BOOT ROM doesn't work on the ISA card

[Igor Mazanov]

Hello,

I'm talking about a common problem may be, but situation is still obscure for me...

I create boot ROM image (16K) for DE220 ISA card (NE2000-compatible) using
Etherboot 5.3.9 with a common config options. This boot code works loaded from
floppy. It loaded from the PCI NIC's (3C905 or rtl8139) ROM socket too and works
with DE220 card in prospect.

But it doesn't work when I put ROM into DE220's boot ROM socket. rom-scan
utility doesn't detect ROM at all.

A 'Boot ROM 16K' option is active, I set it using DOS setup program.

It looks like my Etherboot BOOT ROM code doesn't work for ISA card... What's wrong?

Regards,
Igor.



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[Ken Yap]

Post by Igor Mazanov
floppy. It loaded from the PCI NIC's (3C905 or rtl8139) ROM socket too and wo
rks
with DE220 card in prospect.
But it doesn't work when I put ROM into DE220's boot ROM socket. rom-scan
utility doesn't detect ROM at all.
A 'Boot ROM 16K' option is active, I set it using DOS setup program.
It looks like my Etherboot BOOT ROM code doesn't work for ISA card... What's wrong?

You didn't put a 32kB or 64kB ROM in a 16kB slot I hope?

Maybe your ROM isn't fast enough (low access time). Many of those NE2000
clones connected the ROM to the bus through a buffer only with no wait
states requested of the CPU so the ROM has to come up with the data
within one read cycle.


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[Igor Mazanov]

Post by Ken Yap

Post by Igor Mazanov
floppy. It loaded from the PCI NIC's (3C905 or rtl8139) ROM socket too and wo
rks
with DE220 card in prospect.
But it doesn't work when I put ROM into DE220's boot ROM socket. rom-scan
utility doesn't detect ROM at all.
A 'Boot ROM 16K' option is active, I set it using DOS setup program.
It looks like my Etherboot BOOT ROM code doesn't work for ISA card... What's wrong?

You didn't put a 32kB or 64kB ROM in a 16kB slot I hope?

I made 16K ROM image and programmed it into 32kB Flash (Atmel AT29C256, DIP28,
70ns).

Post by Ken Yap
Maybe your ROM isn't fast enough (low access time). Many of those NE2000
clones connected the ROM to the bus through a buffer only with no wait
states requested of the CPU so the ROM has to come up with the data
within one read cycle.

This situation repeats for SMC9000 ISA card too (SMC91C94, BOOT ROM enable,
32K). Honestly, I got the troubles with SMC9000 firstly and decided to check it
with NE2000-compatible NIC. The both of this NICs work with BOOT ROM, I check it
with old proprietary BOOT ROM. And, as far back I can remember, I was able to
create Etherboot ROMs for such cards before (using Etherboot).

Regards,
Igor.



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[Ken Yap]

Post by Igor Mazanov

Post by Ken Yap
You didn't put a 32kB or 64kB ROM in a 16kB slot I hope?

I made 16K ROM image and programmed it into 32kB Flash (Atmel AT29C256, DIP28
,
70ns).

Maybe you programmed the wrong half. Or this EEPROM isn't suitable for
this NIC due the logic level that the NIC puts on the enable pin. Try an
EPROM.


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[Igor Mazanov]

Post by Ken Yap

Post by Igor Mazanov

Post by Ken Yap
You didn't put a 32kB or 64kB ROM in a 16kB slot I hope?

I made 16K ROM image and programmed it into 32kB Flash (Atmel AT29C256, DIP28
,
70ns).

Maybe you programmed the wrong half. Or this EEPROM isn't suitable for
this NIC due the logic level that the NIC puts on the enable pin. Try an
EPROM.

I've just check it with NM27C256Q EPROM (32K) programmed with Etherboot ROM code
for a SMC9000 NIC, the result is the same - it work from the PCI NIC's boot rom
socket (RTL8139D, 32K boot rom is activated) but it doesn't work for the ISA card.

Regards,
Igor.



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[Marty Connor]

Post by Igor Mazanov
I've just check it with NM27C256Q EPROM (32K) programmed with
Etherboot ROM code for a SMC9000 NIC, the result is the same - it work
from the PCI NIC's boot rom socket (RTL8139D, 32K boot rom is
activated) but it doesn't work for the ISA card.

Igor,

Could you go to:

http://rom-o-matic.net/5.0.8/

and generate a ROM image using that version? I believe I tested making
ISA ROMs with that version.

Marty
--
Try: http://rom-o-matic.net/ to make Etherboot images instantly.

Name: Marty Connor
US Mail: Entity Cyber, Inc.; P.O. Box 391827;
Cambridge, MA 02139; USA
Voice: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
Email: ***@etherboot.org
Web: http://www.etherboot.org/



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[Igor Mazanov]

Thanks a lot for your help!

I got a solution finally. Etherboot 5.3.9 BOOT ROM code (16K) works if I put it
into a second part of a ROM (32K). It looks like this SMC9000-compatible ISA
card is able to work with 16K memory window only, am I right?

Regards,
Igor.

Post by Marty Connor

Post by Igor Mazanov
I've just check it with NM27C256Q EPROM (32K) programmed with
Etherboot ROM code for a SMC9000 NIC, the result is the same - it work
from the PCI NIC's boot rom socket (RTL8139D, 32K boot rom is
activated) but it doesn't work for the ISA card.

Igor,
http://rom-o-matic.net/5.0.8/
and generate a ROM image using that version? I believe I tested making
ISA ROMs with that version.
Marty

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[Peter L. Peres]

Post by Ken Yap

Post by Igor Mazanov
floppy. It loaded from the PCI NIC's (3C905 or rtl8139) ROM socket too and wo
rks
with DE220 card in prospect.
But it doesn't work when I put ROM into DE220's boot ROM socket. rom-scan
utility doesn't detect ROM at all.
A 'Boot ROM 16K' option is active, I set it using DOS setup program.
It looks like my Etherboot BOOT ROM code doesn't work for ISA card... What's wrong?

You didn't put a 32kB or 64kB ROM in a 16kB slot I hope?
Maybe your ROM isn't fast enough (low access time). Many of those NE2000
clones connected the ROM to the bus through a buffer only with no wait
states requested of the CPU so the ROM has to come up with the data
within one read cycle.

I think we talked about this, the rom needs to be 200nsec or faster to
work. Most roms are.

Peter


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[Ken Yap]

I got a solution finally. Etherboot 5.3.9 BOOT ROM code (16K) works if I put
it
into a second part of a ROM (32K). It looks like this SMC9000-compatible ISA
card is able to work with 16K memory window only, am I right?

You have to follow what the NIC was designed for. It looks like this
card was designed for 16kB ROMs. When you put a 32kB ROM in a 16kB
socket, which might be an undefined configuration, which half gets
addressed depends on the state of the top address pin. If they tied it
to Vcc, then the top half is addressed. Likewise if you put a 64kB ROM
in that slot, it depends on the state of the top 2 address pins. If
they left the pins floating, then it's random what you get. But normally
thwy would tied unused pins to Vcc or ground.


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[Igor Mazanov]

Post by Ken Yap

I got a solution finally. Etherboot 5.3.9 BOOT ROM code (16K) works if I put
it
into a second part of a ROM (32K). It looks like this SMC9000-compatible ISA
card is able to work with 16K memory window only, am I right?

You have to follow what the NIC was designed for. It looks like this
card was designed for 16kB ROMs. When you put a 32kB ROM in a 16kB
socket, which might be an undefined configuration, which half gets
addressed depends on the state of the top address pin. If they tied it
to Vcc, then the top half is addressed. Likewise if you put a 64kB ROM
in that slot, it depends on the state of the top 2 address pins. If
they left the pins floating, then it's random what you get. But normally
thwy would tied unused pins to Vcc or ground.

Thank you for clarification!

Best regards,
Igor.



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Discover which products truly live up to the hype. Start reading now.
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