Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!uokmax!d.cs.okstate.edu!ong
From: ong@d.cs.okstate.edu (ONG ENG TENG)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware
Subject: Re: Microchannel Specs Wanted
Message-ID: <1991Jan19.023553.23505@d.cs.okstate.edu>
Date: 19 Jan 91 02:35:53 GMT
References: <1991Jan18.233856.17774@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Organization: Oklahoma State University
Lines: 26

> In article <85TA02Rz04Ep01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> jnb10@juts.ccc.amdahl.com (Joe Boucher) writes:
>>I am looking for as much technical info as I can get on Microchannel.
>>
>>I have a 55 SX and would like to build some interface boards. Is the
>>information itself licensed by IBM, or is it freely available as it is
>>with the AT bus? I can't seem to get an answer from IBM reps as to whether
>>or not the info is in the Technical Ref Manual.
>>
>>Does anyone have any suggestions for any books that might have complete
>>specs (enough to design from), or anywhere else that I might try.
>>
>>Thanks in advance.
>>Joe Boucher

The below is meant to stimulate more discussion on the *technical* facts
on the microchannel card, and not to actually provide them.
I heard that the number of chips needed to drive the microchannel
card takes up more than half the full-length card, leaving little space for
the circuit of whatever the card is originally supposed to do, 
especially since the card itself is so short (as opposed to tall).
Also, the card is so hard to design that even a longtime ISA motherboard 
designer/maker has to buy the design info from another microchannel
(serial port) card maker in order to implement their ISA card function
onto a microchannel card.  All in all, unless you are a 
near-million-dollar company/person, forget it!  Can anyone please
change my mind?