Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cbmvax!drysdale
From: drysdale@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Drysdale)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: A3000 and Bridgeboard
Message-ID: <20117@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 26 Mar 91 03:00:08 GMT
References: <1991Mar25.192928.20577@isis.cs.du.edu>
Reply-To: drysdale@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Drysdale)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 59

In article <1991Mar25.192928.20577@isis.cs.du.edu> echadez@isis.UUCP (Edward Vincent Chadez) writes:
>This falls in the "most frequently asked question" group, but I don't know
>of another way to find it out, so here goes....
>
>I have heard rumors that the Bridgeboard from Commodore/Amiga (that works with
>A2x00 series computers) won't work with the A3000.
>
>1)	Is this true?

NO! (*)

>2)	Is there a fix in the future??

see 1.

(*) - when running any bridgeboard on a system with a data cache (such as
an A3000) under ks/wb 2.0, you *must* disable data caching of bridgeboard
address space.  there is no problem with a 3000 under 1.3, since 1.3 doesn't
turn the data cache on.  the reason is that the bridgeboard is essentially a
big raft of shared memory being slapped around by the 80x86 and the 680x0.
if either side caches something and the other side changes it, things stop
abruptly.

there are two ways to disable the data cache.

1) (preferred) use ENFORCER QUIET.  late model enforcers know about
   bridgeboards and disable data caching only on the bridgeboard's
   address space.  all other accesses have data caching on.  you don't
   lose the benefits of data caching.

2) (if you don't have a version of enforcer that has the "quiet" option)
   use CPU NODATACACHE.  no more data caching anywhere.  may cause some
   slowdown versus having the data cache on.

both of the above must be done *before* binddrivers is run (ie, you have
to modify your startup-sequence, not your user-startup).  remember to fix
it after installing new versions of WB!

>I am aware of the software posted to ab20....  However, I'm just interested in
>the bridgeboards on the A3000 at this time.

with the above "fix" things are swell on A3000s under 2.0.

>Please reply to me by mail (to this address or to echadez@carl.org) to avoid
>unnecessary bandwidth.  Thank you.

i didn't reply by mail since you didn't ask privately :).  billions and
billions of people might get the wrong idea about bridgeboards/3000s.

>--ed

  --Scotty
-- 
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Scott Drysdale           Software Engineer
Commodore Amiga Inc.     UUCP {allegra|burdvax|rutgers|ihnp4}!cbmvax!drysdale
		         PHONE - yes.
"Have you hugged your hog today?"
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