Re: IIgs RAM drive question

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

Jeff Blakeney <CUTblakeney@home.com> wrote:

> On Tue, 21 Dec 1999 23:19:48 +1300, dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David
> Empson) wrote:
> 
> >In any case, this seems a rather pointless argument.  We are agreeing
> >that the IIgs is great.  I just prefer to credit the software with
> >squeezing exceptional capabilities from the hardware.
> 
> True, it is kind of pointless and yes the IIgs is great.  :-)
> 
> However, by giving credit to a single program for doing a neat "trick"
> you are slighting all the other applications that allow you to do the
> same sort of thing.  I know there are a number of other programs that
> will allow you to continue to use the built in function of a slot even
> when the slot has been set to "Your Card".

OK, so lets name some.

The serial firwmare is somewhat different to most features along these
lines.  For example, it is a no-brainer to continue using the mouse
under GS/OS desktop applications on a ROM 3 with slot 4 set to "Your
Card".

Maintaining access to the IWM with slot 6 set to "Your Card" is trickier
than most, since the IWM is actually in the slot 6 I/O space, and it is
necessary to temporarily switch slot 6 back to the internal device to
access the IWM.  (This has to be done by the SmartPort firmware and
corresponding GS/OS drivers for 3.5" drives, for example.  Interrupts
must be locked out!)

What else is there?  Slots 1 and 2 are the serial firmware (ProTerm is
one example - I'd like to know about more).  Slot 3 is 80-column
firmware (not particularly major except for text-based applications
running in 8-bit mode).  Slot 4 is the mouse (firmware only, no hardware
issues).  Slot 5 is the SmartPort (firmware issues only - the hardware
is associated with slot 6).  I've already mentioned slot 6 (Disk Port).

I don't think anything can access AppleTalk without it being enabled in
the appropriate slot.


Going the other way (accessing a card even if the slot is set to the
internal port) is somewhat of a different issue, which varies in
complexity depending on the card in question, and the slot in which it
is installed.  For example, slots 3 and 4 allow access to the card's
DEVSEL space even if the internal firmware is enabled.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P O Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand