KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q78434: Comparison of BUFFERS=, STACKS=, and SMARTDRV.SYS

Article: Q78434
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 16-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system version 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article summarizes the similarities and differences between BUFFERS=,
STACKS=, and SMARTDRV.SYS.

MORE INFORMATION
================

STACKS vs. BUFFERS and SMARTDRV
-------------------------------

STACKS= has nothing in common with BUFFERS and SMARTDRV other than it is a
CONFIG.SYS command and it reserves memory like BUFFERS.

STACKS= is used so that MS-DOS does not use the application stack space for
handling hardware interrupts. Instead, MS-DOS reserves memory at boot time for
stack space for hardware interrupt processing (unless you specify STACKS=0,0).

Similarities Between BUFFERS and SMARTDRV
-----------------------------------------

Both are used for DISK caching purposes.

Differences Between BUFFERS and SMARTDRV
----------------------------------------

- BUFFERS is built into DOS and is not a device driver. SMARTDRV.SYS is an
  external device driver.

- BUFFERS caches only partial sector reads/writes and does not cache an
  integral number of sector transfers. SMARTDRV caches all types of transfers.

- BUFFERS reserves memory either in low memory or in the HMA. SMARTDRV can use
  extended memory or expanded memory. This also means that an XMS or EMS driver
  has to be loaded before SMARTDRV.

- BUFFERS is efficient only for caching a small number of sectors (for example,
  30 to 50). SMARTDRV is efficient even caching huge number of sectors (for
  example, 2048 to 8192).

- BUFFERS' caching strategy is built into MS-DOS. SMARTDRV looks at INT 13h
  activity to cache disk data.

- BUFFERS works on all hard disks and floppy disks. SMARTDRV works only on hard
  disks, and does not work with some third party disk managers.

Additional query words: 5.00 noupd

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS500
Version           : MS-DOS:5.0

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.