Amithlon Setup Guide

[Vipersan]

Originally Posted by SnkBitten

Interesting, I cover installing Poseidon, ArakAttack and the Fat95 Filesystem in my installation guide and how to attach USB devices in Trident once installed (depending on number of USB inputs available). It's right after the AHI installation section.

https://amithlon.snkbitten.com/snkbittenguide.html

Yes indeed SnkBitten
I downloaded and printed out all the PDFs I could find which you created..
Over 100 pages I think..
and put them in a clear cell A4 binder.
I'm 66 and very old school...I do like paper reference..lol
Thankyou...without this I wouldn't have got this far.
appreciated.
Sadly I'm not smart enough to create drivers etc..only follow instructions...but I hope those that can will keep improving Amithlon.
I discovered it by accident watching Dr Chris youtube videos...and wanted one of my own.
cheers

[dr.zeissler]

Originally Posted by SnkBitten

Interesting, I cover installing Poseidon, ArakAttack and the Fat95 Filesystem in my installation guide and how to attach USB devices in Trident once installed (depending on number of USB inputs available). It's right after the AHI installation section.

https://amithlon.snkbitten.com/snkbittenguide.html

thx! I overlooked that.

[Vipersan]

Details of the 2 port pci usb card that I got working with Amithlon..
Silicon Image
sil0673BCL100
just for reference.
rgds

[Vipersan]

still struggling to get www access on my Amithlon build ..even though my 3com pci card is detected by pciinsmod...
I suspect this should be do-able...but not easy for someone like me who isn't familiar with OS 3.9/Amithlon.
IS DHCP a thing with Genesis ?
cerainly no IP 192.168.x.x obtained from my router.
Not giving up though...but for now taking a break from it and I have what might be a less taxing problem.
Obviously the CD/DVD drive in the system is detected as this is how I installed Amithlon.
..and an icon pops up when a data disc is inserted.
So it is confusing me that when I put in an audio cd it shows up as 2 devices.
CDo:uninitialised
and CDo:CDDA
the latter having a symbol attached showing it to be an audio source.
so I clicked on the CD Player icon which opens Amiga OSXL CD player ..and a message box also opens displaying "could not find a CD-Rom drive please use the options DOSDEV or Device and unit to provide the device to which the cd-rom drive is connected to."

I'm sure this will mean something to one of you guys...but might as well be a foreign language to me.
lol
cheers.

[cloverskull]

I don't remember if DHCP is a thing with Genesis, but you have a couple options. First would be find a different TCP/IP stack, and I recommend Roadshow wholeheartedly. It's commercial but pretty inexpensive and it's modern and is also being maintained and updated.

Second option would be to self-assign a static LAN IP. Just hardcode in the values relevant to your LAN and pick an IP you don't expect another device to land on.

Regarding the CD player stuff, honestly, I have no idea there, sorry. I have never actually listened to an audio CD on any Amiga device, come to think of it!

[Vipersan]

Went back to the drawing board having at least got sound and USB working with added pci cards...but was frustrated that I could NOT use the integrated usb nor AC97 sound.
So..had a dig into my motherboard stash and dug out a Jetway 663AS Ultra.
It uses the Via Apollo chipset...and has AC97 (compliant) audio on board as well as integral USB.
Using the hard drive already built...this was attached to IDE Master...and with 512mb ram fitted I booted it up..
ran PCIINSMOD...and both audio and USB are seen...and sure enough I have audio...and USB functioning.
The mobo was already fitted with a Duron CPU..so no need to swap that out...it just works.
So..that is another motherboard to add to the list of compatible hardware.
This motherboard also has a network port so I will be trying to get that working also.
Now to find a suitable case for it.
I shall be keeping the Amithlon OS in the tray caddy in my multi OS PC (SOFB)...but will build a totally seperate Amithlon Computer with the Jetway Mobo.

[cloverskull]

I am planning to build an Amithlon laptop. Wish me luck hehe

[Vipersan]

Interesting Project Cloverskull...hope you document the process..
I for one will be interested.
Much Luck m8

[Vipersan]

Having built a dedicated Amithlon PC and got Audio (still can't use an audio cd though ?) and USB working which I think I can repeat without referring to the guide now...I am still having no success with getting it online.
This could be because the router provided my ISP allows or requires DHCP for anything connected...but cannot find any way to reserve an IP address specifically for Amithlon.
I dont even think this is 10/100 pci card related ..as I have now tried at least 3 different 3com cards..
All were recognised in pciinsmod but following the guide and simply putting in a fixed IP of 192.168.1.XX...never achieves connection even though it tries..
The response is always the same..regardless of hardware used.
I'm at a loss here...and no guides or youtube videos help.
perhaps Tom can shed some light ..assuming he sees this.

[Vipersan]

Progress was made today..
I'm far to used to things being automatic as in windoze.
I missed a simple step in the genesis wizard setup where although the 3 com card is recognised and physically present..amithlon needs this device to be identified (the step I missed out)
I now have an IP address recognised and accepted.
I can now progress.
rgds

[Vipersan]

So..is Amithlon an emulator or not ?
I am now considering getting WHDload installed...but now not so sure.
I can't even play MOD files.
I took a break from Amithlon..had some gardening to do...it is spring afterall.
I decided my first step would be mod files..and figured that since audio is now working with a pci soundblater live...this would be straightforward.
I'll install Hippoplayer...
It doesn't have an installer as such..so unpacked to ram ..
placed the hippo icon in system/utils..
then added all libraries to libs...
It runs..but when I offer the player a mod file..I can see the progression counter increasing,,,but no actual audio produced ?
I also over installed the 2023 updated hippo. but still no audio.
..and yet the included winamp plays mp3s etc.
what am I doing wrong...or do I simply not understand the limitations ?
no point in considering whdload at this point.
Yes I can build amithlon OS now..fairly easily...but documentation for programs/apps is at best poor.
So I ask again..is Amithlon an emulator or not ?
any help appreciated..and remember This is all new to me.

[milanca]

@Vipersan

So..is Amithlon an emulator or not ?

Of course it is an emulator, a fast one. Works quite differently than a regular UAE though.
One thing to note, in my opinion, is that it had much more use (and sense) some 20 years ago when cpus were not powerful enough. Lots of people still like it a lot (including myself) as just an awesome piece of software, but still, nowadays processors are really fast and UAE can do everything amithlon can with ease, even more. If I had some time I'd build one just for nostalgic reasons but it isn't that practical any more. Just my thoughts.

[Vipersan]

Thanx milanca..
I do keep forgetting that Amithlon is as old as it is..and I honestly do like it.
Just because it is new to me doesn't mean it is 'New'.
Just frustated that it is limited I guess...and I'm not smart enough to update anything myself.
Such a pity no one has picked up the batton and run with it.
cheers mate.

[Dunny]

I have an old Amithlon box that's not really seeing any use these days, especially since the A1200 is quite a lot faster than it is thanks to the PiStorm.

[milanca]

@Vipersan

Yes, it is limited in a way. Still, with the right hardware you can make everything work nicely. Besides knowing that uae can easily replace it, amithlon still has some of its own flavour.
Actually people tried to contribute, as much as it is possible, with various tutorials and installation instructions. I also tried to do something with the kernel, 10+ years ago. It is a closed platform so besides the kernel (even it reached the point when nothing new can be added) there is really nothing else that can be brought to it.
Take your time. Amithlon is hardware picky, but with the right configuration you can make everything work.

@Dunny

I do agree, and it can be really interesting and fun with real A1200 and PiStorm. I had bad luck a few years ago. At my old place, where my mom still lives, cleaning up the basement she engaged some people and thinking it is yet another e-waste, she threw away my old A500 and A1200, and another replacement board for A1200 (all fully functional). I think my old C64 survived that cleaning spree by hiding up somewhere. What to do mate, c'est la vie.

[Dunny]

Originally Posted by milanca

@Dunny

I do agree, and it can be really interesting and fun with real A1200 and PiStorm. I had bad luck a few years ago. At my old place, where my mom still lives, cleaning up the basement she engaged some people and thinking it is yet another e-waste, she threw away my old A500 and A1200, and another replacement board for A1200 (all fully functional). I think my old C64 survived that cleaning spree by hiding up somewhere. What to do mate, c'est la vie.

Oh mate that is so sad to hear, wishing you all the best though and damn that is some rough chuckles.

[milanca]

@Dunny

Thanks mate but that'ok, I'm over it.
But speaking of amithlon when I get nostalgic (enough) again I might build one and I have something interesting for that project. If you guys remember when the first mini-itx boards came out VIA was among the first. Back then I had a few, I really liked the concept and even today I am still using mini-itx boards for my developing work. I have one VIA Epia motherboard with gigabit ethernet and 1.(something) Ghz processor. This board is actually brand new one, as I had a few of them. Unfortunately the graphics is unsupported, onboard chipset CLA266 if I am right, CastleRock. I know VIA released the sources and I am pretty sure (99%) I can make it work by backporting 2.6 kernel drivers to 2.4 and combining it. It can be a nice little project, mini board where everything works without the need for additional pci cards (or graphics). I forgot a lot about the kernel but I'll need to dig up my kernel4 sources to remind myself. I mean I forgot some tiny bits but you can't just forget everything, I still know the internals. It will be much more fun building it up with coding the graphics (or something else if needed) at least to a developer like myself. So, that's a plan for the future.
Not sure though if anyone else can benefit from it (if there are those boards still around) besides myself, but I'll share it of course if I make it, I'd love to though.

[Vipersan]

Well I for one would be interested should you go down that epia route..as I also have one..
Up in my loft somewhere ...
Now that would be interesting ..and I had forgotten I even had it.
lol
I've collected so much stuff over the years it's easy to bury and forget stuff.
If I remember correctly it was in a small low profile case ..and was my first attempt at an HTPC.
I'll try and find it tomorrow.

[Vipersan]

Well..it is very dusty on account of having no lid on the case..but does look complete.
Even the hard drive is still present as is the PICO psu and laptop style CD drive.
Hmm..will it still work ?
We shall see.
Is this the same mini ITX as yours Milanca ?

[milanca]

Is this the same mini ITX as yours Milanca ?

Exactly! That's the board. Can't say the exact model as some were with video-out and my board has dual ethernet.
That's a nice little board. Although the onboard graphics is not supported (accelerated) it is very much amithlon friendly and can be used even now with a PCI video card for full graphic acceleration.
My previous comment regarding amithlon usage, it makes more sense using it on 1ghz CPU where Amiga OS would literaly fly rather than using it on 4ghz where UAE can do the job without the hassle amithlon might produce.
My plan was to try bringing acceleration to the onboard graphics and it can be all packed up into a nice little mini-itx case. With PICO power as you said, and there is a really nice, small factor amithlon.