x86 Bridgeboard update (PCem core)
 

New bridgeboard thread. (old thread: http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=76395)

Bridgeboard emulation now uses following PCem "parts":

- CPU
- Interrupt controller (PIC)
- Timer (PIT)
- DMA controller
- NVRAM (286+)
- Memory and IO mapping.
- PC Speaker (enable option in Bridgeboard expansion GUI)
- Sound Blaster (Multiple variants, Expansion GUI, see below)

Previously emulated hardware still supported:

- VGA.
- XTIDE.
- NE2000.
- Floppy controller. (may be replaced with PCem version later)

Notes:

- FPU is not available (it looks like PCem only supports it if 486+?)
- A2386SX probably still isn't any more compatible because VLSI chipset used is not yet emulated in PCem.
- Speed is slower than previously, most likely because previously it was far too fast. Speed adjustment will be added later.
- Sound Blaster is totally untested, PC Speaker confirmed to make sound.. Because all supported SB models are in single expansion panel hardware option, not all options are specific to selected SB model. You MUST know how to configure SB. Do not expect GUI defaults are valid!
- Because IO/memory mapping is more flexible in PCem, bridgeboard IO mapping is now fully dynamic which may fix some previously weirdly working PCPrefs bridgeboard configurations.
- Do not skip directly to SB and assume everything else still works! Make sure previously installed disks/HDs still work. PC Speaker must be tested first! It must be done step by step!

EDIT:

- Do not click Restart or load new config on the fly! Always quit and restart whole emulator!
- TODO: A2386SX shadow/ems mapping register support should be relatively easy to implement with PCem RAM mapping system.

EDIT2:

- A2386SX shadow/ems mapping implemented (mostly)
- SB16 MPU-401 interface added from PCem (maps to IO Ports panel selected MIDI out port)

EDIT3:

- RTC date sync
- CPU panel speed adjustment works now (except Max which probably can't work with PCem, it would break CPU/timer sync)

EDIT4:

- PC Speaker and Sound Blaster working.
- PC Serial mouse emulated, currently hardwired to selected Amiga mouse.

When using VGA board, remember to configure it to use Monitor 2 (RTG panel). No need for annoying END+F9 swapping.

WARNING: This is not PC/DOS/SB (configuration) help thread! You must know how to configure IO ports, IRQ etc!

http://www.winuae.net/files/b/winuae.7z

Wow thanks Toni! Will test thoroughly and methodically and get back to you with results. BTW today is my birthday, can't think of a better bday present than to try out this stuff :)

Well on first inspection there seems to be a problem with the config file generation, because when I tried to use the WinUAE GUI to generate a brand new config with bridgeboard from scratch, I got the "Couldn't Find Library" error when trying to open a PC Window. When I used a config file generated by the latest stable version of WinUAE, the BridgeBoard behaved as expected. But when I changed that config to enable PC Speaker support, saved the config, and then booted the emulator, I again got the "Couldn't Find Library" error. Seems that the GUI is doing something to the config file that makes the BridgeBoard unrecognized? If you want I can try to create a working config with stable and a broken config file with beta and then diff them

Ohh my god this will be fun to test =)

Thank you Toni!

Ok never mind my last post about the config file. I was making a dumb mistake that caused the library error. However, I am running into issues with the BridgeBoard not coming up when then PC Speaker is enabled. I need to do more testing to describe exactly what's going on. Will be back in a bit...

More details? Freezes completely? Amiga side binddrivers call never returns but mouse still moves? VGA screen opened?

Probably sound emulation related, try switching off sound automatic switch (if enabled).

(Still implementing A2386SX memory mapping stuff. himem.sys and EMS386 probably should work when done)

Toni link does not work: http://www.winuae.net/files/b/winuae.7z

It seems like www.winuae.net is not reachable right now.

So, you'll have to wait either until it is fixed or until someone uploads the archive to the zone.

Site works again. A2386SX shadowing/ems should at least in theory work now (another not really tested because I don't want to touch dos too much..)

EDIT: At least dos 6.22 himem.sys does not hang anymore.

Very nice, Toni. :)
Sound Blaster support?!
As soon as I'm back from vacation I will test it.

Okay simplest test case comparison. Two configs, only difference is working has PC speaker disabled, broken has PC speaker enabled.


Working case, I boot with BB Install floppy v2.0 (Known Verified Dump [!] downloaded from Internet Archive TOSEC) and it boots, I open PC Mono, PC window opens as expected.


Broken case, I boot same floppy, long pause right after x86 in status bar switches from STOP to RUN (this is exactly when BindDrivers is trying to load janus.library because date displays immediately after long pause, and setclock is first command following BindDrivers in startup-sequence), after long pause continues to boot to WB screen. Then when I open PC Mono, I get Cannot Find Library error.

By "sound automatic switch" you mean "Automatic Switching" in sound config panel? Switching that off doesn't affect outcome of this test.

Quick workaround: add Z2 Fast RAM (or any autoconfig board that is before Bridgeboard). Sound reset forgets that stream has been allocated and if there is no other boards, bridgeboard initializes before sound.

Correct fix comes later..

Okay adding a Z2 autoconfig board before BridgeBoard fixes janus library init problem. I added Z2 fast RAM and also used custom ordering to move the A2091 SCSI controller above the A2088 in my test environment that includes HD. PC window opens and DOS boots. However, I still get no sound output from the speaker. Simplest test, just type "echo ^G" at DOS prompt, or start GWBASIC and print "^G". I hear no beeps.

Should be fixed now. (Only AT systems had working speaker).

Did you post a new binary? The link above still gives me the public beta from yesterday, nothing has changed.

I haven't even tried testing AT BridgeBoards yet. I'll do some testing with the AT boards and let you know what I find.

You got cached copy. It happens regularly. Use another browser etc.. I have no control of this.

The XT systems had a jumper (usually designated J2) for attaching a speaker. The A2386SX was the only BB model that had an actual speaker mounted on the PCB.

With the new beta, I still get lockup and failure to load janus.library on boot without another Z2 before BB. With extra Z2, I can boot the BB startup disk, open PC Mono window, boot DOS 3.3 floppy and get a DOS prompt. When I type "echo ^G" I do get a beep, but I also get a little click sound with every keystroke. Also, it makes a strange bleeping noise on bootup. Not sure if that was normal behavior with real BB.

When I try to boot up with same config, but with A2286 instead, it just crash dumps shortly after booting the BB Install floppy. Crash happens with speaker enabled or not. I've attached 2 config files and the crash dump file.

What test environment/config did you use for testing PC speaker Toni? I figured using A2088/A2286 with just BB Install floppy and a DOS boot floppy and testing the bell would be the absolute simplest test case scenario.