[301,031]  SAN DIEGO 80		OPA - ONLINE POOL ANALYZER - UPD FROM SPRING 80

Base level:	Version JN3.32		Date:	02-NOV-80	
Patch level:	None			Date:

Submitted by:	Jim Neeland
		Hughes Research Labs
		3011 Malibu Canyon Rd.
		Malibu, CA	90265
		phone: (213) 456-6411

Description:	Displays a visual map of the data structures in pool and
their location, thus allowing system programmers/managers to determine why
their pool is so fragmented, and hopefully then rectify the situation.  This
is a snapshot of a running system, not a crash dump tool.  For a version
supporting crash dumps, see CPA (Crash Pool Analyzer) in [301,33] (Spring 80).

System reqts:	Approx. 4K for the task when invoked, plus a fraction of
a second on the system stack to collect all the data.

Documentation:	OPA.DOC describes the output format and some uses,
and the source is well commented (I hope).

Status:		A possibly dangerous tool in the hands of fiddlers.  This
program is on the system stack for most of its code, and in some circumstances
that time may have deleterious effects on your system.  It has been made
rather more rugged than the 3.1 version, in that it will catch its own odd
address or memory protect violations and display the PC of the last such
occurrance, and, thanks to Dan Steinberg, will continue with the analysis.
This does not GUARANTEE that it could not corrupt the EXEC somehow, but is much
less likely to.

Desired enhancements:	Code to allow command-line specification of a target
output file or device.  Code to find remaining data structures (described in
OPA.DOC).  A built-in /HElp switch to remind user of the symbols used for
the different data structures.  Note that any significant additions, such as
FCS/CSI support will make the task significantly larger.  At the moment it
is felt that the online task should make as few demands on the system as
possible, so that it can be used when memory/pool is in short supply.

Support:	The author welcomes comments & suggestions, but does not
want complaints about possible system crashes, although will be interested in
fixes to eliminate same.