Re: Disk Image Server Software?

["Glenn Jones" <rg.jones@rogers.com>]

"Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote in message
20030405051254.23212.00000235@mb-cu.aol.com">news:20030405051254.23212.00000235@mb-cu.aol.com...
> Glenn Jones asked:
>
> >Apple II Oasis allows a Apple II computer to connect to a PC and access
disk
> >images like they were local ProDOS drives.
>
> Yes--a very useful capability.
>
> >Is there any software that would go the other way and let an emulator
> >running on a PC access Apple drives? That could be accomodated over
custom
> >slot hardware/serial/parallel/LocalTalk/Ethernet IP whatever?
>
> That would involve writing another Disk ][ emulator that, instead of
getting
> nibbles from a disk image file, communicated with a real Apple II and
asked
> it to get the nibbles from a real Disk ][.  (It is necessary for the real
Apple
> II
> to access the Disk ][, since its correct functioning is a critical
real-time
> control problem that cannot be overlapped with communication with the PC).

Agreed, handling that at low a level would make it the most compatible...

I tend to think of things these days in terms ot PRODOS and GS/OS where
there is some oppertunity to implement a solution without doing handstands
(as in with DOS 3.3). The idea is to provide an emulator or an Internal SOC
(systemon a chip) with the capability of using native apple II disk devices
(and other cards perhaps). The idea is a general expansion on how the
Applicard communicated with the Apple II in a symbotic relationship....I was
trying to extend that idea across multiple communications methods.... this
all requires the ability to implement device drivers under the controling OS
.....

Still working the idea at a hi level......I need a PRODOS refresher (it has
been about 15 years since I have spent quality time at the level
required.....:o)

>
> Sounds like an interesting challenge for an emulator writer...
>
> Since both the Oasis solution and the PC-controlling-Apple solution
> require a running Apple ][ and a running PC side by side, why are they
> functionally different.  In the Oasis case, you type on a real Apple ][,
> look at an Apple ][ monitor, and can access a Disk ][ and disk images
> on a PC.  In the PC-controls-Apple solution you type on the PC, look
> at its monitor, and access a Disk ][ and disk images on the PC. ;-)
>
> >2nd question is there an emulator that lets you access disk images
directly
> >off of an FTP server? I think I saw that somewhere but can't seem to find
it
> >again.
>
> Same kind of problem--a custom Disk ][ emulator that accesses an FTP
> server.  But unless you plan to use this to write to disk images on the
> server, how is this different from just associating a .dsk file with your
> emulator, so that when you "open" it in your browser, it automatically
> fires up your emulator with the disk mounted?
>

That would work :o) ...... hmm I wonder how many concurrent copies of
kegs/32 could be run at the same time? ;o) ......just found out all copies
of kegs/32 points to the same config file ...change the disk image for one
and they all change....:o(

Some thing that could handle regular or compressed disk images with local
caching from a ftp server (from within the emulator) could by cool!


> -michael
>
> Check out amazing quality 8-bit Apple sound on my
> Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/