User's Manual Part 3

PERFORMING DOWNLOADS
Omni 3600 Download Differences
62 OMNI 3600 REFERENCE MANUAL
host computer, permits the host application to update data files and terminal
configuration settings in an Omni 3600 terminal and then return control to the
main application.
• Full downloads restart the terminal; partial downloads return control to system
mode or the issuing application. OS and application downloads can be
combined. The file authentication module is not invoked until the terminal is
restarted following the download procedure.
Omni 3600
Download
Differences
To help you plan download tasks and explain how the download procedures for
Omni 3600 terminals may differ from those you may be accustomed to using for
other POS terminals, some information on the following related topics is included
in this chapter:
• Support for multiple applications
• Use of RAM and flash memory
• Redirection of files during application downloads
• File authentication requirements
Support for
Multiple
Applications
The Omni 3600 terminal architecture supports multiple applications. This means
that more than one application can reside in terminal memory, and that more than
one application can run (execute) on the terminal.
The application memory of the Omni 3600 terminal uses a system of file groups to
store and manage multiple applications, as well as operating system files, in such
a way that the data integrity of each application is ensured and that applications
do not interfere with each another (see File Groups, page 38).
How the File System Supports Multiple Applications
The application memory partition of the Omni 3600 terminal is divided into 15
logically-defined sub-partitions called file groups or GIDs These groups are called
Group 1, Group 2, and so on through GID15.
Another partition of the terminal memory area, called Group 0, is reserved for the
operating system and is logically separated from the application memory area. So,
including Group 0, there is a total of 16 file groups.
An application must be downloaded into a specific file group, along with any
related files. You select the target file group for the download using system mode
menu options and by entering a file group password.
Usually, one application is stored in one file group. An application can, however,
consist of more than one executable program file, and any number of executables
(*.out or *.lib) can be stored in a given group. In most implementations, there is a
main application, one or more related programs or secondary applications, and
one or more libraries.