Re: Looking for SmartPort info

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <9404271841.AA18398@leo.nmc.edu>,
Don Bruder <ah190@leo.nmc.edu> wrote:
> Hullo, people!
>  
> I just got my hands on a program that lets me read lots of
> information about my smartport devices, and I'm curious as to the
> meaning of some of it. Anybody know what reference I should be
> looking in for information on (for instance) what do the return
> codes from a ReadDefectData translate to?

Just what program is this?  The only reference that I can find on a
"Read Defect Data" call is the technical reference manual for the
original Apple SCSI card.  This call is not supported by the
High-speed SCSI card, or by any other SmartPort interfaces.

What interface card and type of devices are you reading defect data
from?  If it means anything, it will be documented in the SCSI
standard, which is available from ANSI, and probably from the
equivalent organisations in other countries.


SmartPort documentation is scattered over several manuals.  The IIgs
Firmware Reference is the most accurate version as regards the common
features of all SmartPort implementations (with additions in the update
manual for the 1MB IIgs).  There are also a series of SmartPort
technical notes which should be read in conjunction with the manual.

Specific SmartPort devices have their own manuals: the IIgs Firmware
Reference covers the IIgs RAM5 and ROM5 disks, the Apple 3.5 Drive and
the UniDisk 3.5 (further information on the UniDisk is in a series of
technical notes); the Apple II Memory Expansion Card has a technical
reference manual; both versions of the Apple SCSI card have technical
reference manuals.

The notable exception with Apple-supplied SmartPorts is the Apple 3.5
Disk Controller Card (alias the SuperDrive controller) - no technical
reference manual was ever released.  I'm not sure about the UniDisk 3.5
Controller card for the IIe, but I don't recall ever seeing mention of
a reference manual.

The IIc's SmartPort is documented in the IIc Technical Reference
Manual (the second edition also covers the IIc+) and there is a
separate manual for the IIc Memory Expansion Card.

For third-party cards, there is a varying amount of documentation.  The
RamFactor card from Applied Engineering has a good manual, but I
haven't seen any technical reference material on the RamFAST SCSI
card (or other third-party SCSI cards), the PC Transporter or the
Universal Disk Controller.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand