Parallel-IDE interface for CP/M

From: Allison J Parent <allisonp_at_world.std.com>
Date: Mon Aug 24 21:38:17 1998

< > IIRC, you were about to write some code to hook up one of thes
< > parallel-IDE HD kits to a CP/M machine with an EPP. Could this be mad

< Problem is that most of the older 8-bit systems don't have any way
< to read information coming back on the parallel port -- at best, it
< would involve using some of the status lines instead of data lines,

As I may have said off list.

Not all parallel ports on CP/M systems are useable. There are many that
could be configured to be usable, NS* horison, Compupro interfacer
series and even the AMPROLB come to mind for this kind of hack. But
the printerports as they stand on ALL CPM machines are configured very
different from PCs.

< manufacturer to another. It would probably be easier to build a
< ST-506 (or SASI) hardware (with firmware) adapter to IDE than to

ST506 to IDE???? Nah! Direct to IDE has been done already, see TCJ
GIDE project. Some CPM systems can hang SCSI already, my ampro and
SB180 do.

< (Then again, Allison's a lot smarter than I am and possibly a bit
< more stubborn -- I tend to stop banging my head against a brick wall
< when I've barely reached the empty space in the cinderblock).

No, I just know where the hammer and chisel are. ;)

it was a speculative hack to see if I could find the data for how one of
the PP adaptors actually talk... it's a big secret!

Just remember a hacker never bangs their head against the wall. That's
for some one in corperate to do.

Allison
Received on Mon Aug 24 1998 - 21:38:17 BST