Disk" menu.

The GUI interface of this feature will be updated before the final
release of eComStation 2.0.

** Genmac **

This package provides generic driver support for several network
interface cards under OS/2 and eComStation.  Moreover, Genmac is enabled
to support WPA encryption with the Wireless LAN Monitor 3.x or better.

Genmac and the Wireless LAN monitor will be installed when the
appropriate hardware is detected by the installer.  If it is not
detected, you can manually select the driver in the network installation
dialog.

Note:  only the selected driver will be copied onto your system, in
order to prevent problems with the MPTS installer later on.  This may
seem confusing, when you run MPTS in a later stage, it will not show all
Genmac supported NICs.

A full list of supported NIC chipsets can be found in 'WHATSNEW.TXT'

** ACPI & APM **

Support for ACPI is available in this beta.  The current version is
2.15.  ACPI will be automatically enabled if appropriate hardware is
detected.  You can manually enable or disable ACPI support at page 2
(miscellaneous) of the eComStation installer preboot menu.  Even if not
installed, the corresponding documents are installed on your harddrive.
You can find detailed information and testdocuments in \ECS\DOC\ACPI and
\ECS\DOC\APM

Several tests can be performed, please refer to \ECS\DOC\ACPI\TESTER.DOC
and \ECS\DOC\APM\TESTER.DOC

When ACPI is installed, there is a number of utilities from the ACPI
Toolkit you can use, see the list below:

AcpiTree.exe		- Show ACPI tree 
ButtonJin.exe		- Wait press Power Button (as demon), GUI
WaitButton.exe		- Wait press Power/Sleep button, VIO
PowerOff.exe		- Power Off (immediate!!)  
SetGetThrtl.exe		- Get/Set throtlling CPU
UpTime.exe		- Show uptime via PM Timer 
GetValue.exe		- Get current value from PM Timer 
AcpiIRQ.exe		- Show current IRQ routing
IrqStat.exe		- Show IRQ calling statistics (SMP only) 
SetGetState.exe		- Get/Set frequency/power state 
EmbeddedEvent.exe	- Show events from Embedded controllers 
GetNotify.exe		- Show notify 
Thermal.exe		- Show temperature of thermal zone 
ScanPCI.exe		- Show PCI devices
TmrTest.exe		- Test working of timer (testing IRQ0 timer 0)


** Core Duo CPU support (SMP) **

This beta supports the installation of eComStation on a Core Duo
computer.  To enable it, please select the appropriate feature in the
installer 'Select Components' page (only available in Advaned Install
mode).  This enables the use of Intel Dualcore, Hyperthreading and
multi-CPU systems.  Please note:  AMD Dual Core CPU's are currently
unsupported.  Also, many drivers are not SMP capable, which may cause
instability or unexpected behaviour on your system.

For more information please refer to \ECS\DOC\ACPI\ACPI_SMP.DOC

** eComStation Virtual File System (Samba client support) **

Samba is a SMB/CIFS protocols file and print sharing server/client set
originaly made for UNIX world to cooperate with corresponding Windows
and OS/2 servers or clients.  eComStation has a native implementation of
SMB/CIFS server/client set - IBM LAN Manager and IBM Peer.  These
products haven't been updated for a long time and have some
compatibility problems with modern Windows SMB/CIFS implementations.

Serenity Systems International has reached an agreement with Blueprint
Software Works for the inclusion of the 'eComStation Virtual File
System' driver which provides support for Samba Client.  Currently a GUI
to configure it is lacking, but an example of how to mount a Samba
resource can be found in \ECS\DOC\EVFS\REXX

** eSchemes **

eSchemes (in this beta we include version 1.37) provides a new way to
configure the look and feel of the desktop.  This is considered highly
experimental and as such can only be installed with Advanced
Installation, under "Experimental Features" the option to select is
"Interface customization".  Traditional "eStyler" functionality is
lacking, for example the titlebar customization.  Feedback on eSchemes
is highly appreciated.  You can find documentation on eSchemes in
\ECS\DOC\ESCHEMES\.
eSchemes can be applied by rightclicking them from the Appearance folder
and select 'apply scheme' this wil take a while of diskactivity, but no 
progress indicator is shown.  After application you should reboot to 
enable the scheme entirely.  A scheme can be edited after a doubleclick, 
but this functionality is not implemented entirely.

Depending feedback of this beta we will decide if eSchemes will be
available in the GA release eComStation 2.0.


== REPORTING ==

To tell us your findings, please create a report at:

http://www.ecomstation.com/support/beta3report/

You are also welcome to join the TestTeam if you want to discuss this
beta and future developments.  See http://ewiki.ecomstation.nl/TestTeam
for more details.


== DISTRIBUTION / CREATING CDS ==

This product is provided as a downloadable ISO file, this is a raw CD
image that you can burn on CD-R media.  For instruction on burning the
CD image to CD please consult the PDF document howtoburncds.pdf in the
same directory.

The file to download is:  ecs20beta3_cd1_en.zip


== REGISTRATION KEY REQUIRED FOR INSTALLING ==

For the time being you can use the eComStation 1.2 (or 1.2R) key to
install this beta release of eComStation 2.0.


(c) 2001-2006 Serenity Systems International

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