Re: Can the "Liron card" run a HD? (was: Re: What kind of ][e card is this?

[david@zircon.cs.uow.edu.au (David E A Wilson)]

shack@crash.cts.com (Randy Shackelford) writes:
>Here's a question: is the interface used in the unidisk card and slinky card,
>referred to in old documentation as the protocol converter, the same thing as
>the smartport? Or are there differences?

It is all explained in Apple's SmartPort Technote #3:

 Do not be confused by the name "SmartPort Bus" architecture.  The information
 in the Apple IIGS Firmware Reference describes the mechanics of how devices
 interface with the disk port on a IIGS or IIc and with the UniDisk 3.5
 Interface card on a ][+ or IIe.  It is not necessary to understand this
 information to use SmartPort firmware calls, nor do all devices which have
 SmartPort firmware necessarily have to connect mechanically through the disk
 port or UniDisk 3.5 Interface card.
 
 The physical or electrical side of the hardware is called the "SmartPort Bus,"
 while the firmware protocols are called the "SmartPort Interface."  Although
 the term "SmartPort" can refer to either or both parts, it is most often used
 to refer to the SmartPort Interface.  Only those developers who are designing
 products which will attach to either the IIGS or IIc disk port or to the
 UniDisk 3.5 Interface card need be concerned with the SmartPort Bus
 architecture.  Software developers need not learn about the SmartPort Bus
 architecture to use the SmartPort Interface firmware.

The Protocol Convertor was the old name for the SmartPort Interface.