25 March 2024, 17:47 | #1 |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
PiStorm Elbox A1200TX Fast Ethernet Downloads keep stopping?
As the title says....
If I choose not to use PCMCIA cards, Window Jumper size is set to 8Mb, Radeon gets 8 & say yes to BuffMem obviously. Fast Ethernet connects but downloads pause after a few seconds & do not resume. If I choose to use PCMCIA cards, Window Jumper size is set to 4Mb, Radeon gets 4 & say yes to BuffMem obviously. Then using a Cnet device on a PCMCIA Network card, downloads will complete, albeit a slower D/L speed of course. - I had to install the PCMCIA CardReset & CardPatch fixes as this 1D4 A1200 board needs it for the PCMCIA to function correctly. I did read someone else having pausing downloads & can't find reference to it today. Can anyone shed some light on this for me please? - I've tried several TCP/IP stacks to no avail & am a registered user of Roadshow. Latest version 1.5 doesn't make any difference either. In the background & having been "Elboxed" on several occasions in the past, I have this annoying nag saying they would want a Mediator report text file & then tell me the MACH chips need an upgrade! Last edited by Kin Hell; 26 June 2024 at 14:12. |
31 March 2024, 20:33 | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Winsford, UK
Posts: 32
|
Was this working ok at some point or has it never worked correctly?
did you change anything before it behaving this way? |
31 March 2024, 21:17 | #3 |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Never worked correctly yet...
New build under PiStorm32/CM4/Breakout combo.... TX board from the e/web zone, case from Elbox. Have a FastATA on the motherboard, DVDROM off it is is fine 1D4 recapped mobo Couldn't get PCMCIA Ethernet on line in Elbox Tower. Put PCMCIA Ethernet in Re-Amiga v1.5 & online with no issues using roadshow. I've yet to try this PiAmiKit install so far with the tower but need to back it up before risking corruption. I'm still of the opinion the Mediator is the culprit & have this horrible feeling I'll have to upgrade a couple of the Mach chips to correct it.... Maybe it's the EMU68 thing.... I'll have to strip the Mobo out of the tower case to fit the Mongoose 030.... PiStorm32Lite/CM4 combo flips in & out of the case easily. I can promote screens to the HDMI on another screen from Workbench meaning the Radeon is set up correctly under Picasso96 settings. Ethernet will connect on FastEthernet & give correct Network IP's in display; Roadie launches Roadshow @ startup so the network is ready to go. Roadie will sit there pinging 8.8.8.8 continuously.... Try and download anything & the D/L craps out to yellow in iBrowse 3.0a... Try & update AmiKitPiStorm & it will start, & then craps out after a few seconds. Despite setting Mediator window to 4Mb for trying to enable the use of PCMCIA cards, I couldn't get the Elbox Mediator to connect to the home Network. With the Mediators Window Jumper set to 8Mb for not using the PCMCIA option, FastEthernet connects & then craps out.... No MMU option either under Pi/CM4... Hmmmm |
01 April 2024, 16:26 | #4 |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Okay....
Window size 8Mb Slot 1 & 2 empty Slot 3 = Realtek 8139D Slot 4 = Radeon 9200 128Mb Slot 5 = SB128 Card Slot 6 = Spider USB Card Having gotten AmiKit all updated for the PiStorm install in my Re-Amiga1200 desktop 1.5 using PCMCI Ethernet using the CNET.device, I backed up the MicroSD on the PeeCee & slapped the CM4/Breakout kit back into the Elbox Mediator Tower. I Moved the working CNET config from AK0/Devs/NetInterfaces to AK0/Storage/NetInterfaces & then copied my FastEthernet config back to AK0/Devs/NetInterfaces. Then I opened Roadie & setup the Net Interface for the FastEthernet config & re-booted. I've downloaded a 55Mb file several times from Aminet & seen different things happen.... Completed the same file three times okay with one Network reset to do so. Seen some connections just become stale. Sometimes, disconnecting & reconnecting works other times a reset is necessary. And now just seen one go stale @ 66% completed. Disconnet & reconnect , D/L same file again & it resumes to 100% with a stale yellow marker on it in the download window. - Rebooted & re-downloaded the same 55Mb file to 26%?? Netinterface config is as below. #Configuration file created using Roadie # device=FastEthernet.device unit=0 address=192.168.1.177 netmak=255.255.255.0 requiresinitdelay=no iprequests=48 writerequests=48 Turned off & swapped PCI cards to: Window size 8Mb Slot 1 & 2 empty Slot 3 = Spider USB Card Slot 4 = Radeon 9200 128Mb Slot 5 = SB128 Card Slot 6 = Realtek 8139D Downloaded the same 55Mb twice okay & third time it went stale & stopped downloading @ 40%. *Update* Making sure the Spider USB card is set to Autostart in Poseidon's Trident Interface appears to have stopped the Network disco's from happening all together.... Now I'm trying to get my head round seeing huge differences in CPS umbers for the D/L speeds. As low as 146 CPS & other times as high as 900+ CPS? Also why this NIC will upload at twice the speed to it's download speed. Env-Archive settings have the cards variable @ 1, forcing Full Duplex. The default 0 for Auto negotiation is the same. Oops... writing this & I've spoken too soon. - Disco same file 88% complete.... Meh! Last edited by Kin Hell; 01 April 2024 at 16:47. |
05 April 2024, 16:40 | #5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ireland
Posts: 72
|
I think it’s likely to be related to interrupts. Have you tried with the Spider and sound card removed? (Sorry if you said already and I missed it).
|
05 April 2024, 21:19 | #6 |
Semi-Retired
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Leiden / The Netherlands
Posts: 2,064
|
It is probably that the Z2 mediator window lost focus. If you set it to 8MB on a TX 4MB stays on the gfx card and the other 4MB switches around to bank into PCI space. With a Radeon, there is much more memory to cover. Maybe with a Voodoo it works better.
If you set it to 4MB, 4MB is reserved for PCMCIA and the other 4MB needs to switch around to bank into PCI memory, including gfx memory and dma memory. Maybe MMU=on helps? This is the reason why the PCI PPC cards don't work on A1200 mediators. |
09 April 2024, 14:49 | #7 |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Hi guys & thanks for the support....
I have tried with just the Radeon & Ethernet installed & still no dice. I've also tried with MMU enabled even though there is no MMU available on the PiStorm. The OS complains on boot with MMU set to YES in the Mediator configurator. This 1D4 might have timing issue & I'm not 100% sure about this. So I'm now rebuilding the Elbox Tower with a Re-Amiga 1.5 mobo & the PiStorm to see if that makes any difference. Problem is my back is so broken atm, I can't stand for very long or sit down at all & I can't crack on laid in bed which is my only option for a while yet. I can barley walk. - Getting even 0l0r now ffs... Just to add, the PiStorm/CM4 Combo is bang on in every manner in an A1200 case with a hardwired PCMCIA 10/100 D-Link adapter on both the 1D4 & the Re-Amiga 1.5 boards. I do run the two PCMCIA fixes on the 1D4 for the Ethernet to work on removal etc & did try this on the Elbox PCI set up. I actually thought this fixed it for a while & then it retorted to stopping the downloads again after several successful downloads?? Having had an A4KT/Mediator combo many years ago that downloaded flawlessy with a DCE PPC/060 card, I feel it has something to do with the lack of MMU & possibly the DMA kludge from Elbox to try & make things work as they should that are causing the issue here. I'm not ready to throw the towel in just yet or want to sound corny or Doomy in any manner, but.... Only Amiga makes it possible! |
09 April 2024, 19:55 | #8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: California
Posts: 367
|
You know, the PSU that my Elbox Tower shipped with was inadequate. I was trying to figure out why occasionally I'd boot and have no Fast RAM and why sometimes my laser mouse would simply stop working. Swapping out for a better PSU fixed all my issues. Totally off in a different direction here but figured I'd mention it as an option.
|
10 April 2024, 12:35 | #9 | |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Quote:
I hear ya & thanks! |
|
10 April 2024, 13:36 | #10 |
Semi-Retired
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Leiden / The Netherlands
Posts: 2,064
|
|
10 April 2024, 16:12 | #11 |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Got some drugs from the Doc yesterday. Far from right but at least I can get about a bit more today!
Okay, update.... Pi-Storm32 Lite/CM4 @ 2.5Ghz, Re-Amiga A1200 V1.5, Elbox Tower with Mediator 1200TX, Radeon 9200 PCI slot 3, Realtek 8139 10/100 Fast Ethernet pci slot 6. Full Roadshow V1.15, Full iBrowse 3.0a installed & first 24Mb file from AmiNet Downloads without fault. The CPS was around 500 which I think is a bit slow for 10/100. Second 35Mb attempt bombed out at 6% but for adding the following to the MediatorFast config file; iprequests=356 writerequests=256 ....the CPS went as high as 850 & bombed out at 56% complete I then changed their default values from 32 to: iprequests=356 writerequests=256 Second 35Mb attempt bombed out at 52% but for adding CPS was only went as high as 630 Changed to; iprequests=512 writerequests=512 Third attempt bombed @ 29% with as high as 730 CPS Hard reset & Changed to; iprequests=1024 writerequests=1024 Forth attempt bombed @ 1%, didn't see CPS & can't ping anything anywhere. Brb.... Last edited by Kin Hell; 10 April 2024 at 16:20. |
16 April 2024, 20:12 | #12 |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Okay.....
So the PSU passed it's test with a plug in PSU Checker.... Rebuilt again.... 1D4 Mobo, Mediator TX, FastATA Mkv, 3.2.2.1 Install with BestWB addon. Elbox A1200TX installed & Working with DKB1240 (50Mhz 030/FPU/MMU) & MMU enabled with Mediator. This makes the Radeon Card's Memory align with Fastram now @ 209Mb from 128Mb. So, it would appear the lack of a working MMU & the Elbox DMA kludge do not let the PiStorm32 Lite talk to the Mediator. I had missing Icons on the Desktop when trying to use the CM4 with the Elbox Radeon card. Icons were there one minute, go into a folder & shut it down & all the other Icons disappeared?? And now when downloading files, they are no longer disconnecting. USB Spider working fine Slot one. Ethernet Slot three. Radeon 9200 128Mb Slot six.... I am so glad the TX doesn't need a MACH chip upgrade! Last edited by Kin Hell; 16 April 2024 at 21:15. |
17 April 2024, 01:07 | #13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: California
Posts: 367
|
|
17 April 2024, 02:09 | #14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 187
|
Have you tried any other Emu68 versions?
People report different results with Mediator and Pistorm combos depending on Emu68 builds. |
27 April 2024, 14:52 | #15 | |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Alrighty..... I think I now know where everything is going wrong for the PiStorm/Mediator configuration during set up & have not found a work around yet.
With a 50Mhz 030/8882 in place, the Mediator requires the Mediators "CONFIG" jumper closing. During set up of the MedConfig program, setting the MMU active allows the Mediator to correctly configure the Radeon card. Variabile Setting "RadeonMem" recommends 32 and shows 0 - 32Mb. With the PiStorm in place, the Mediators "CONFIG" jumper has to be removed or the MedConfig says there is no Mediator in the System. During set up of the MedConfig program, setting the MMU inactive or active does NOT allow the Mediator to correctly configure the Radeon card's memory. Variabile Setting "RadeonMem" recommends 32, as does the 030 Card with MMU set on, yet only 0 - 8Mb is the maximum allowed? I've even tried allocating 124Mb to the Radeon card & saying no to adding memory to the Amiga's FastRam. Still get the same result with corrupted desktop when switching to the Radeon from RGB. IE, all the Icons show okay but after opening one icon like Workbench, whatever the opened window covers wipes the secreen information away from the icons behind it. Then after closing the window, opening it again leaves all the Icons blank/void of pixel information & leaves them looking like blank tiles. As the Mediator requires a working Gfx card for the rest of it to work, this is like peeing in the wind.... Earlier version of EMU68? - I don't have the courage just yet.... I also discovered that with an Elbox FastATA v5 installed, if OS3.2 installs DEVS/A1200/scsi.device it will completely trash all stability for the scsi.device being patched. Quote:
I just re-named my A1200/scsi.device to ORIGINAL_scsi.device and the last install of OS3.2.2.2.1 did NOT ask for the A1200 Modules disk during the original install of 3.2. - That's a first?? Does anyone have a PiStorm working with a Mediator & if so, which version of EMU68 are you using please? *Edit* Having a conversation with myself here, but haven't seen a white van outside yet.... I've copied an earlier version of EMU68 to the Fat32 partition & it appears fixed? - Desktop Icons are now not corrupting.... Emu68-pistorm32lite-20230510-bdffce.zip appears to work okay. It's the earliest version of EMU68 I ever downloaded. Not tried other versions yet. I manually changed the RadeonMem config file in Env/Mediator to 64 from 8 & still say no to RadeonMemOS. Last edited by Kin Hell; 27 April 2024 at 18:21. |
|
28 April 2024, 15:50 | #16 |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Thanks for the pointer HardStep.
If I use any EMU68 version after Emu68-pistorm32lite-20230510-bdffce.zip, I get corrupted Icons on the desktop once I have a Radeon Screen set as a test or finally saved. This will eventually lock up if no three finger salute is presented immediately. Aside from the file size & date-stamps being different, there are two Folders named "include" & "lib" & means nothing to me. RadeonMem still only offers 0 - 8Mb during the MedConfig set up & I still edit & set the Env:Mediator/RadeonMem file to 64. - Whilst I can only have 0 to 8 during setup, running MedConfig a second time to set up fast Ethernet & Spider USB, it does show the current setting of 64 as edited in the Prefs:Envarc/Mediator/RadeonMem file. So, dodging the FastATA issue & the corrupted desktop icons by using Emu68-pistorm32lite-20230510-bdffce.zip, it works all be the PiStorm on 12 month old EMU68 files. PM sent to mschulz. Last edited by Kin Hell; 28 April 2024 at 16:33. |
01 May 2024, 13:04 | #17 |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Now back to disconnecting whilst downloading....
Not impressed! |
01 May 2024, 14:05 | #18 |
Thalion Webshrine
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oxford
Posts: 14,581
|
PiStorm is not a full 680x0 implementation. It does not support multi-mastering of the 680x0 bus. This is why it doesn't work with the CDTV or A570 which have a 680x0 bus mastering DMAC.
I don't know how or even if the 1200 TX Mediator has DMA but if it does, I suspect it can never work with the current PiStorm implementation. Is there a way to switch it to PIO? Native Wifi on PiStorm with Emu68 is almost here... wait a few weeks and it will be all the ethernet you'll ever need Last edited by alexh; 01 May 2024 at 14:11. |
01 May 2024, 14:15 | #19 | |
0ld0r Git
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,725
|
Quote:
|
|
01 May 2024, 14:28 | #20 |
Thalion Webshrine
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oxford
Posts: 14,581
|
The reason that it is an unpredictable amount of time is probably because the 680x0 bus is not in use for different amounts of time depending on what the CPU is doing. You have to remember that the PiStorm + FastRAM + RTG are not connected to the 680x0 bus and so it can run for long periods of time with the 680x0 bus being free for DMA until it gets an interrupt or whatever that required it to access the motherboard and trashes anything going on because it doesn't know anything is going on.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
No LED lights, Mediator Fast Ethernet Card? | rebbi | support.Hardware | 1 | 27 July 2022 21:42 |
Elbox Fast-ATA cards | droopy | support.Hardware | 2 | 01 August 2013 16:42 |
Fast Z2 mode on Elbox Zorro IV Busboard | gdhgdh | support.Hardware | 2 | 12 March 2008 21:38 |
For Sale: Elbox Fast ATA MK-III | lopos2000 | MarketPlace | 2 | 07 December 2006 14:09 |
Elbox Fast ATA 1200 MK-111. | Startrek-amiga | MarketPlace | 0 | 18 March 2006 01:10 |
|
|