ISA Ethernet Cards

[jmmijo]

So why hasn't anybody come up with some kind of device drivers to utilise older PC ISA cards on an A2000/3000/4000?

Seems to me that just because you can use a bridgeboard you should be able to use an ISA card directly.

Please advise, thanks :)

EDIT: I just got to thinking about something, would installing Linux on the Amiga allow the use of ISA cards??? Again I'm asking for any help in this matter.

[RetroMan]

The ISA slots on the A2000er Mobo are inactive and can only be used with an activ Bridgeboard/Emulation ! They cannot be used under AmigaOS directly AFAIK !

[jmmijo]

So that's why those Golden Gate cards came out then? Also for the 1200/4000 there is something called a Mediator card, it converts Zorro slots to PCI slots. I should also clarify that I have a 4000, but I bet like the 2000 the ISA slots are inactive :(

So you mentioned a Bridgeboard/Emulation, do you mean something like PC Task can use these slots or what???

[RetroMan]

No, PC Task is a software Emulator ! Those slots can be used by a hardware Emulator and that is a Bridgeboard ;) On the Bridgeboard you got a complete PC with CPU, Floppy Controller, HD Controller and so on ..... Btw. the Mediator doesn´t convert the slots into PCI slots ! It´s a standalone solution for getting PCI into A1200 and A4000, the function of the other free slots is still the same as before :)

[jmmijo]

Thanks for the clarification I kinda figured that but wanted to make sure :)

As for the Mediator, so why does the manufacturer state this, it appears to connect into an open Zorro slot, preferrably the top one and then gives you 4 PCI slots to use? It appears to me that the single Zorro slot is converted into the 4 PCI slots. There are two versions of this board, one for the tower configs and another for the desktop machines. I'm looking at Software Hut's web site now at this product and they show both images in very great detail.

[RetroMan]

Well ok, if you mean THIS by "converted" you are right ;) For me the Mediator is just an extension to use PCI cards in an Amiga (not all btw.) mainly focussed on Voodoo gfx card, but TV cards and sound cards are also possible ...

[jmmijo]

Thanks Retro, I went to Elboxes web site and started to research the card some more, seems they don't recommend getting the Mediator Zorro version when using it with a standard desktop A3000 or 4000. The reason is that these have the Riser or Daughterboards in them and that the Mediator can have some real timing issues when trying to use it in this config. Of course they want to sell you their Tower kit along with the Mediator card for it instead ;)

Looks like I'll have to stay with Zorro cards for the time being until I can afford the tower kit. Well, guess I'll look at getting the X-Surf board too, unless some kind soul out there has an older Zorro ethernet card they would like to part with, hint hint :)

[LUKas007]

btw I use Bridgeboard card A2088 :) in A2000 , and have a XT type hard disc connected to the ISA slot, the PC side and the Amiga herself see the XT disc (Filecard30 - western digital 40MB) , I can even format this disk in amiga OFS or FFS :)

[jmmijo]

Yes, this is the Bridgeboard allowing the Amiga side to see and access devices on the ISA side ;)