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Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-07-21 by hoschi1103

Hi all,

there were no news from me for a long time, as I'm always busy doing
other things.

Disassembling of both ROM nearly finished. Main ROM does contain
memory and peripherial init, disk I/O, some serial port stuff (see 1st
request below) and a really big (for ancient times) table of initial
data for all devices in the system. Scanner ROM holds all I/O stuff as
described in the service manual and some system init, too.
Interesting solution for system init: Main CPU and Scanner CPU start
async, Scanner CPU turns LEDs on and waits for Main CPU. Only if Main
CPU passes the peripherial init, it signals Scanner CPU. Scanner CPU
then turns off LEDs and just displays "Insert diskette". That's how
the system assumes everything is ok, a reason for defect memory not
detected, as the main CPU only fills memory with 00 without really
checking.

As the ROM holds only basic functions, everything else is done via the
overlays from any diskette. That leaves some perspective to play
around :D. I finally received my Catweasel board, so next thing
is to write a char reader to dump the disks to PC and start analyzing
them.

After that: Proof that external device or software in fact is taking
full control over EII and controls everything like EII itself would
do, by dumping communication on the serial port. If it does like this,
as I assume from the code I've seen so far, the EII can be controlled
by any device with a serial port interface :-) (Assuming you have all
neccessary port interfaces and some code to come...). I always thought
that it must do so, because that's the only explanation why SDII and
the external CD-ROM (on the other port) did work at all.

Now for my requests:
1. Does anybody have ROM images earlier than the ones available here?
Please provide them, it could help a lot. The main ROM still contains
the remains of the serial monitor mentioned in the service manual,
only some bytes at the beginning are NOPed out and it will RET
immediately. I suppose it was used by setting the NMI to it to debug
the system.

2. Can anybody make a portlist from the schematics? I tried myself,
but my knowledge (and my rooms walls) is not big enough to draw it out.

3. Does anybody know a serial port monitor for PC (Linux or Win) that
only records signals coming in, without caring for any protocol? I
used to do it with my old NEC serial linemodem analyzer, but it only
outputs to its CRT, which does not help much.

That's all for now,
Hoschi

Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-07-22 by hoschi1103

I should learn to sort my docs...
 
Scanner CPU shows "***Emulator 2*** Boot in Progress" during init,
"Insert Diskette" of course comes from Main CPU (sent to display port
on BEH)
The monitor is not in Main ROM but in Scanner ROM.
 
Still no one who can help?
 
Greetings,
Hoschi

Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-12 by magmusic75

Hello I fully support your effort. I think that somehow getting the 
floppy OS (Disk Overlay) onto an EPROM and then having it programmed 
so the EII looks for the OS on the EPROM or some kind of flash memory 
would be great. Then add one new feature to the (SPECIAL) command set 
called "Serial Control". Now in this feature you would hand over 
control of the EII to a PC or Mac Running some custom software 
control application. This app should have the standard EIl features 
such as "Disk, Voice Definition Ect... but at a minimum it would just 
be great to be able to power up the EII right from rom.
 Anyway as I said I fully support this effort and would be glad to 
pay for these new features! As would many other I suspect.

John

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

--- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" <totti@...> 
wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> 
> there were no news from me for a long time, as I'm always busy doing
> other things.
> 
> Disassembling of both ROM nearly finished. Main ROM does contain
> memory and peripherial init, disk I/O, some serial port stuff (see 
1st
> request below) and a really big (for ancient times) table of initial
> data for all devices in the system. Scanner ROM holds all I/O stuff 
as
> described in the service manual and some system init, too.
> Interesting solution for system init: Main CPU and Scanner CPU start
> async, Scanner CPU turns LEDs on and waits for Main CPU. Only if 
Main
> CPU passes the peripherial init, it signals Scanner CPU. Scanner CPU
> then turns off LEDs and just displays "Insert diskette". That's how
> the system assumes everything is ok, a reason for defect memory not
> detected, as the main CPU only fills memory with 00 without really
> checking.
> 
> As the ROM holds only basic functions, everything else is done via 
the
> overlays from any diskette. That leaves some perspective to play
> around :D. I finally received my Catweasel board, so next thing
> is to write a char reader to dump the disks to PC and start 
analyzing
> them.
> 
> After that: Proof that external device or software in fact is taking
> full control over EII and controls everything like EII itself would
> do, by dumping communication on the serial port. If it does like 
this,
> as I assume from the code I've seen so far, the EII can be 
controlled
> by any device with a serial port interface :-) (Assuming you have 
all
> neccessary port interfaces and some code to come...). I always 
thought
> that it must do so, because that's the only explanation why SDII and
> the external CD-ROM (on the other port) did work at all.
> 
> Now for my requests:
> 1. Does anybody have ROM images earlier than the ones available 
here?
> Please provide them, it could help a lot. The main ROM still 
contains
> the remains of the serial monitor mentioned in the service manual,
> only some bytes at the beginning are NOPed out and it will RET
> immediately. I suppose it was used by setting the NMI to it to debug
> the system.
> 
> 2. Can anybody make a portlist from the schematics? I tried myself,
> but my knowledge (and my rooms walls) is not big enough to draw it 
out.
> 
> 3. Does anybody know a serial port monitor for PC (Linux or Win) 
that
> only records signals coming in, without caring for any protocol? I
> used to do it with my old NEC serial linemodem analyzer, but it only
> outputs to its CRT, which does not help much.
> 
> That's all for now,
> Hoschi
>

Re: [emulatorII-list] Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-13 by Cristea Eusebiu

Hi, I am interested too, especially for PC. I am ready to sustain also this important project financially.

--- On Tue, 8/12/08, magmusic75 <john-m-junk@...> wrote:
From: magmusic75 <john-m-junk@...>
Subject: [emulatorII-list] Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed
To: emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 10:10 PM










    
            Hello I fully support your effort. I think that somehow getting the 

floppy OS (Disk Overlay) onto an EPROM and then having it programmed 

so the EII looks for the OS on the EPROM or some kind of flash memory 

would be great. Then add one new feature to the (SPECIAL) command set 

called "Serial Control". Now in this feature you would hand over 

control of the EII to a PC or Mac Running some custom software 

control application. This app should have the standard EIl features 

such as "Disk, Voice Definition Ect... but at a minimum it would just 

be great to be able to power up the EII right from rom.

 Anyway as I said I fully support this effort and would be glad to 

pay for these new features! As would many other I suspect.



John



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



--- In emulatorII-list@ yahoogroups. com, "hoschi1103" <totti@...> 

wrote:

>

> Hi all,

> 

> there were no news from me for a long time, as I'm always busy doing

> other things.

> 

> Disassembling of both ROM nearly finished. Main ROM does contain

> memory and peripherial init, disk I/O, some serial port stuff (see 

1st

> request below) and a really big (for ancient times) table of initial

> data for all devices in the system. Scanner ROM holds all I/O stuff 

as

> described in the service manual and some system init, too.

> Interesting solution for system init: Main CPU and Scanner CPU start

> async, Scanner CPU turns LEDs on and waits for Main CPU. Only if 

Main

> CPU passes the peripherial init, it signals Scanner CPU. Scanner CPU

> then turns off LEDs and just displays "Insert diskette". That's how

> the system assumes everything is ok, a reason for defect memory not

> detected, as the main CPU only fills memory with 00 without really

> checking.

> 

> As the ROM holds only basic functions, everything else is done via 

the

> overlays from any diskette. That leaves some perspective to play

> around :D. I finally received my Catweasel board, so next thing

> is to write a char reader to dump the disks to PC and start 

analyzing

> them.

> 

> After that: Proof that external device or software in fact is taking

> full control over EII and controls everything like EII itself would

> do, by dumping communication on the serial port. If it does like 

this,

> as I assume from the code I've seen so far, the EII can be 

controlled

> by any device with a serial port interface :-) (Assuming you have 

all

> neccessary port interfaces and some code to come...). I always 

thought

> that it must do so, because that's the only explanation why SDII and

> the external CD-ROM (on the other port) did work at all.

> 

> Now for my requests:

> 1. Does anybody have ROM images earlier than the ones available 

here?

> Please provide them, it could help a lot. The main ROM still 

contains

> the remains of the serial monitor mentioned in the service manual,

> only some bytes at the beginning are NOPed out and it will RET

> immediately. I suppose it was used by setting the NMI to it to debug

> the system.

> 

> 2. Can anybody make a portlist from the schematics? I tried myself,

> but my knowledge (and my rooms walls) is not big enough to draw it 

out.

> 

> 3. Does anybody know a serial port monitor for PC (Linux or Win) 

that

> only records signals coming in, without caring for any protocol? I

> used to do it with my old NEC serial linemodem analyzer, but it only

> outputs to its CRT, which does not help much.

> 

> That's all for now,

> Hoschi

>




      

    
    
	
	 
	
	








	


	
	


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-13 by hoschi1103

It could be done by a flash or eprom, but that would need at least
some extra circuits for chip/address multiplexing and severe code
rewriting. Using a fpga pretending to be a disk drive and interfacing
to a SD card is much easier, I think.

For any serial control, it is in already, I only have to get the right
command sequences. I did some logging on the serial port with a
converter to RS-232, and my God, it's full of numbers!™

About paying, if this project should ever come to an alpha state and I
put parts of it online, please feel free to donate any money to a
charity project you like to support. The most probable things to see
the light of the world are in fact some disk backup utility using the
Catweasel MK4, something with serial communication and more stuff that
can be done by reverse engineering. Any new or reused code altering
the function or behaviour of the EII depends on the permissions of the
copyright owners if it should be for more than my private fun.

Greetings,
Hoschi

--- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "magmusic75" <john-m-junk@...>
wrote:
>
> Hello I fully support your effort. I think that somehow getting the 
> floppy OS (Disk Overlay) onto an EPROM and then having it programmed 
> so the EII looks for the OS on the EPROM or some kind of flash memory 
> would be great. Then add one new feature to the (SPECIAL) command set 
> called "Serial Control". Now in this feature you would hand over 
> control of the EII to a PC or Mac Running some custom software 
> control application. This app should have the standard EIl features 
> such as "Disk, Voice Definition Ect... but at a minimum it would just 
> be great to be able to power up the EII right from rom.
>  Anyway as I said I fully support this effort and would be glad to 
> pay for these new features! As would many other I suspect.
> 
> John
> 
> ======================================================================
> 
> --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" <totti@> 
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> > 
> > there were no news from me for a long time, as I'm always busy doing
> > other things.
> > 
> > Disassembling of both ROM nearly finished. Main ROM does contain
> > memory and peripherial init, disk I/O, some serial port stuff (see 
> 1st
> > request below) and a really big (for ancient times) table of initial
> > data for all devices in the system. Scanner ROM holds all I/O stuff 
> as
> > described in the service manual and some system init, too.
> > Interesting solution for system init: Main CPU and Scanner CPU start
> > async, Scanner CPU turns LEDs on and waits for Main CPU. Only if 
> Main
> > CPU passes the peripherial init, it signals Scanner CPU. Scanner CPU
> > then turns off LEDs and just displays "Insert diskette". That's how
> > the system assumes everything is ok, a reason for defect memory not
> > detected, as the main CPU only fills memory with 00 without really
> > checking.
> > 
> > As the ROM holds only basic functions, everything else is done via 
> the
> > overlays from any diskette. That leaves some perspective to play
> > around :D. I finally received my Catweasel board, so next thing
> > is to write a char reader to dump the disks to PC and start 
> analyzing
> > them.
> > 
> > After that: Proof that external device or software in fact is taking
> > full control over EII and controls everything like EII itself would
> > do, by dumping communication on the serial port. If it does like 
> this,
> > as I assume from the code I've seen so far, the EII can be 
> controlled
> > by any device with a serial port interface :-) (Assuming you have 
> all
> > neccessary port interfaces and some code to come...). I always 
> thought
> > that it must do so, because that's the only explanation why SDII and
> > the external CD-ROM (on the other port) did work at all.
> > 
> > Now for my requests:
> > 1. Does anybody have ROM images earlier than the ones available 
> here?
> > Please provide them, it could help a lot. The main ROM still 
> contains
> > the remains of the serial monitor mentioned in the service manual,
> > only some bytes at the beginning are NOPed out and it will RET
> > immediately. I suppose it was used by setting the NMI to it to debug
> > the system.
> > 
> > 2. Can anybody make a portlist from the schematics? I tried myself,
> > but my knowledge (and my rooms walls) is not big enough to draw it 
> out.
> > 
> > 3. Does anybody know a serial port monitor for PC (Linux or Win) 
> that
> > only records signals coming in, without caring for any protocol? I
> > used to do it with my old NEC serial linemodem analyzer, but it only
> > outputs to its CRT, which does not help much.
> > 
> > That's all for now,
> > Hoschi
> >
>

Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-14 by magmusic75

[:)] Yes Floppy emulation does seem like a more practical solution.
Like I said at a minimum it would be great just to be able to boot and
load the OS from some kind of rom or ram instead of floppy disks. And it
would AWSOME if not only could you boot from rom or ram but if it were
possible to save the banks to the SD card WOW! I suppose you would have
to make the EII think it's an EII-HD model so it thinks the memory
card is a hard disk, then you would be able to scroll through the banks
on the card, select the one you want then load. Imagine how many banks
you could store on a modern memory card!

Thanks again.

John

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


--- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" <totti@...> wrote:
>
> It could be done by a flash or eprom, but that would need at least
> some extra circuits for chip/address multiplexing and severe code
> rewriting. Using a fpga pretending to be a disk drive and interfacing
> to a SD card is much easier, I think.
>
> For any serial control, it is in already, I only have to get the right
> command sequences. I did some logging on the serial port with a
> converter to RS-232, and my God, it's full of numbers!™
>
> About paying, if this project should ever come to an alpha state and I
> put parts of it online, please feel free to donate any money to a
> charity project you like to support. The most probable things to see
> the light of the world are in fact some disk backup utility using the
> Catweasel MK4, something with serial communication and more stuff that
> can be done by reverse engineering. Any new or reused code altering
> the function or behaviour of the EII depends on the permissions of the
> copyright owners if it should be for more than my private fun.
>
> Greetings,
> Hoschi
>
> --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "magmusic75" john-m-junk@
> wrote:
> >
> > Hello I fully support your effort. I think that somehow getting the
> > floppy OS (Disk Overlay) onto an EPROM and then having it programmed
> > so the EII looks for the OS on the EPROM or some kind of flash
memory
> > would be great. Then add one new feature to the (SPECIAL) command
set
> > called "Serial Control". Now in this feature you would hand over
> > control of the EII to a PC or Mac Running some custom software
> > control application. This app should have the standard EIl features
> > such as "Disk, Voice Definition Ect... but at a minimum it would
just
> > be great to be able to power up the EII right from rom.
> > Anyway as I said I fully support this effort and would be glad to
> > pay for these new features! As would many other I suspect.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
======================================================================
> >
> > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" <totti@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > there were no news from me for a long time, as I'm always busy
doing
> > > other things.
> > >
> > > Disassembling of both ROM nearly finished. Main ROM does contain
> > > memory and peripherial init, disk I/O, some serial port stuff (see
> > 1st
> > > request below) and a really big (for ancient times) table of
initial
> > > data for all devices in the system. Scanner ROM holds all I/O
stuff
> > as
> > > described in the service manual and some system init, too.
> > > Interesting solution for system init: Main CPU and Scanner CPU
start
> > > async, Scanner CPU turns LEDs on and waits for Main CPU. Only if
> > Main
> > > CPU passes the peripherial init, it signals Scanner CPU. Scanner
CPU
> > > then turns off LEDs and just displays "Insert diskette". That's
how
> > > the system assumes everything is ok, a reason for defect memory
not
> > > detected, as the main CPU only fills memory with 00 without really
> > > checking.
> > >
> > > As the ROM holds only basic functions, everything else is done via
> > the
> > > overlays from any diskette. That leaves some perspective to play
> > > around :D. I finally received my Catweasel board, so next thing
> > > is to write a char reader to dump the disks to PC and start
> > analyzing
> > > them.
> > >
> > > After that: Proof that external device or software in fact is
taking
> > > full control over EII and controls everything like EII itself
would
> > > do, by dumping communication on the serial port. If it does like
> > this,
> > > as I assume from the code I've seen so far, the EII can be
> > controlled
> > > by any device with a serial port interface :-) (Assuming you have
> > all
> > > neccessary port interfaces and some code to come...). I always
> > thought
> > > that it must do so, because that's the only explanation why SDII
and
> > > the external CD-ROM (on the other port) did work at all.
> > >
> > > Now for my requests:
> > > 1. Does anybody have ROM images earlier than the ones available
> > here?
> > > Please provide them, it could help a lot. The main ROM still
> > contains
> > > the remains of the serial monitor mentioned in the service manual,
> > > only some bytes at the beginning are NOPed out and it will RET
> > > immediately. I suppose it was used by setting the NMI to it to
debug
> > > the system.
> > >
> > > 2. Can anybody make a portlist from the schematics? I tried
myself,
> > > but my knowledge (and my rooms walls) is not big enough to draw it
> > out.
> > >
> > > 3. Does anybody know a serial port monitor for PC (Linux or Win)
> > that
> > > only records signals coming in, without caring for any protocol? I
> > > used to do it with my old NEC serial linemodem analyzer, but it
only
> > > outputs to its CRT, which does not help much.
> > >
> > > That's all for now,
> > > Hoschi
> > >
> >
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-14 by hoschi1103

I thought of a single module that fits in place of any disk drive. The
SD holds many single raw disk images, one file for each disk. Filename
is displayname. You just insert the SD card, press Load and scroll
through the list of disk images. Press Select and use the highlighted
disk image the same way as you would do with a real disk you insert in a
real drive.

If such a device should exist already, tell me please.
Anybody with knowledge is welcome, too.

  It could look like this, size the same as a disk drive:
  [frontbezel]

Greetings,
Hoschi


--- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "magmusic75" <john-m-junk@...>
wrote:
>
>
>   [:)] Yes Floppy emulation does seem like a more practical solution.
> Like I said at a minimum it would be great just to be able to boot and
> load the OS from some kind of rom or ram instead of floppy disks. And
it
> would AWSOME if not only could you boot from rom or ram but if it were
> possible to save the banks to the SD card WOW! I suppose you would
have
> to make the EII think it's an EII-HD model so it thinks the memory
> card is a hard disk, then you would be able to scroll through the
banks
> on the card, select the one you want then load. Imagine how many banks
> you could store on a modern memory card!
>
> Thanks again.
>
> John
>
> ====================================================
>
>
> --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" totti@ wrote:
> >
> > It could be done by a flash or eprom, but that would need at least
> > some extra circuits for chip/address multiplexing and severe code
> > rewriting. Using a fpga pretending to be a disk drive and
interfacing
> > to a SD card is much easier, I think.
> >
> > For any serial control, it is in already, I only have to get the
right
> > command sequences. I did some logging on the serial port with a
> > converter to RS-232, and my God, it's full of numbers!™
> >
> > About paying, if this project should ever come to an alpha state and
I
> > put parts of it online, please feel free to donate any money to a
> > charity project you like to support. The most probable things to see
> > the light of the world are in fact some disk backup utility using
the
> > Catweasel MK4, something with serial communication and more stuff
that
> > can be done by reverse engineering. Any new or reused code altering
> > the function or behaviour of the EII depends on the permissions of
the
> > copyright owners if it should be for more than my private fun.
> >
> > Greetings,
> > Hoschi
> >
> > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "magmusic75" john-m-junk@
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello I fully support your effort. I think that somehow getting
the
> > > floppy OS (Disk Overlay) onto an EPROM and then having it
programmed
> > > so the EII looks for the OS on the EPROM or some kind of flash
> memory
> > > would be great. Then add one new feature to the (SPECIAL) command
> set
> > > called "Serial Control". Now in this feature you would hand over
> > > control of the EII to a PC or Mac Running some custom software
> > > control application. This app should have the standard EIl
features
> > > such as "Disk, Voice Definition Ect... but at a minimum it would
> just
> > > be great to be able to power up the EII right from rom.
> > > Anyway as I said I fully support this effort and would be glad to
> > > pay for these new features! As would many other I suspect.
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > >
> ======================================================================
> > >
> > > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" <totti@>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi all,
> > > >
> > > > there were no news from me for a long time, as I'm always busy
> doing
> > > > other things.
> > > >
> > > > Disassembling of both ROM nearly finished. Main ROM does contain
> > > > memory and peripherial init, disk I/O, some serial port stuff
(see
> > > 1st
> > > > request below) and a really big (for ancient times) table of
> initial
> > > > data for all devices in the system. Scanner ROM holds all I/O
> stuff
> > > as
> > > > described in the service manual and some system init, too.
> > > > Interesting solution for system init: Main CPU and Scanner CPU
> start
> > > > async, Scanner CPU turns LEDs on and waits for Main CPU. Only if
> > > Main
> > > > CPU passes the peripherial init, it signals Scanner CPU. Scanner
> CPU
> > > > then turns off LEDs and just displays "Insert diskette". That's
> how
> > > > the system assumes everything is ok, a reason for defect memory
> not
> > > > detected, as the main CPU only fills memory with 00 without
really
> > > > checking.
> > > >
> > > > As the ROM holds only basic functions, everything else is done
via
> > > the
> > > > overlays from any diskette. That leaves some perspective to play
> > > > around :D. I finally received my Catweasel board, so next thing
> > > > is to write a char reader to dump the disks to PC and start
> > > analyzing
> > > > them.
> > > >
> > > > After that: Proof that external device or software in fact is
> taking
> > > > full control over EII and controls everything like EII itself
> would
> > > > do, by dumping communication on the serial port. If it does like
> > > this,
> > > > as I assume from the code I've seen so far, the EII can be
> > > controlled
> > > > by any device with a serial port interface :-) (Assuming you
have
> > > all
> > > > neccessary port interfaces and some code to come...). I always
> > > thought
> > > > that it must do so, because that's the only explanation why SDII
> and
> > > > the external CD-ROM (on the other port) did work at all.
> > > >
> > > > Now for my requests:
> > > > 1. Does anybody have ROM images earlier than the ones available
> > > here?
> > > > Please provide them, it could help a lot. The main ROM still
> > > contains
> > > > the remains of the serial monitor mentioned in the service
manual,
> > > > only some bytes at the beginning are NOPed out and it will RET
> > > > immediately. I suppose it was used by setting the NMI to it to
> debug
> > > > the system.
> > > >
> > > > 2. Can anybody make a portlist from the schematics? I tried
> myself,
> > > > but my knowledge (and my rooms walls) is not big enough to draw
it
> > > out.
> > > >
> > > > 3. Does anybody know a serial port monitor for PC (Linux or Win)
> > > that
> > > > only records signals coming in, without caring for any protocol?
I
> > > > used to do it with my old NEC serial linemodem analyzer, but it
> only
> > > > outputs to its CRT, which does not help much.
> > > >
> > > > That's all for now,
> > > > Hoschi
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [emulatorII-list] Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-16 by Tom Zimnicki

You may want to look here and see if these may be helpful:

http://jeanfrancoisdelnero.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/index.html

http://www.datexeurope.com/emulator/DTX200en.htm

http://www.amiga.org/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=2354&cid=5

http://www.amiga.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=flat&topic_id=28022&forum=8

TZ

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: hoschi1103 
  To: emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:14 PM
  Subject: [emulatorII-list] Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed


  I thought of a single module that fits in place of any disk drive. The
  SD holds many single raw disk images, one file for each disk. Filename
  is displayname. You just insert the SD card, press Load and scroll
  through the list of disk images. Press Select and use the highlighted
  disk image the same way as you would do with a real disk you insert in a
  real drive.

  If such a device should exist already, tell me please.
  Anybody with knowledge is welcome, too.

  It could look like this, size the same as a disk drive:
  [frontbezel]

  Greetings,
  Hoschi

  --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "magmusic75" <john-m-junk@...>
  wrote:
  >
  >
  > [:)] Yes Floppy emulation does seem like a more practical solution.
  > Like I said at a minimum it would be great just to be able to boot and
  > load the OS from some kind of rom or ram instead of floppy disks. And
  it
  > would AWSOME if not only could you boot from rom or ram but if it were
  > possible to save the banks to the SD card WOW! I suppose you would
  have
  > to make the EII think it's an EII-HD model so it thinks the memory
  > card is a hard disk, then you would be able to scroll through the
  banks
  > on the card, select the one you want then load. Imagine how many banks
  > you could store on a modern memory card!
  >
  > Thanks again.
  >
  > John
  >
  > ====================================================
  >
  >
  > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" totti@ wrote:
  > >
  > > It could be done by a flash or eprom, but that would need at least
  > > some extra circuits for chip/address multiplexing and severe code
  > > rewriting. Using a fpga pretending to be a disk drive and
  interfacing
  > > to a SD card is much easier, I think.
  > >
  > > For any serial control, it is in already, I only have to get the
  right
  > > command sequences. I did some logging on the serial port with a
  > > converter to RS-232, and my God, it's full of numbers!T
  > >
  > > About paying, if this project should ever come to an alpha state and
  I
  > > put parts of it online, please feel free to donate any money to a
  > > charity project you like to support. The most probable things to see
  > > the light of the world are in fact some disk backup utility using
  the
  > > Catweasel MK4, something with serial communication and more stuff
  that
  > > can be done by reverse engineering. Any new or reused code altering
  > > the function or behaviour of the EII depends on the permissions of
  the
  > > copyright owners if it should be for more than my private fun.
  > >
  > > Greetings,
  > > Hoschi
  > >
  > > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "magmusic75" john-m-junk@
  > > wrote:
  > > >
  > > > Hello I fully support your effort. I think that somehow getting
  the
  > > > floppy OS (Disk Overlay) onto an EPROM and then having it
  programmed
  > > > so the EII looks for the OS on the EPROM or some kind of flash
  > memory
  > > > would be great. Then add one new feature to the (SPECIAL) command
  > set
  > > > called "Serial Control". Now in this feature you would hand over
  > > > control of the EII to a PC or Mac Running some custom software
  > > > control application. This app should have the standard EIl
  features
  > > > such as "Disk, Voice Definition Ect... but at a minimum it would
  > just
  > > > be great to be able to power up the EII right from rom.
  > > > Anyway as I said I fully support this effort and would be glad to
  > > > pay for these new features! As would many other I suspect.
  > > >
  > > > John
  > > >
  > > >
  > ======================================================================
  > > >
  > > > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" <totti@>
  > > > wrote:
  > > > >
  > > > > Hi all,
  > > > >
  > > > > there were no news from me for a long time, as I'm always busy
  > doing
  > > > > other things.
  > > > >
  > > > > Disassembling of both ROM nearly finished. Main ROM does contain
  > > > > memory and peripherial init, disk I/O, some serial port stuff
  (see
  > > > 1st
  > > > > request below) and a really big (for ancient times) table of
  > initial
  > > > > data for all devices in the system. Scanner ROM holds all I/O
  > stuff
  > > > as
  > > > > described in the service manual and some system init, too.
  > > > > Interesting solution for system init: Main CPU and Scanner CPU
  > start
  > > > > async, Scanner CPU turns LEDs on and waits for Main CPU. Only if
  > > > Main
  > > > > CPU passes the peripherial init, it signals Scanner CPU. Scanner
  > CPU
  > > > > then turns off LEDs and just displays "Insert diskette". That's
  > how
  > > > > the system assumes everything is ok, a reason for defect memory
  > not
  > > > > detected, as the main CPU only fills memory with 00 without
  really
  > > > > checking.
  > > > >
  > > > > As the ROM holds only basic functions, everything else is done
  via
  > > > the
  > > > > overlays from any diskette. That leaves some perspective to play
  > > > > around :D. I finally received my Catweasel board, so next thing
  > > > > is to write a char reader to dump the disks to PC and start
  > > > analyzing
  > > > > them.
  > > > >
  > > > > After that: Proof that external device or software in fact is
  > taking
  > > > > full control over EII and controls everything like EII itself
  > would
  > > > > do, by dumping communication on the serial port. If it does like
  > > > this,
  > > > > as I assume from the code I've seen so far, the EII can be
  > > > controlled
  > > > > by any device with a serial port interface :-) (Assuming you
  have
  > > > all
  > > > > neccessary port interfaces and some code to come...). I always
  > > > thought
  > > > > that it must do so, because that's the only explanation why SDII
  > and
  > > > > the external CD-ROM (on the other port) did work at all.
  > > > >
  > > > > Now for my requests:
  > > > > 1. Does anybody have ROM images earlier than the ones available
  > > > here?
  > > > > Please provide them, it could help a lot. The main ROM still
  > > > contains
  > > > > the remains of the serial monitor mentioned in the service
  manual,
  > > > > only some bytes at the beginning are NOPed out and it will RET
  > > > > immediately. I suppose it was used by setting the NMI to it to
  > debug
  > > > > the system.
  > > > >
  > > > > 2. Can anybody make a portlist from the schematics? I tried
  > myself,
  > > > > but my knowledge (and my rooms walls) is not big enough to draw
  it
  > > > out.
  > > > >
  > > > > 3. Does anybody know a serial port monitor for PC (Linux or Win)
  > > > that
  > > > > only records signals coming in, without caring for any protocol?
  I
  > > > > used to do it with my old NEC serial linemodem analyzer, but it
  > only
  > > > > outputs to its CRT, which does not help much.
  > > > >
  > > > > That's all for now,
  > > > > Hoschi
  > > > >
  > > >
  > >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-16 by magmusic75

The Datex DTX200 looks like it might be a good option. i wonder if it 
supports the Shugart SA465 Protocol?

Thanks for the info.
john
===============================================================
--- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Zimnicki" <list@...> 
wrote:
>
> You may want to look here and see if these may be helpful:
> 
> http://jeanfrancoisdelnero.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/index.html
> 
> http://www.datexeurope.com/emulator/DTX200en.htm
> 
> http://www.amiga.org/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=2354&cid=5
> 
> http://www.amiga.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?
viewmode=flat&topic_id=28022&forum=8
> 
> TZ
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: hoschi1103 
>   To: emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:14 PM
>   Subject: [emulatorII-list] Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering 
needed
> 
> 
>   I thought of a single module that fits in place of any disk 
drive. The
>   SD holds many single raw disk images, one file for each disk. 
Filename
>   is displayname. You just insert the SD card, press Load and scroll
>   through the list of disk images. Press Select and use the 
highlighted
>   disk image the same way as you would do with a real disk you 
insert in a
>   real drive.
> 
>   If such a device should exist already, tell me please.
>   Anybody with knowledge is welcome, too.
> 
>   It could look like this, size the same as a disk drive:
>   [frontbezel]
> 
>   Greetings,
>   Hoschi
> 
>   --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "magmusic75" <john-m-
junk@>
>   wrote:
>   >
>   >
>   > [:)] Yes Floppy emulation does seem like a more practical 
solution.
>   > Like I said at a minimum it would be great just to be able to 
boot and
>   > load the OS from some kind of rom or ram instead of floppy 
disks. And
>   it
>   > would AWSOME if not only could you boot from rom or ram but if 
it were
>   > possible to save the banks to the SD card WOW! I suppose you 
would
>   have
>   > to make the EII think it's an EII-HD model so it thinks the 
memory
>   > card is a hard disk, then you would be able to scroll through 
the
>   banks
>   > on the card, select the one you want then load. Imagine how 
many banks
>   > you could store on a modern memory card!
>   >
>   > Thanks again.
>   >
>   > John
>   >
>   > ====================================================
>   >
>   >
>   > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" totti@ 
wrote:
>   > >
>   > > It could be done by a flash or eprom, but that would need at 
least
>   > > some extra circuits for chip/address multiplexing and severe 
code
>   > > rewriting. Using a fpga pretending to be a disk drive and
>   interfacing
>   > > to a SD card is much easier, I think.
>   > >
>   > > For any serial control, it is in already, I only have to get 
the
>   right
>   > > command sequences. I did some logging on the serial port with 
a
>   > > converter to RS-232, and my God, it's full of numbers!T
>   > >
>   > > About paying, if this project should ever come to an alpha 
state and
>   I
>   > > put parts of it online, please feel free to donate any money 
to a
>   > > charity project you like to support. The most probable things 
to see
>   > > the light of the world are in fact some disk backup utility 
using
>   the
>   > > Catweasel MK4, something with serial communication and more 
stuff
>   that
>   > > can be done by reverse engineering. Any new or reused code 
altering
>   > > the function or behaviour of the EII depends on the 
permissions of
>   the
>   > > copyright owners if it should be for more than my private fun.
>   > >
>   > > Greetings,
>   > > Hoschi
>   > >
>   > > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "magmusic75" john-m-
junk@
>   > > wrote:
>   > > >
>   > > > Hello I fully support your effort. I think that somehow 
getting
>   the
>   > > > floppy OS (Disk Overlay) onto an EPROM and then having it
>   programmed
>   > > > so the EII looks for the OS on the EPROM or some kind of 
flash
>   > memory
>   > > > would be great. Then add one new feature to the (SPECIAL) 
command
>   > set
>   > > > called "Serial Control". Now in this feature you would hand 
over
>   > > > control of the EII to a PC or Mac Running some custom 
software
>   > > > control application. This app should have the standard EIl
>   features
>   > > > such as "Disk, Voice Definition Ect... but at a minimum it 
would
>   > just
>   > > > be great to be able to power up the EII right from rom.
>   > > > Anyway as I said I fully support this effort and would be 
glad to
>   > > > pay for these new features! As would many other I suspect.
>   > > >
>   > > > John
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > 
======================================================================
>   > > >
>   > > > --- In emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com, "hoschi1103" 
<totti@>
>   > > > wrote:
>   > > > >
>   > > > > Hi all,
>   > > > >
>   > > > > there were no news from me for a long time, as I'm always 
busy
>   > doing
>   > > > > other things.
>   > > > >
>   > > > > Disassembling of both ROM nearly finished. Main ROM does 
contain
>   > > > > memory and peripherial init, disk I/O, some serial port 
stuff
>   (see
>   > > > 1st
>   > > > > request below) and a really big (for ancient times) table 
of
>   > initial
>   > > > > data for all devices in the system. Scanner ROM holds all 
I/O
>   > stuff
>   > > > as
>   > > > > described in the service manual and some system init, too.
>   > > > > Interesting solution for system init: Main CPU and 
Scanner CPU
>   > start
>   > > > > async, Scanner CPU turns LEDs on and waits for Main CPU. 
Only if
>   > > > Main
>   > > > > CPU passes the peripherial init, it signals Scanner CPU. 
Scanner
>   > CPU
>   > > > > then turns off LEDs and just displays "Insert diskette". 
That's
>   > how
>   > > > > the system assumes everything is ok, a reason for defect 
memory
>   > not
>   > > > > detected, as the main CPU only fills memory with 00 
without
>   really
>   > > > > checking.
>   > > > >
>   > > > > As the ROM holds only basic functions, everything else is 
done
>   via
>   > > > the
>   > > > > overlays from any diskette. That leaves some perspective 
to play
>   > > > > around :D. I finally received my Catweasel board, so next 
thing
>   > > > > is to write a char reader to dump the disks to PC and 
start
>   > > > analyzing
>   > > > > them.
>   > > > >
>   > > > > After that: Proof that external device or software in 
fact is
>   > taking
>   > > > > full control over EII and controls everything like EII 
itself
>   > would
>   > > > > do, by dumping communication on the serial port. If it 
does like
>   > > > this,
>   > > > > as I assume from the code I've seen so far, the EII can be
>   > > > controlled
>   > > > > by any device with a serial port interface :-) (Assuming 
you
>   have
>   > > > all
>   > > > > neccessary port interfaces and some code to come...). I 
always
>   > > > thought
>   > > > > that it must do so, because that's the only explanation 
why SDII
>   > and
>   > > > > the external CD-ROM (on the other port) did work at all.
>   > > > >
>   > > > > Now for my requests:
>   > > > > 1. Does anybody have ROM images earlier than the ones 
available
>   > > > here?
>   > > > > Please provide them, it could help a lot. The main ROM 
still
>   > > > contains
>   > > > > the remains of the serial monitor mentioned in the service
>   manual,
>   > > > > only some bytes at the beginning are NOPed out and it 
will RET
>   > > > > immediately. I suppose it was used by setting the NMI to 
it to
>   > debug
>   > > > > the system.
>   > > > >
>   > > > > 2. Can anybody make a portlist from the schematics? I 
tried
>   > myself,
>   > > > > but my knowledge (and my rooms walls) is not big enough 
to draw
>   it
>   > > > out.
>   > > > >
>   > > > > 3. Does anybody know a serial port monitor for PC (Linux 
or Win)
>   > > > that
>   > > > > only records signals coming in, without caring for any 
protocol?
>   I
>   > > > > used to do it with my old NEC serial linemodem analyzer, 
but it
>   > only
>   > > > > outputs to its CRT, which does not help much.
>   > > > >
>   > > > > That's all for now,
>   > > > > Hoschi
>   > > > >
>   > > >
>   > >
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>   >
> 
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
>    
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-17 by Dana Fiorucci

Yes the Datex DTX200 looks like the best option.
If you can get this worked out I would be interested in getting one of 
these to replace my lower drive.
I don't remember what the bank limit was on the HD version but if you 
could could remove that limit
  and only have it limited to the size of the media that would be great.
It would wonderful to be able to have all my library on one card 
without having to load from a mac as I do now with SD for EII.

Thanks,
Dana


>  The Datex DTX200 looks like it might be a good option. i wonder if it
>  supports the Shugart SA465 Protocol?
>
>  Thanks for the info.
>  john

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [emulatorII-list] Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed

2008-08-17 by Cristea Eusebiu

Great idea. Will be much easier and the point here is also that we can use the actual tech. I really hope in that.
Regs, Mike, Oslo, Norway.

--- On Sun, 8/17/08, Dana Fiorucci <dfiorucci@...> wrote:
From: Dana Fiorucci <dfiorucci@...>
Subject: [emulatorII-list] Re: Supporters for Reverse Engineering needed
To: emulatorII-list@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, August 17, 2008, 6:22 PM










    
            Yes the Datex DTX200 looks like the best option.

If you can get this worked out I would be interested in getting one of 

these to replace my lower drive.

I don't remember what the bank limit was on the HD version but if you 

could could remove that limit

  and only have it limited to the size of the media that would be great.

It would wonderful to be able to have all my library on one card 

without having to load from a mac as I do now with SD for EII.



Thanks,

Dana



>  The Datex DTX200 looks like it might be a good option. i wonder if it

>  supports the Shugart SA465 Protocol?

>

>  Thanks for the info.

>  john



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




      

    
    
	
	 
	
	








	


	
	


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]