Kickstart ROM Replacement (Phase I) Bounty Assigned

[Gulliver]

kickstart rom has an advantage that the system critical files cannot be easily deleted or modified by malicious software or simple oversight.
i am totally happy with the huge flash the deneb provides that can be used for this. the only complaint was that i would prefer to have all single modules loose in a plain directory instead still have to include a bootable kickstart image along. updating would be simple then.

I agree that the Deneb is an elegant solution for having a rewritable kickstart rom. But then it is only available for Zorro Amigas! And it is not a cheap or simple solution (technically speaking) and what about the other non Zorro Amigas?

[Darrin]

kickstart rom has an advantage that the system critical files cannot be easily deleted or modified by malicious software or simple oversight.
i am totally happy with the huge flash the deneb provides that can be used for this. the only complaint was that i would prefer to have all single modules loose in a plain directory instead still have to include a bootable kickstart image along. updating would be simple then.

Just out of interest, is there a site that hosts various modules that can be loaded into the Deneb?

Personally, I don't make much use of it ("No IDE" is about it), but I probably should.

[kolla]

It would be nice if one of those DIY programmable kickstart replacement boards could be turned into products one could buy

[wawrzon]

@darrin: no, i suppose there is no official sites you can download kickstart modules from for copyright reasons. also not every module fits every machine. so the best thing is get romsplit and remus utilities along with the patches they provide, disassemble your kickstart, patch modules and assemble again. if something went wrong, you can always start clear of your chnges mit denebs romoff option.

@kola: there were several projects like that, cosmos seems to be doing somthing alike and also on a1k there was an already tested project that never went into distribution. just as thor(r) says on natami.net the most difficult is not to design something but to produce and sell.

anyways individual computers have had a flash module product that fits into zorro slot, but dunno if this is bootable. elbox have had another similar, but i have never got it to boot. and finally i dont understand why not to get deneb instead, while you get both: a flexible flash and an usb controller all in one. the price couldnt be better. a1k diy solution had a target price of over 50 eut afair.

edit: typos, as always

[Darrin]

@darrin: no, i suppose there is no official sites you can download kickstart modules from for copyright reasons. also not every module fits every machine. so the best thing is get romsplit and remus utilities along with the patches they provide, disassemble your kickstart, patch modules and assemble again. if something went wrong, you can always start clear of your chnges mit denebs romoff option.

Cheers.  I'll add it to my huge "to do list".  

It is a handy feature of the Deneb though, to be able to experiment and then shut it off if you make a dog's dinner of it.

[wawrzon]

it is not too difficult (if i managed) and obviously an underrated feature. dont forget to include powerwindows module into your custom kick.

[wawrzon]

i think deneb is a cheap *and quality* solution in comparison to anything that you could buy from some freak that solders it at home. none would ever bend his finger for less than 50 bucks. and this is just reasonable. also am i wrong that the clockport usb controllers from eab also have some flash? surely it would be enough for non zorro amigas.

[deadwood]

Jason added another batch of codes to the AROS repository today. It is now possible for everyone to build AROS rom image for UAE - aros-amiga-m68k.rom. It does not do much yet, but progress is visibly made

If you are interested in supporting his work, you can donate using this link:
http://www.power2people.org/projects/profile/5

[deadwood]

Progress update from Jason:

General:

  * Added M68K exception handling
  * Added Paula interrupt handling
  * Debugged (mostly) task switching (Whew! That was *annoying*!)

Todo:

  * Debug the Scheduler until it is working correctly
    (currently the Frankenrom input.device is stealing all the cycles)
  * Get Frankenrom to ask for a Workbench disk.

Current status by build type:

  --target=amiga-m68k-eabi
       - Untested for the last week. Probably broken

  --target=amiga-m68k
       - ALERT from input.device's task due to no keyboard device

  amiga-m68k/Frankenrom
       - input.device is stealing all the CPU cycles

[Gulliver]

@deadwood
Great!
Thank you for the updates, keep them coming.

[Gulliver]

Update:
______________________________________________________________________

I have successfully loaded my first disk block using Frankenrom with KS 3.0!
 
With Toni's help, I realized that I needed to enable DMA (DUH!) early
on after IRQs have been enabled, and KS 3.0 + AROS Exec will now get
to the point where it *sucessfully* loads the first disk block.
 
However, the screen is still black.
______________________________________________________________________

BTW when he mentions Toni, he is speaking of Toni Wilen, the author of WinUAE, who is now cooperating with Jason on this bounty.

[deadwood]

Yup, Jason is progressing quite nicelly and with Toni's help we already got some low level drivers for Amiga.

Please remember that biunty is still open for donations!

http://www.power2people.org/projects/profile/5

[warpdesign]

Yup, Jason is progressing quite nicelly and with Toni's help we already got some low level drivers for Amiga.

Please remember that biunty is still open for donations!

http://www.power2people.org/projects/profile/5

Done

[wawrzon]

will do as soon as home again.
thanks for good news.

[Gulliver]

More updates from Jason:

Toni has had me put in the following M68K drivers while he waits for SVN access:

* keyboard HIDD
* mouse HIDD
* trackdisk.device
* cia/cib resource
* drive.library (supports trackdisk.device)
* potgo.resource

Also, I've un-unmaintained the M68K ASM utility.library functions.

I'll start bringing in stuff from the M68K 'unmaintained' exec and layers
libraries tonight.

[Terminills]

from Jason...


First trackdisk-loader ADF that was able to run on AROS M68K is:

EXILE!

http://www.evillabs.net/wiki/index.php/AROS_m68k-amiga#Nov_16.2C_2010:_AROS_.28no_KS.29_ROM

Screenshot and AROS ROM image available. As always, A1200 'stock' configuration.

NOTE: This will *NOT* load any 'standard' DOS loading ADFs, only ones which have
custom non-DOS bootloaders.

But its a start.