Mediator PCI + MOS Powerup: got RTL 8029 working!

[humppa]

Ok, this is a follow-up to this thread, but I thought this deserves an own thread.

Due to the hackish-nature of the Mediator (8MB window, etc.) and other issues, there hasn't been any Mediator-support in recent Morphos-versions.
Some devices need this window (along with e.g. a Voodoo3) to work (e.g. 100mbit 8039based Eth-cards), while others don't have to rely on the hack (e.g. 10mbit 8029 Eth-cards).

Since there is a chance that the latter will work with Morphos and the 68k-drivers, I just gave it a try:

I installed a Realtek 8029 PCI-card in my Mediator, set the memory window to 0MB (this setting was already used previously to get PCMCIA working) and copied the Elbox pci.library (6.5) and MediatorNET.device over to my MOS Powerup installation.

I was surprised to see that MOSNet successfully went online.   After 30min of Ethernet-access, there were not any hick-ups, speed is ok and device access "feels" less CPU-intense than using the 68k 3c589.device with my PCMCIA-card.

The next thing I will try is setting the memory window to e.g. 4MB or 8MB - hope it still works then! Previously, it was no longer possible to use my Voodoo3 with OS3.9, since I had to set the memory window to 0MB in order to get PCMCIA working in Morphos (4MB didn't work!).

Woohoo!!!


 :-D

[humppa]

The next thing I will try is setting the memory window to e.g. 4MB or 8MB - hope it still works then! Previously, it was no longer possible to use my Voodoo3 with OS3.9, since I had to set the memory window to 0MB in order to get PCMCIA working in Morphos (4MB didn't work!).

Until now, I only got the Mediator/8029-Ethernet working with MorphOS when the memory-window is set to "0 MB". With 4MB or 8MB, MorphOS locks up after some network transfer (although the device goes online and can be accessed!)

Since the RTL8029 is a non-busmastering device, it theoretically shouldn't use the memory-window at all, so I don't know why the jumper setting makes a difference.

Are there any other non-busmastering devices which work with a Mediator 1200 LT4 set to "0 MB"? AFAIK, all sound-cards are busmastering devices and need a Voodoo in order to work.

What about S3 or Virge GFX-cards? Anybody of you using one of those?

Which ENV-settings influence the Busmastering-behaviour of the Mediator?

I have already tried NOCACHE, PATCHINT, EMULATION to no avail...

[Boot_WB]

That's really good news!

I look forward to giving it a try - I probably would not have thought of setting the memory window jumper to 0mb.

btw - you could always run a switch from the jumpers to the front panel that would allow you easy access to switch between the 8/4/0 mb memory window settings.

[humppa]

That's really good news!

Well, at least my Mediator does not feel completely useles now when using Morphos. ;-)
Further, I was really surprised that it worked directly because so far I haven't seen ANY report of ANY device working on Mediator with Morphos.
And I must say that the RTL8029 is very useable and feels faster than both PCMCIA-devices that I tried.

btw - you could always run a switch from the jumpers to the front panel that would allow you easy access to switch between the 8/4/0 mb memory window settings.

Yep, that's a good idea, with OS3.9 I still prefer the Voodoo3 over the BVision (higher performance, better image quality with higher resolutions).
There is no problem in running a fully occupied Mediator with Morphos; even all devices are displayed nicely with pciinfo. You just can't use most of them... except for the 10mbit Ethernet.

Any idea if the S3 Virge or Trio-cards are busmastering devices? Are there any non-busmastering devices except for the RTL8029?

[Amigaz]

Has anyone with an A4000 and Mediator board tried this?
The A4000 mediator boards doesn't have a 0mb memory window jumper setting , think it's only 512/256mb memory jumper settings to choose from.
I just tried with a realtek 8029AS card without changing any jumpers (256mb mem window) but I got the same result with MiamiDX as with my X-surf..."Can't open DEVS:Networks/blabla.device"  :boohoo:

[humppa]

Did you test with a tool such as "Pciinfo" if the RTL8029 on your Mediator is recognized at all?
It's strange that you get the "Can't open" message with both your XSurf and the RTL8029. Where are your device drivers placed? Do you have the correct path? Sorry for asking this... I am just wondering since it should at least be able to access the card.
You might also want to try Snoopium (MOS-Variant of Snoopos) and have a look at the logs.

[Amigaz]

humppa wrote:
Did you test with a tool such as "Pciinfo" if the RTL8029 on your Mediator is recognized at all?
It's strange that you get the "Can't open" message with both your XSurf and the RTL8029. Where are your device drivers placed? Do you have the correct path? Sorry for asking this... I am just wondering since it should at least be able to access the card.
You might also want to try Snoopium (MOS-Variant of Snoopos) and have a look at the logs.

Pciinfo, you mean in MOS?

I've placed the device drivers in Devs:Networks, not in the MorphOS Devs

Snoopium...will try that one, thanks  :-)

This is quite frustrating..it's like my first tries getting online years ago with my PCMCIA network card and my A1200..I felt like I was fumbling in the dark

[Amigaz]

When running PCIINFO from MOS it says it can't open pci.library but it's in libs

In OS3.9 the RT8029 is shown in pciinfo

[humppa]

When running PCIINFO from MOS it says it can't open pci.library but it's in libs

Did you try both Sys:Libs AND MOSSYS:Libs?

I needed to put it also in the Sys:Morphos/Libs/ (Mossys:Libs/), otherwise it failed to open.

Pciinfo and all these 68k work very well in Morphos. Pciinfo shows all cards that are installed on my Mediator (Voodoo3, SB128, RTL8029), unfortunately only the latter works with MOS.

[Amigaz]

humppa wrote:

When running PCIINFO from MOS it says it can't open pci.library but it's in libs

Did you try both Sys:Libs AND MOSSYS:Libs?

I needed to put it also in the Sys:Morphos/Libs/ (Mossys:Libs/), otherwise it failed to open.

Pciinfo and all these 68k work very well in Morphos. Pciinfo shows all cards that are installed on my Mediator (Voodoo3, SB128, RTL8029), unfortunately only the latter works with MOS.

Ok, will put it in MOS libs and try
Just tried the 8029 in OS3.9 and it worked so the card is functional..I'm also thinking of trying the openpci thingie with my RT8039D which I also have in my mediator

[Amigaz]

It still fails, can't open pci.library

wtf!!

[humppa]

I'm also thinking of trying the openpci thingie with my RT8039D which I also have in my mediator

That would indeed be interesting. I am not sure about Mediator-support in OpenPCI, but if you have some time to spare, why not give it a shot? Basically the same like I did with the RTL8029. The chances were low, but there is always the possibility for a nice surprise!

It still fails, can't open pci.library

That's very weird, since I have no problems in opening the pci.library, even when I have the memory window set to 8MB.

I think there are other A4000 owners with Mediator who might be able to reproduce your problem (Crumb?). Btw, are you also using version 6.5 of pci.library?

[Amigaz]

humppa wrote:

I'm also thinking of trying the openpci thingie with my RT8039D which I also have in my mediator

That would indeed be interesting. I am not sure about Mediator-support in OpenPCI, but if you have some time to spare, why not give it a shot? Basically the same like I did with the RTL8029. The chances were low, but there is always the possibility for a nice surprise!

It still fails, can't open pci.library

That's very weird, since I have no problems in opening the pci.library, even when I have the memory window set to 8MB.

I think there are other A4000 owners with Mediator who might be able to reproduce your problem (Crumb?).

I'm going to give it a shot..seems like I have nothing to loose right now  :-)
Have started a thread on MorphZone calling the A4000 Mediator users

Think I'll start a thread here too since MorphZone isn't very active IMHO

[humppa]

Think I'll start a thread here too since MorphZone isn't very active IMHO

Agreed, and that is really a pity since poor Powerup-users like us don't get access to the Morphos mailing list.

[Amigaz]

The only question now is if I need to install the OpenPCI 2.0 stuff because there seem to some OpenPCI stuff already in MOS