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From: AWCTTYPA@UIAMVS.BITNET ("David A. Lyons")
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: SmartPort documentation
Message-ID: <8806131348.aa26376@SMOKE.BRL.ARPA>
Date: 15 Jun 88 21:32:23 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
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X-Unparsable-Date: Monday 13 Jun 88 12:38 PM CT

[Sorry this is late--my site is having trouble connecting to BRL.ARPA]

>Date:         Thu, 9 Jun 88 18:06:59 GMT
>Reply-To:     Info-Apple@BRL.ARPA
>From:         Ralph Hyre <ius3.ius.cs.cmu.edu!ralphw@pt.cs.cmu.edu>

>With each new generation, starting with the //e (arguably with the
>demise of the red book, informative hardware and low-level software
>documentation has been harder and harder to find.
>
>Where is the smartport/protocol converter hardware and software interface
>documented well enough for me to try adding a SCSI interface to it?  I've
>looked at the Addison Wesley GS hardware documentation, it's not there.
>
>Apple is ignoring or forgetting its origins.

I don't think this is a fair accusation.  There is actually lots MORE
documentation available, but there is also a lot more stuff that we
NEED to know.  I'm generally happy with the availability of technical
info.

Note that Apple's SCSI card USES the SmartPort software interface.

SmartPort documentation can be found in the following:
1. Apple IIgs Firmware Reference Manual, APDA Draft of 12/23/86.
     Chapter 7 describes the software interface AND goes into a
     fair amount of detail about how SmartPort commands are sent
     out using the Phase control lines on the disk connector.
2. SmartPort Techinical Note #1: SmartPort Introduction
3. SmartPort Techinical Note #2: SmartPort Calls
4. SmartPort Techinical Note #3: SmartPort Bus Archetecture
     This is similar to the Firmware Manual chapter; it looks like
     it gives you the info you need.
5. SmartPort Techinical Note #4: SmartPort Device Types
6. SmartPort Techinical Note #5: SCSI SmartPort Ctrl Call Changes
7. Unidisk Technical Note #1: Unidisk 3.5 Internals
8. Unidisk Technical Note #2: Unidisk 3.5 ID Bytes
9. Unidisk Technical Note #4: SmartPort calls
10.Unidisk Technical Note #5: Architectural Differences
   Between 3.5" Drives

The technotes are available through APDA as well as on services
like CompuServe and GEnie.

>                    - Ralph W. Hyre, Jr.
>
>Internet: ralphw@ius2.cs.cmu.edu    Phone:(412)268-{2847,3275} CMU-{BUGS,DARK}
>Amateur Packet Radio: N3FGW@W2XO, or c/o W3VC, CMU Radio Club, Pittsburgh, PA

--David A. Lyons  a.k.a.  DAL Systems
  PO Box 287 | North Liberty, IA 52317
  BITNET: AWCTTYPA@UIAMVS
  CompuServe: 72177,3233
  GEnie mail: D.LYONS2