Let's build a complete Mediator guide

[cmsj]

Hey folks

I'm new to the world of Mediators and I've really noticed that information about Mediators is really fragmented. The official docs are not great, and most forum threads are pretty vague and inconclusive.

So, let's fix it.

https://mediators.github.io

The source for the page is in a project on GitHub (https://github.com/Mediators/UnreliableGuide) if you want to file bugs, propose patches, or join the team.
Since GitHub/git is a hard workflow for classic Amigas, I'm also very happy to take fixes/additions/suggestions on this thread, or via my email.

Let's go!

[Acill]

Hey folks

I'm new to the world of Mediators and I've really noticed that information about Mediators is really fragmented. The official docs are not great, and most forum threads are pretty vague and inconclusive.

So, let's fix it. I've started a project on GitHub (https://github.com/Mediators/UnreliableGuide) to build a guide, and I've put in it almost everything I've learned so far about Mediators.

Since GitHub/git is a hard workflow for classic Amigas, I'm very happy to take fixes/additions/suggestions on this thread, or via my email.

The guide is written in Markdown, but I'm converting each revision to HTML and PDF. Unfortunately amiga.org's attachment rules are too strict for me to attach the files here, so instead here are links to the HTML and PDF versions directly on GitHub (which means you need SSL):

HTML Version
PDF Version

Let's go!

Very nice effort and needed at that. I will add to it when I can.

[Heiroglyph]

I think this is an awesome idea. Thanks for doing it.

The part I need that I don't see here is which versions of the software are needed and what order to install it all in. It's sort of glossed over.

You can't just jump to a full install of the newest software in one shot (as I understand it) so I end up installing an ancient version and installing each update.

That could be why I tend to have problems with my Mediator, I'm not sure, but I would like to see more specifics in that area.

Also, you mention:

The details here are unimportant, leave the jumper open
unless you have a Zorro 3 device which does DMA (e.g. A4091 or a Zorro
3 graphics card).

As far as I'm aware, video cards aren't DMA devices.

Should it be:
The details here are unimportant, leave the jumper open
unless you have a Zorro 3 device which does DMA (e.g. A4091) or a Zorro
3 graphics card.
or maybe
The details here are unimportant, leave the jumper open
unless you have a Zorro 3 device which does DMA (e.g. A4091).

I'm uncertain as to whether it's just DMA devices and mentioning graphics cards is a mistake or if it's DMA devices and also graphics cards, so I can't say for certain which this needs to be.

[cmsj]

The part I need that I don't see here is which versions of the software are needed and what order to install it all in. It's sort of glossed over.

Yes, it would be nice to have more detail here. The issue I have with writing that, is that I'm brand new to Mediators, so I've come in with a 2.0 MMCD and only had to apply the 2.5 MM_CD_UP, and this week's pci.library 11.0.

If someone would like to chime in with some experience of going from older MMCDs to current releases, I will transfer the knowledge into the guide

I think over time it would be nice to be able to build up a complete from-scratch install guide, since Elbox's installer is pretty messy.

As far as I'm aware, video cards aren't DMA devices.

Should it be:
The details here are unimportant, leave the jumper open
unless you have a Zorro 3 device which does DMA (e.g. A4091) or a Zorro
3 graphics card.

Good catch, thanks. It should be that first option and I have fixed the guide

[Heiroglyph]

Glad that I could help a tiny bit.

Maybe you could start by writing how your's was installed in detail for people with the MM2.0 CD.

A list of steps and questions asked during the install, the version of the update(s) and links to find them, link to the pci.library and where to put it, etc.

So is it true that you can skip from the 2.0 CD directly to the newest update?

I thought that if you didn't install them each in order, you actually missed some files.

I could have sworn that even before the new pci.library, it needed at least 2 update installers to get everything.

[Gavilan]

Hi! What about this?

http://web.archive.org/web/20030622195746/http://www.amiga-mediator.co.uk/graphics/graphics.shtml

I remember back in the day it wsa THE Mediator related site.

Maybe you can grab some useful info there?

Regards,

Sebastian

[nyteschayde]

It would be a good idea to accumulate drivers for the mediator here. Despite owning two mediator boards, the drivers and their updates are the biggest PITA when dealing with Elbox.

[cmsj]

So is it true that you can skip from the 2.0 CD directly to the newest update?

I thought that if you didn't install them each in order, you actually missed some files.

I could have sworn that even before the new pci.library, it needed at least 2 update installers to get everything.

I tore apart a couple of the recent update installers and it looks to me like they include all of the previously updated drivers too, so I think you can just go straight for the latest update.

[Acill]

I tore apart a couple of the recent update installers and it looks to me like they include all of the previously updated drivers too, so I think you can just go straight for the latest update.

I went straight to the latest mediator install and then the latest multimedia installer with no problem after a clean install on my A4000T. I've also done it for a friends machine. The MM-up! disk that comes with them is out of date from the start and no point in using it.

[cmsj]

It would be a good idea to accumulate drivers for the mediator here. Despite owning two mediator boards, the drivers and their updates are the biggest PITA when dealing with Elbox.

I've just pushed an update to the guide which lists which versions of the drivers are in which of the updates. As I mentioned a couple of posts up, you definitely don't need to install any intermediate versions, just the latest MMCD (2.0) and then the latest MM_CD_UP (2.5 at the time of writing)... (plus any individual files that have been updated, like the pci.library v11 that was released last month).

Please let me know if you have any MMCD or MM_CD_UP versions that aren't listed in the guide (and send me a copy so I can add them!)

I went straight to the latest mediator install and then the latest multimedia installer with no problem after a clean install on my A4000T. I've also done it for a friends machine. The MM-up! disk that comes with them is out of date from the start and no point in using it.

Yeah I was a bit disappointed that the CD didn't have any obvious version number on it, and was out of date, but installing MMCD 2.0 and then MM_CD_UP 2.5 has worked fine for me, and isn't too much work

I also think their install is a giant mess of ugliness, especially the AHI stuff, it seems to end up shoving a smear of different versions onto your hard disk.

[spudje]

Nice, it would be great too, if you can squeeze in, when in the whole process of installing an Amiga with a Mediator, adding a workbench enhancement like ClassicWB would fit in.

[cmsj]

Nice, it would be great too, if you can squeeze in, when in the whole process of installing an Amiga with a Mediator, adding a workbench enhancement like ClassicWB would fit in.

Interesting idea. I don't really use any of the workbench enhancers, so I'm not sure I can add anything useful there, but if they don't touch things like AHI/P96, they can probably be installed any time.

[spudje]

I will try later this or next month. If it isn't part of the guide by then, maybe I can add it.

[cmsj]

I will try later this or next month. If it isn't part of the guide by then, maybe I can add it.

Happy to have any additions that can help Mediator users

[cmsj]

Updated the guide with the start of a Troubleshooting section. Please, please, if you have ever had to fix a weird issue with your Mediator, please describe it to me so I can try and get more into the troubleshooting section