[comp.sys.atari.st] Midi Rings

scott@vortex.uoregon.edu (scott settlemier) (03/16/90)

I was thinking recently about how to crunch some big problems that
are very well suited to parallel algorithms and not knowing much about
networks thought this:

	Connect several ataris with midi cables in a ring so that
	the one on the left sends output to the right and gets input
	from the left. You then assign each computer a reference #
	and just preceed any packet with the number.

	To send to one computer send the packet to the right.
	If a computer receives a packet not for it, it just retransmits.

	This would work great for raytracing and I bet it would be
	really cheap compared to more expensive machines plus you could
	play some really neat games.

Also, I need some help to read my atari disks with my source code on my
new 386 machine. They are the same format aren't they? What do I do to
the disks so my 386 can read them? I need to be able to do this with my
386 since I can't get to the atari for quite awhile. Thanks.

gilmore@vms.macc.wisc.edu (Neil Gilmore) (03/18/90)

In article <1990Mar16.045429.21246@cs.uoregon.edu>, scott@vortex.uoregon.edu (scott settlemier) writes...

>I was thinking recently about how to crunch some big problems that
>are very well suited to parallel algorithms and not knowing much about
>networks thought this:
> 
>	Connect several ataris with midi cables in a ring so that
>	the one on the left sends output to the right and gets input
>	from the left. You then assign each computer a reference #
>	and just preceed any packet with the number.

I have quite a bit of this done for the ST, in GFA (haven't had time to 
translate to assembly). It sets up a network of machines using MIDI and 
serial ports (not modems yet, give me a chance). It uses any topology 
which could be decomposed into a ring, although it routes messages 
intelligently. So far it has worked well on a small network of 2STs and 
one Amiga (set-up anyway, GFA for the Amiga doesn't support INP?(), 
which is stupid, since the system calls exist, adn I haven't had time to 
figure out how to do the calls frome GFA). However, (Atari's lack of 
documentation flame deleted), I haven't got it set up to run 
asynchornously with applications. This means that occasional calls to 
do_net are required. Incidentally, if anyone knows how to hook up such 
an asynchronous routine like this, please write. I can't seem to find 
where things like interrupts are (except for the retrace queue, and I 
don't really want to muck with that in this case). If you want my 
network stuff, email.

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