Re: Documentation wanted

[mdj <mdj.mdj@gmail.com>]

On Nov 3, 12:38 am, "sfahey" <sfa...@a2central.com.remove-cuk-this>
wrote:
> I'm looking for any and all documentaion on any of the Apple //c hard drives
> that were produced. This includes the ProApp, Chinook and Quark -- any
> technical info would be welcome in addition to user manuals.
>
> I'd to get this info in wider circulation in the hopes someone will develop a
> mass storage solution for the Apple //c that is compatible with existing //c
> peripherals.

The SmartPort (or Protocol Converter in older parlance) interface is
documented (albeit poorly) in the Apple IIGS Firmware Reference.

Implementing a storage solution for the IIc would require:

Understanding of the hardware protocol used to communicate with
SmartPort devices (Like the Unidisk 3.5" or the Chinook). You can grab
this from the aforementioned reference.
Understanding of the Smartport software protocol. I found the
disassembly of the IIc ROM in any of the reference manuals post the
original an excellent guide for this.

What's not documented at all as far as I can tell is the IWM, and
that's where it gets tricky. To get further, you're going to need
either a logic analyser, or very patiently reverse engineer the
encoded packets.

Certainly not a project for the faint of heart, which is why alas it
hasn't been done yet :-(

Matt