Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!csus.edu!ucdavis!csusac!sactoh0!ijpc!ianj From: ianj@ijpc.UUCP (Ian Justman) Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm Subject: Re: ZCPR, ZCPR3.x, and the Z-System Message-ID: Date: 21 Feb 91 09:08:34 GMT References: <1042@organpipe.UUCP> Organization: Ian Justman's IBM-PC Lines: 70 tom@afthree.as.arizona.edu (Thomas J. Trebisky) writes: > 1 - Can I get it for free ?? (always first in my list), if so where -- > SIMTEL ?? Can I get all the source code from SIMTEL? Where else. Absolutely. YOu can get the sources for ZCPR33 from SIMTEL as well as a good many of its utilities. I have checked a few of them and they are really nice. > 2 - Can I bring it up on my own motley collection of hardware, or am > I stuck unless I have a "supported" system. In other words can I throw > together a disk controller, Z80 CPU, and one or more 64K ram boards in > an S100 box and bring up ZCPR on it (apart from the usual S100 hardware > compatibility issues). I am asking this because I have a collection of > hardware gathering dust that this sounds like an interesting project for. > In yet other words - can I get example bios source to start off with? > I assume I can use one of my working CP/M 2.2 systems and M80, L80 to > fire up ZCPR for a new system. I've done precisely that on MY S-100 box, an OLD Dynabyte DB8/1 originally with 10MB hard disk, now with 20 megs (8" platters, yet!). As far as BIOS is concerned, I _sorely_ wish I had source code for this old boatanchor's BIOS, but after a little sleuthing, I was able to figger out a way to get it online without having to make extensive jury-rigging than I already had. But I'll say this; it works, and it works well! I've had a great deal of fun putting this system online. > 3 - what is the mimum hardware config - I take it it handles bank switched > memory, but will some version run with just 64K of RAM. Re: Minimum hardware config: 64K is almost a must, but if you did a little paring down, you could get it running with less memory, but you won't have as capable a system. Same goes for whatever type of mass storage you use. If you have a hard disk, it makes using it all the nicer, but you could use it on a floppy-based system, like I've done on my Ampro Little Board, and I plan to do the same thing with my Big Board II. As for your bank-switching question, you'd have to write the bank-switch routines yourself if you're running a 2.2 system which you mentioned earlier. If you're running CP/M Plus, you have to get Z3PLUS from either Sage Microsystem East or Alpha Systems. I have three extra banks of 48K on this unit, but I'm just too damned lazy to write the routines to make use of them. > 4 - how about posting a list of what files to get, where to get them, > and how to get started with this (I mean "the code is available on Z-nodes > scattered around the country" is a just a tad too vague. :-) ) At very least, you need ZCPR33.??? which could be LBR, ARK, or ZIP (yes, there are several CP/M UNZIP utilities out there). I uploaded them to a local BBS in my area. The number of that BBS is (916) 386-2521. The BBS is called Omni, plus it has quite a bit of CP/M software (I know because I uploaded some 75% or so of their files, and all of their ZCPR3x files). Also, if any Z-Enthusiasts are reading this, and call the system and have stuff to upload, PLEASE DO IT!!! I cannot afford to call any Z-Nodes because there are absolutely no Z-Nodes here in Sacramento, and therefore all of them are long-distance. I cannot start one because my folks would not approve. > I like the fact that this is a Z80 software package - I mean, If I had any > 8080 or 8085 S100 boards, I would take my coping saw, cut out the circuitry > leaving the fingers and sides of the board (so it would still slide into the > card cage) then I would epoxy a piece of nice perf board with solder pads > into the hole thus generated and use the thing for a wire-wrap board. > (Here's a hot tip for you folks wondering what to do with old S100 boards). Gee, that sounds a little drastic. I know of a source here in Sacramento where I could get S100 wire-wrap boards.