Torode disk controller for the S-100

[dwight elvey]

> From: cclist at sydex.com
>
> On 3 Dec 2007 at 16:18, Dwight Elvey wrote:
>
>> Second thing is that these Digital Systems controllers
>> were designed by Torode. These were the first S-100 floppy
>> system that Kildall release a packaged CP/M for.
>> I knew these were early controllers but didn't realize
>> the history of them.
>
> Why is it that I never saw a mention of a CBIOS for these things with
> the DRI material? The only disk controller that DRI ever published
> any code for back then (CP/M 1.3 or so?) was for the Intel MDS.

Hi Chuck
 To my knowledge, you are correct that the only listing created for
implementing a CBIOS was for the MDS 800. It used ROM BIOS
calls as I recall. I think this was because Kildall did most of his
work on the Intel boxes as that is where he had PLM.
 At least that is what I recall.

>
> Isn't it true that almost all vendors wrote their own CBIOS?

 This is also true, most.

 For the information I got, one reference on the web is:

http://www.retrotechnology.com/dri/d_dri_history.html#post

under the section:

Early CP/M, PL/M and DRI history

 I question that he stayed with an upgraded Intelec-8. At least
the listings that I've see would have had to have been a MDS-800
at least. This is not a simple upgrade. The 800 is a multibus
and the -8 isn't. I don't think the I/O calls had been standardized
before the 800. Also, the listing specifically state MDS-800.
 There were 8080 boards for the -8. I know this because I
have one in my piles someplace ( the board, not the -8 ).
 Other references specifically state that he and Torode worked
together on releasing the first version for the S-100. It also
states that this was the more universal version that had the
separate CBIOS, intended for easier implementation on other
systems/controllers.
Dwight

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