Z8000-Fan

From: Dwight K. Elvey <dwightk.elvey_at_amd.com>
Date: Fri Jan 3 19:20:00 2003

Hi
 You need to look a little more. You should find other files
that may be named incorrectly as *.z8k. Some of these are
actually source files and not executables. Most of the assembly
source were called *.8kn. Also, many of the files have some
garble at there ends. This was because of the extraction process.
If you look at them carefully, you'll see that the text starts
to repeat it self at some point. Just delete the repeated
text to the end. I may have these files in PC file format
after they have been cleaned up.
 I have gone through the process of starting with the source
files for the BIOS and actually creating a new BIOS. I was
careful to make sure that it ended up matching the original
release image. In anycase, with new BIOS code, I should be able
to build another new image. This would be much easier than
starting from scratch. When you get done, you'd be able to
use the C compiler and assembler that came with this release.
 I'll go back and see, just which files I used so that you
can use the matching ones. There were several different
source pieces to hunt through. Some of them were older versions.
The 1.1 stuff is actually the most current. The other revs seem
to be pre-release stuff.
Dwight


From: "Kane, David (DPRS)" <David.Kane_at_aph.gov.au>
>
>Hi Dwight,
>
>I had also found the CPM8000 executable for the M20 on "The Unofficial CP/M Web
site" (www.cpm.z80.de), but the source I grabbed at first only seemed to be for
the BIOS and a couple of programs. So I thought that I would have to emulate an
M20 for it to be useful. Either that or find a way to compile up a modified BIOS
as you suggested. I just looked on the site again and there was a zip file with
a more complete set of source. I still have no Z8000 C compiler or assembler but
you do, so I might look into this a little more vigorously.
>
>David Kane
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dwight K. Elvey [mailto:dwightk.elvey_at_amd.com]
>Sent: Friday, 3 January 2003 5:52 AM
>To: cctalk_at_classiccmp.org
>Subject: RE: Z8000-Fan
>
>Hi David
> It may not be as hard as you'd think. First, you don't have
>to cross compile CPM-8000. There already is a CPM-8000. Recently,
>source and release code was found for this and, working with Chris
>Groessle, we've managed to bring it up on our Olivetti M20's.
>This code was originally written for the M20, as it was the only
>major machine sold with a Z8000 ( there were a few SBC's out there ).
> The release comes with a C compiler and an assembler. There is
>source code for the BIOS as well. It does depend on the M20
>ROM code for low level access. This CPM was mostly written by
>a combination of Zilog and DR people. It is mostly written in
>C with a minimum written in assembly.
> There are a few issues. Even though the manual says you can get by
>with only 128K, this would be difficult. Several of the utilities
>require two 64K chunks ( one for instruction and one for data ).
>It would be best if the other system functions had there own piece
>of RAM to work in. One needs to map the memory such that you can
>access a single 64K as both instruction and data as well as
>the 128K as 64k instruction and 64k data.
> The bad news is that we don't have the complete source for the
>CPM. The BIOS does require that it be compiled on a running CPM-8000.
>As the documents state, it would be difficult to build it on
>some other system. Still if someone is willing to write a BIOS
>for their board, I'd be willing to compile the code for them on
>my machine.
>Dwight
>
>>From: "Kane, David (DPRS)" <David.Kane_at_aph.gov.au>
>>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I always wanted to play with this processor, I just never got the chance. I
>have a copy of the Zilog "Microcomputer Components - Data Book Feb 1980" and
>a copy of "Programming the Z8000" (a Sybec book), but that is about as far
>as I ever got. I was tinkering with the thought of modding the SIMH emulator
>to include a Z8000 system, but I don't have any details or experience of any
>real systems. I then though to invent a fictitious S100 system, based on the
>existing Altair emulation, but with a Z8000 CPU. This could most likely run
>a CPM8000 system, with the appropriate BDOS changes. But a lot of work would
>be need to get a set of compilers/cross compilers for the Z8000, either in
>tracking them down or writing them. I saw recently that BDS C has been put
>into the public domain with full source, so there might be some avenue
>there. Still to generate CPM (or MPM) for a fictitious machine would be a
>mammoth undertaking, I have all the source code needed, just not the
>compilers. It would require an 8080/Z80 to Z8000 cross assembler (to avoid
>rewriting all the assembler), a Z8000 PLM compiler, and a Z8000 C compiler.
>>
>>Anyway I am declaring myself an unfulfilled fan of the Z8000 processor
>family.
>>
>>David Kane
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: G?nter Mewes [mailto:info_at_mewesbus.de]
>>Sent: Saturday, 28 December 2002 12:49 AM
>>To: cctech_at_classiccmp.org
>>Subject: Z8000-Fan
>>
>>Hi Mr. Johnston,
>>today I was looking for some Z8000 Fans, to talk about experieces ...
>>Are you interested ?
>>
>>Please, be so kind and send a mail.
>>
>>Guenter Mewes (www.guentermewes.de)
>
>
>
Received on Fri Jan 03 2003 - 19:20:00 GMT