Tag Archives: update

USB driver package version 11.16 released

USB Arca Noae is pleased to announce the immediate availability of release 11.16 of our USB stack.

This is a maintenance release and includes minor fixes for stability and reliability.

If you have ArcaOS 5.0.1, then you already have this version and you do not need to download this update. If you have ArcaOS 5.0 installed, or are not using ArcaOS yet, then this version will bring you up-to-date.

More information about the USB drivers can be found in the wiki.

If you have problems with any of the drivers in this release, please read the Troubleshooting Guide in the wiki first. If your problem cannot be resolved with the Troubleshooting Guide, then the problem should be reported in the ticketing system.

If you have ArcaOS, this driver package is available for download from the Arca Noae website as part of the Support & Maintenance subscription for your ArcaOS product. Please log into your account and see your ArcaOS order details page to access your software.

If you have an Arca Noae OS/2 & eCS Drivers and Software Subscription, this driver package is available for download from the Arca Noae website as part of your Arca Noae OS/2 & eCS Drivers and Software Subscription. Please log into your account in order to access your software.

If you are still running OS/2 and/or eComStation systems and haven’t yet purchased a software subscription, this is a great reason to do so now. It may also be a good time to consider moving up to ArcaOS.

ACPI Driver Package version 3.23.06 released

Arca Noae is pleased to announce the immediate availability of our ACPI Driver Package for OS/2 and eComStation version 3.23.06.

This release contains the following changes:

Updated to ACPICA 20170629. See https://acpica.org/ for details.
Fixed a problem handling interrupts > 47
Implemented limited message interrupt support.
Prevent the use of interrupts > 31 on kernels which don’t support them.
Enhanced kernel detection due to problems with older kernels.

NOTE: This version will limit the number of interrupts to 32 for older kernels to avoid known problems which cause kernel traps. Most people will not be affected by this change. Please see the ACPI Requirements wiki for more details about this issue.

More information about the ACPI Driver Package may be found in the ACPI Driver wiki.

This release is an update for all users and is newer than the version in ArcaOS 5.0.1.

AHCI Driver Package version 2.03 released

Arca Noae is pleased to announce the immediate availability of our AHCI Disk Driver Package version 2.03 for ArcaOS, OS/2, and eComStation.

This release contains the following major changes:

In version 2.03, Added support for message interrupts. This will allow certain motherboards with nonfunctional interrupt pin hardware to run. ACPI PSD version 3.23.06 is required for message interrupts to be enabled. Other minor fixes.
In version 2.02, Fixed interrupt handler issue for systems with multiple AHCI adapters.
In version 2.01, Major reorganization of the entire driver. Enhanced debugging support. Several minor fixes. Now a 32 bit driver.

This release is an update for all users. If you have ArcaOS, you need this update since ArcaOS 5.0 included v2.01 and ArcaOS 5.0.1 included v2.02. If you are still running eCS or OS/2, you need this update since the last released version for those platforms was v1.32 and a lot has changed since then.

More information about the AHCI Disk Package may be found in the AHCI wiki.

eCo Software Runtime packages updated

Arca Noae is pleased to announce the availability of updated eCo Software Runtime packages, downloadable from our downloadables page.

The eCo Software Runtime packages provide support libraries for several components of ArcaOS and eCS, as well as eCo Software applications. The four packages which comprise the set have all been updated as of 2017-07-01.

These packages are provided by Arca Noae as a convenience to our customers, clients, and the community at large. Arca Noae does not produce these packages, and the software is provided “as is” without any warranty of any kind. Support for the eCo Software Runtime is provided by eCo Software, in their support forum.

ArcaOS 5.0.1 now available

Arca Noae is pleased to announce the immediate availability of ArcaOS 5.0.1, the first maintenance release of ArcaOS 5.0 (Blue Lion).

ArcaOS 5.0.1 is the result of many hours of work to adjust things discovered after the release of ArcaOS 5.0, particularly impacting installation of the operating system. Of course, there are many other post-install fixes included, as well, and these will be made available for separate download as part of the ArcaOS 5.0 Support & Maintenance subscription shortly. In the meantime, a full download of the refreshed media image is required to obtain these fixes and updates.

If everything is working in your current installation, it may be prudent to wait for the subscription content to become available, as Arca Noae has not classified any of the 5.0.1 updates as critical.

If you have experienced difficulty installing ArcaOS 5.0, the fixes and updates included in 5.0.1 may address your issue(s).

For a complete list of updates in this release, see the ArcaOS wiki.

To download your fresh ISO, simply visit your customer portal page, select the Orders & Subscriptions link on the navigation panel to the left, then click on the order for your ArcaOS license. Once there, click the download link to request a fresh ISO, and wait for your notification email.

JFS Driver Package version 1.09.07 released

Arca Noae is pleased to announce the immediate availability of our JFS Journaling File System Driver Package for OS/2 and eComStation version 1.09.07.

This is a maintenance release and does not contain any significant changes. This release contains the following changes:

Minor cosmetic changes. No code changes were made which affect disk operations.
Changed command parser to add an option to call existing chkdsk functions
differently.

This release is the same driver that is included in ArcaOS 5.0. If you recently purchased a license for ArcaOS 5.0, it is not necessary to download and install this package — you already have it.

This driver package is available for download from the Arca Noae website as part of your Arca Noae OS/2 & eCS Drivers and Software Subscription. Please log into your account in order to access your software.

More information about the JFS Package may be found in the JFS wiki.

If you are still running OS/2 and/or eComStation systems and haven’t yet purchased a software subscription, this is a great reason to do so now.

New AMouse driver package (3.01.02) released

Arca Noae is pleased to announce the immediate availability of a new release of our AMouse driver package.

This package contains the following updates:

XWP widget updates.
Installer fixes.

This release is the same driver that is included in ArcaOS 5.0. If you recently purchased a license for ArcaOS 5.0, it is not necessary to download and install this package — you already have it.

If you are still running OS/2 and/or eComStation systems and haven’t yet purchased a software subscription, this is a great reason to do so now.

More information about the AMouse driver may be found in the wiki.

Panorama Video Driver Package version 1.08 released

Arca Noae is pleased to announce the immediate availability of our Panorama Video Driver Package for OS/2 and eComStation version 1.08.

This is a maintenance release containing the following changes:

Removed some WarpIN installer restrictions.
Added setup WPS class to package.
Enhanced UseNativeRes functionality.
Fixed installer to work on ArcaOS installations.
Added test so that driver will not report resolutions or attempt
to use video memory above that reported by the BIOS.

This release is exactly the same driver that is included in ArcaOS 5.0. If you recently purchased a license for ArcaOS 5.0, it is not necessary to download and install this package — you already have it.

More information about the Panorama Package may be found in the Panorama wiki.

If you are still running OS/2 and/or eComStation systems and haven’t yet purchased a software subscription, this is a great reason to do so now.

ArcaOS 5.0: Full support for existing OS/2 applications

Still running a critical application on OS/2? Still have some old, musty Pentium III workstations humming along, and hoping that a power supply doesn’t fail or that the noisy 20GB IDE disk doesn’t develop a bad spot because the workstation can’t recognize anything bigger? Afraid to power it off for fear it won’t start again?

Perhaps it’s time to look at new – yes brand new – hardware for that application. Let’s face it, that app has been around this long because it works. It’s worked all these years just fine. The fact that the hardware is showing its age and the application continues to be useful (critical, in many cases) is a testament to the quality of the software. Why do away with a perfectly good application, just because the moving parts are wearing out?

ArcaOS 5.0 runs all of those great OS/2 applications just like OS/2. Why? Because at its core, ArcaOS 5.0 is OS/2. No emulation. No compatibility mode. Pure OS/2 Warp 4.52 – with updates, fixes, and modifications to be compatible with the latest multi-core and multi-processor hardware available. Replace that old Pentium III with an i5 or i7 or AMD multi-core system, 16 or 32GB of memory, and a 240GB SSD, or move an existing Pentium 4 with 1GB of memory, and a 250GB SATA 3 hard drive from something else. ArcaOS 5.0 has lean hardware requirements, but can take advantage of some of the latest technologies.

Why replace an entire PBX system because the OS/2 workstation which has been storing voicemail all these years is in need of replacement? (We’d call that an often forgotten, yet critical, application.) Move that software onto a new system running ArcaOS 5.0. Need help? Let our team of engineers have a look. We don’t just develop and license software, we design, implement, and manage it, as well.

How ArcaOS 5.0 licensing fits together with existing subscriptions

You’ve probably heard us discuss this topic in the abstract at Warpstock events over the past year or so. As we count down the final days to ArcaOS 5.0 release, considering how the purchase of an ArcaOS 5.0 license may – entirely at the option of the licensee – either work alongside or replace an existing Drivers & Software subscription, we thought a brief discussion was in order.

What’s included with ArcaOS 5.0 in terms of support and maintenance

ArcaOS 5.0 licensing includes either 6 or 12 months of technical support and drivers & software updates, depending upon whether the personal or commercial edition is licensed. Technical support includes the ability to open support tickets in the Arca Noae Mantis bug tracker, as well as telephone support (as available). Much of the driver & software update content overlaps with the existing Drivers & Software subscription, but licensed exclusively for use with ArcaOS. Support, however, is extended to include the entire operating system, and not just the drivers and software components distributed as updates.

ArcaOS 5.0 personal edition licensing includes 6 months of support and maintenance. ArcaOS 5.0 commercial edition, on the other hand, includes a full 12 months of support and maintenance, with priority technical support (these tickets are handled first).

What to do with an existing Drivers & Software subscription

There are really two options:

Keep it in force for one or more existing OS/2 or eComStation systems (as noted, drivers & software distributed as part of the ArcaOS support subscription are not licensed for use on non-ArcaOS systems), with an eye toward the changing licensing scheme for personal subscriptions (see below); or
Convert the remaining period to a credit against the cost of ArcaOS licensing. This can be done by completing an online form and submitting it to Arca Noae. We will issue a rebate, coupon, or credit to your account for the value of any whole or fractional months remaining on your subscription.Example:
You just renewed your personal subscription April 1 for $44.10, and on May 10, you purchase an ArcaOS 5.0 Personal Edition license for the introductory price of $99. You complete the online form, answering a few non-personal questions, and submit it. Arca Noae credits your account $40.23 (the value of 11 months remaining on your previously renewed subscription).The trade-off is that while any non-ArcaOS systems may continue to use whatever subscription content had already been installed on them prior to the point of subscription conversion, no new subscription content is licensed for use on these systems.

How the existing Drivers & Software subscription licensing scheme is changing

To better align the terms of the Drivers & Software personal edition with those of ArcaOS 5.0 personal edition, any subscriptions purchased or renewed after the official launch of ArcaOS 5.0 will be limited to one installed system, and no longer metered to cover an entire household. Thus, one subscription will be required for every system benefiting from the updated software and related support.

In keeping with Arca Noae’s commitment to fair use, any driver and/or software updates obtained prior to this change in licensing scheme are fully licensed for use on all systems where they were previously licensed.

How to handle a mix of ArcaOS and OS/2 or eComStation installations

There will be valid reasons for not replacing all existing OS/2 or eComStation installations with ArcaOS. ArcaOS does not provide extensive support for ISA or MicroChannel hardware, for example. Other reasons also exist. Our recommendation for such systems is to maintain a Drivers & Software subscription for each one, alongside a support subscription for each ArcaOS installation. Only in this manner can you be assured that you are always using the latest, fully supported drivers and software on all of your OS/2 systems.

How the ArcaOS support subscription will be handled when ArcaOS 5.1 is released

ArcaOS 5.1 is already in the planning stages, as are incremental updates to ArcaOS 5.0 (incremental updates to 5.0 will be included as part of the 5.0 support and maintenance subscription content). An ArcaOS support subscription is version-less, meaning that a subscription purchased six months after the purchase of an ArcaOS 5.0 license and still in effect when upgrading to ArcaOS 5.1 will extend the included support in the 5.1 upgrade license. Also, should you choose to stay with ArcaOS 5.0 and not upgrade to 5.1, your investment in 5.0 is protected, because Arca Noae fully expects to support ArcaOS 5.0 for some time after 5.1 and later versions are released.