Re: [OpenBIOS] Graphics mode bios

[Arp Kruithof]

From:           	Arp Kruithof 
To:             	"zechmer" 
Subject:        	Re: [OpenBIOS] Graphics mode bios
Send reply to:  	[e-mail]
Date sent:      	Thu, 16 Aug 2001 16:26:05 +0200

Hello Gavin/Bernhard
> Hello Gavin,

I certainly like the project - have been looking / thinking / dreaming 
about an open source BIOS for x86 for some years (not openBIOS) 
and some projects seem to be underway - I just have very little 
time myself at the moment so for now I'll happily read along ...
> I once started writing my own BIOS which started already in
> graphics (hercules monochrome graphics) mode back in the

1980's [pure
> assembler].
> I gave it up, because I couldn't init the keyboard correctly.
> Each time I requested port 60h it didn't leave anything there.
> Later I implemented the keyboard code from linux but this
> didn't help me and the 286 board at all.
> This was so frustrating, that I gave it up.
> Perhaps some suggestions?

Couldn'r resist reacting to the keyboard issue Bernhard mentioned. 
That shoudn't be too hard to do I think. A couple of sources might 
be:
- IBM AT Technical Reference which has a complete BIOS source 
listing - just to pick up on some tech details or ideas (not 
sugesting you copy the code just that reading it may give you a 
hint).

- 8042 datasheets for timing details etc. on original chip used

- Datasheets for popular chipsets that emulate the gate A20 & 
keyboard interface - they may even come with sample code 
supplied

I should have most of that sitting on the bookshelf here so if you 
need to 'borough' the books let me know.

Good luck

Arp
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Graphics mode bios

[Ronald G Minnich]

I think you folks really ought to read the linuxbios archives. I don't
have time to go into all the issues, but you are discussing some things
(e.g. keyboard and graphics) that we worked out over a year ago. With any
luck our experiences can help you.

On the issue of c vs. assembly, I assume if you go assembly you don't mind
building non-portable stuff. Linuxbios ports to alpha and i386 right now
and the code is about 95% common.

ron

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Graphics mode bios

[Edwin Rhodes]

Hi, just read about your own graphics mode bios, cool, will you be releasing
the source code?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Arp Kruithof" 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: [OpenBIOS] Graphics mode bios
> From:           Arp Kruithof 
> To:             "zechmer" 
> Subject:        Re: [OpenBIOS] Graphics mode bios
> Send reply to:  [e-mail]
> Date sent:      Thu, 16 Aug 2001 16:26:05 +0200
>
> Hello Gavin/Bernhard
> > Hello Gavin,
>
> I certainly like the project - have been looking / thinking / dreaming
> about an open source BIOS for x86 for some years (not openBIOS)
> and some projects seem to be underway - I just have very little
> time myself at the moment so for now I'll happily read along ...
> > I once started writing my own BIOS which started already in
> > graphics (hercules monochrome graphics) mode back in the
>
> 1980's [pure
> > assembler].
> > I gave it up, because I couldn't init the keyboard correctly.
> > Each time I requested port 60h it didn't leave anything there.
> > Later I implemented the keyboard code from linux but this
> > didn't help me and the 286 board at all.
> > This was so frustrating, that I gave it up.
> > Perhaps some suggestions?
>
> Couldn'r resist reacting to the keyboard issue Bernhard mentioned.
> That shoudn't be too hard to do I think. A couple of sources might
> be:
> IBM AT Technical Reference which has a complete BIOS source
>
> listing - just to pick up on some tech details or ideas (not
> sugesting you copy the code just that reading it may give you a
> hint).
>
> 8042 datasheets for timing details etc. on original chip used
>
> Datasheets for popular chipsets that emulate the gate A20 &
>
> keyboard interface - they may even come with sample code
> supplied
>
> I should have most of that sitting on the bookshelf here so if you
> need to 'borough' the books let me know.
>
> Good luck
>
> Arp
> ------- End of forwarded message -------
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>
> To unsubscribe: send mail to [e-mail]
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Graphics mode bios

On Sun, 19 Aug 2001, Edwin Rhodes wrote:
> Hi, just read about your own graphics mode bios, cool, will you be releasing
> the source code?

I admit it, I'm a lurker.  Subscribed to this list a long while ago, and
suddenly it seems to have been "restored" (at least for me.)

I'm interested in building some security into the BIOS, vis-a-vis
verifying that subsequently loaded operating systems are
uncorrupted/unmodified before they load and, possibly, while they are
running.  Security begins with the RESET pin and moves outward, and I'd
like to contribute code and thoughts along this line, if they would be
useful to this effort.  I'll trade code for other functions (and
optimizations).

This leads me to a few questions:

1) Is this totally out of band here... if so, thanks, I'll go back to 
lurking... but this is an interesting project.

2) Is there a "semi-firm" specification that I can reference that defines,
semi-exactly, the objectives of this list, so I can stay "in-context."

3) What area is being least covered and would you want an experienced
coder/systems designer/team to look at to provide value to your project?

Wondering If I Can Help,
I have 20 years experience with C and ASM code for the x86 family,
J. Melvin Jones

|>------------------------------------------------------
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|>------------------------------------------------------
||  Microcomputer Systems Consultant  
||  Software Developer
||  Web Site Design, Hosting, and Administration
||  Network and Systems Administration
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Graphics mode bios

[zechmer]

Hi Arp,

thanks for your advice. 
Do you know the ISBN of the 
- IBM AT Technical Reference?
Bye

Bernhard

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Graphics mode bios

[Arp Kruithof]

Hi Bernhard,
> Do you know the ISBN of the
> IBM AT Technical Reference?
>
> Bye

Ehhrr ... don't think IBM did ISBN (at least _then_ they didn't) .... I 
ordered the book in 198? at the local IBM sales rep. at the time 
and paid dearly ($150-$200 range), but the book was fantastic (at 
the time). All electronics scematics, BIOS listing etc. even a 
complete 80286 instruction set reference included - everything I 
always wanted to know about the 'de facto industry standard' at the 
time ... Today you may be able to pick it up for $2,50 if you run into 
it on a computer 'antiques' sale but I think as a reference of the 
granddaddy of all modern PC-compatibles it's probably still 
worthwhile. Hey, who knows maybe you can even download it from 
IBM these days or order a (free?) CD with all their oldish references 
on it or so ... Intel data is available that way, why not Big Blue ??

Some names/numbers:

IBM Personal Computer Hardware Reference Library
Technical Reference        6280070
Personal Computer AT    S229-9611-00
6139362

It's one of the typical IBM cloth-covered-box-with-cloth-covered- 
binder with A5-ish size pages type of 'books'

If you can't find the book or if all you need is the keyboard controler 
explanation and init routines I can probably 'quote' you these for the 
sake of our technical discussion here ... just let me know.

Cheers

[e-mail]
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Graphics mode bios

[Gavin Robert Brewer]

zechmer wrote:
> Hi Arp,
>
> thanks for your advice.
> Do you know the ISBN of the
> IBM AT Technical Reference?

I'd like to know that too, but dont forget to visit the Intel site for
it's IA-32 architectural ref. It's way cool.

BTW. I am quite willing to give credit where credit is due...(I am
saying this *after* near mini-flame war.) Almost certainly I would ask
say Warner Brothers for the rights to build my glTron-type game.

Asking for the rights somehow entails a Quality product. Dont know quite
how it works. Perhaps if you buy the rights the makers offer more
cooperative. Trouble is, that I am short on capital right now, so it
would be best to write the core OS first. (as common sense dictates).

All the best,
    	Gavin.
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