The North Star MDS-AD disk controller supports both single- and
double-density operation. While mixed-density is supported by the
controller, it is not supported by AltairZ80 due to a limitation of the
.nsi image file format. The .nsi image file format requires all sectors
to be of the same density.
The "Window" bit was getting cleared too late, causing the "next" sector
to be written under North Star DOS. Due to differences between CP/M and
North Star disk access routines, this was not an issue under CP/M.
Test: Verify that North Star DOS and CP/M can format, copy and verify an
entire disk.
North Star Disk Operating System, Version 2.1.1, at 100
+GO DT 2
SINGLE(S) OR DOUBLE(D) DENSITY TEST? D
BOTH SIDES (Y OR N)? Y
LOAD DISKETTE THEN PRESS RETURN TO BEGIN TEST
PASS COMPLETE
PASS COMPLETE
PASS COMPLETE
PASS COMPLETE
PASS COMPLETE
CONTROL-C STOP
+GO CD 1 2
COPY BOTH SIDES (Y OR N)? Y
LOAD DISKETTES AND PRESS RETURN WHEN READY.
COPY COMPLETED.
+GO CK 1
DISKETTE CHECK, VERSION 1
CHECK CODE: 46513
+GO CK 2
DISKETTE CHECK, VERSION 1
CHECK CODE: 46513
+
These changes facilitate more robust parameter type checking and helps
to identify unexpected coding errors.
Most simulators can now also be compiled with a C++ compiler without
warnings.
Additionally, these changes have also been configured to facilitate easier
backporting of simulator and device simulation modules to run under the
simh v3.9+ SCP framework.
The source file to be updated provides emulation of the North Star DD
floppy disk controller. The proposed change steps the head only when the
step bit in the order byte transitions from 1 to 0. This is the way the
actual hardware functions. Previously, the emulation would step any time
an order was issued and the step bit was 1. This behavior caused some
original software (e.g., Lifeboat CP/M 2.2) to end up on an incorrect
track.
The makefile now works for Linux and most Unix's. However, for Solaris
and MacOS, you must first export the OSTYPE environment variable:
> export OSTYPE
> make
Otherwise, you will get build errors.
1. New Features
1.1 3.8-0
1.1.1 SCP and Libraries
- BREAK, NOBREAK, and SHOW BREAK with no argument will set, clear, and
show (respectively) a breakpoint at the current PC.
1.1.2 GRI
- Added support for the GRI-99 processor.
1.1.3 HP2100
- Added support for the BACI terminal interface.
- Added support for RTE OS/VMA/EMA, SIGNAL, VIS firmware extensions.
1.1.4 Nova
- Added support for 64KW memory (implemented in third-party CPU's).
1.1.5 PDP-11
- Added support for DC11, RC11, KE11A, KG11A.
- Added modem control support for DL11.
- Added ASCII character support for all 8b devices.
1.2 3.8-1
1.2.1 SCP and libraries
- Added capability to set line connection order for terminal multiplexers.
1.2.2 HP2100
- Added support for 12620A/12936A privileged interrupt fence.
- Added support for 12792C eight-channel asynchronous multiplexer.
1.3 3.8-2
1.3.1 1401
- Added "no rewind" option to magtape boot.
1.3.2 PDP-11
- Added RD32 support to RQ
- Added debug support to RL
1.3.3 PDP-8
- Added FPP support (many thanks to Rick Murphy for debugging the code)
2. Bugs Fixed
Please see the revision history on http://simh.trailing-edge.com or
in the source module sim_rev.h.
The makefile now works for Linux and most Unix's. Howevr, for Solaris
and MacOS, you must first export the OSTYPE environment variable:
> export OSTYPE
> make
Otherwise, you will get build errors.
1. New Features
1.1 3.8-0
1.1.1 SCP and Libraries
- BREAK, NOBREAK, and SHOW BREAK with no argument will set, clear, and
show (respectively) a breakpoint at the current PC.
1.1.2 GRI
- Added support for the GRI-99 processor.
1.1.3 HP2100
- Added support for the BACI terminal interface.
- Added support for RTE OS/VMA/EMA, SIGNAL, VIS firmware extensions.
1.1.4 Nova
- Added support for 64KW memory (implemented in third-party CPU's).
1.1.5 PDP-11
- Added support for DC11, RC11, KE11A, KG11A.
- Added modem control support for DL11.
- Added ASCII character support for all 8b devices.
1.2 3.8-1
1.2.1 SCP and libraries
- Added capability to set line connection order for terminal multiplexers.
1.2.2 HP2100
- Added support for 12620A/12936A privileged interrupt fence.
- Added support for 12792C eight-channel asynchronous multiplexer.
2. Bugs Fixed
Please see the revision history on http://simh.trailing-edge.com or
in the source module sim_rev.h.
The makefile now works for Linux and most Unix's. Howevr, for Solaris
and MacOS, you must first export the OSTYPE environment variable:
> export OSTYPE
> make
Otherwise, you will get build errors.
1. New Features
1.1 3.8-0
1.1.1 SCP and Libraries
- BREAK, NOBREAK, and SHOW BREAK with no argument will set, clear, and
show (respectively) a breakpoint at the current PC.
1.2 GRI
- Added support for the GRI-99 processor.
1.3 HP2100
- Added support for the BACI terminal interface.
- Added support for RTE OS/VMA/EMA, SIGNAL, VIS firmware extensions.
1.4 Nova
- Added support for 64KW memory (implemented in third-party CPU's).
1.5 PDP-11
- Added support for DC11, RC11, KE11A, KG11A.
- Added modem control support for DL11.
- Added ASCII character support for all 8b devices.
2. Bugs Fixed
Please see the revision history on http://simh.trailing-edge.com or
in the source module sim_rev.h.
