Parallel-IDE interface for CP/M

From: Don Maslin <donm_at_cts.com>
Date: Tue Aug 25 23:30:40 1998

On Tue, 25 Aug 1998, Tony Duell wrote:

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> > ST506 to IDE???? Nah! Direct to IDE has been done already, see TCJ
>
> Actually, I've been thinking of an ST506 (host) to IDE or SCSI (drive)
> interface for some time. It's decidedly non-trivial, mainly because you
> have to have some idea of how the data is encoded, and what the
> controller expects in the sector headers, etc. Or at least you do for any
> half-efficient design

I have a couple of cards that are exactly the reverse of what you plan.
They are 3.5" form factor, and built by WDC for Compaq. I can only
conclude that Compaq needed more IDEs than were available at one time,
early on.
 
> The reason is that, at least in the UK, ST506 drives are getting hard to
> find. And there are machines (the PERQ springs to mind) where it's going
> to be _very_ hard to use any other form of drive.

They are getting less plentiful here also, but ESDIs seem to be
multiplying!
 
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                                                 - don
Received on Tue Aug 25 1998 - 23:30:40 BST