drysdale@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Drysdale) (02/20/91)
In article <1095@qusunb.queensu.CA> rosenblo@qucis.queensu.CA (Arnold Rosenbloom) writes: >I have an A500 and an old IBM clone with a 20MB harddrive. >I was wondering if anyone out there has looked into using >the harddrive on a IBM through one of the ports. What I had >in mind is a program running on the IBM which would service >requests from the amiga...would this be difficult...impossible... >or has it been done? >Thanks in advance >Arnold strange but true - a long long time ago i wrote such a set of programs - a device driver for the amiga and a server for the pc. of course, the pc was useless (aren't they always? :) when the server was running, but it did work. it was slightly faster than floppy disks, but beats the hell out of swapping floppies for the rest of your life. look around for "amtopcpp.zoo" - i know it's on lots of bbses, but not sure where to find it anymore. (i've got a copy of course! somewhere...) --Scotty -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Scott Drysdale Software Engineer Commodore Amiga Inc. UUCP {allegra|burdvax|rutgers|ihnp4}!cbmvax!drysdale PHONE - yes. "Have you hugged your hog today?" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
graham@dolmen.UUCP (James Graham) (02/23/91)
> In article <1095@qusunb.queensu.CA> rosenblo@qucis.queensu.CA (Arnold Rosenbloom) writes: > >I have an A500 and an old IBM clone with a 20MB harddrive. > >I was wondering if anyone out there has looked into using > >the harddrive on a IBM through one of the ports. What I had > >in mind is a program running on the IBM which would service > >requests from the amiga...would this be difficult...impossible... > >or has it been done? Yes. It has been done, several times. Check out some of the ads in AmigaWorld. There are 3 or 4 companies that sell interfaces for connecting ST506 type drives (the old ibm throwaway drives) to the amiga. I'm presently using an interface from Pre'Spect Technics, a company in Canada. I have two Seagate ST238 RLL drives connected to my A500 and have never had any problems. What is interesting is that these drives are much faster. For one thing, the Amiga does not DMA as the PC does, hence the interleave can be set much lower, which can really speed things up. This particular interface supports a very LARGE list of ST506 drives, and of course, allows one to adjust the parameters for those not on the list. It is also relatively inexpensive. There are also a couple of American companies that make interfaces as well and all are fairly competitive in price. Hope this helps. -Jim -- Jim Graham dolmen!graham@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu The Portal Dolmen BBS/ParaNet ALPHA-GAMMA (sm) (9:1012/13), (812)334-0418
m0154@tnc.UUCP (GUY GARNETT) (02/27/91)
As far as I have been able to determine, there are three companies which make ST-506 type hard drive interfaces for the A500, A1000, and A2000 computers. They are Palomax, Spirit, and Pre'spect. Palomax MAX-125 $175 Supports almost any ST-506 (IBM PC-Type) hard drive, using IBM PC or AT compatible hard-drive controllers (they list WD 1002/1004/1006/1007, OMTI 8127/5527, and DTC 5150 as compatible) and supply AmaxII compatible drivers. The interface is an uncased circuit board with sockets for up to 4 IBM style drive controllers. The project will require some hardware work (procuring cases and installing everything) it is not a plug and go solution. Spirit HDA-506 $399 Supports MFM or RLL hard drives; includes an interface and a hard drive box (all with cases and power supplies). An optional autoboot prom is available for v1.3 systems. Reviewed in this month (March) Amazing Computing. Install the harddrive in the box, plug it together, and run the setup software. Pre'spec Technics (price varies) They seem to sell everything from the Palomax style interface to plug-and-go systems with hard drives already installed. Palomax 215-672-6815 Spirit 800-433-7572 Prespec 514-954-1483 I'm going to go with a Spirit Tech HDA-506 for my A1000 as soon as I can get the money together. OH! The MAX unit will work with the CSA Midget Racer, but *NOT* with LUCAS/FRANCES; the HDA-506 will work with LUCAS (ask for a special eprom). Wildstar