Hi everybody,

I don't usually come here as I don't have a MorphOS machine (more on that later :) ).

However, I was wondering....

People who use AmigaOS 4 or AROS may be aware that I've been writing drivers for these systems to support the Catweasel Mk3 and particularly the Mk4(+). As I understand it, though, there's no support in MorphOS?

My question is this: is there a way that I can port the driver to MorphOS, with the simple proviso that I don't spend any money? I'd like to see it supported under all 3 Amigoid systems, but I'm completely and utterly skint. Is there a way to get sponsors or a development machine? I have a Mac Mini (1.25GHz PPC) but that's no good for Catweasel support (no PCI!), and I can't afford the MorphOS license anyway!

Of course, it's all open source, so if someone else wants to port it I'm happy to collaborate.

Current features:

Various formats supported (all read and write):
* Amiga DD/HD disks
* PC DD/HD disks
* C64 1541 disks
* Macintosh DD (400K (untested) and 800K), HD (just not got round to it yet - trivial job as they're similar to MS-DOS HD)
* Atari 400/800/XL/XE 90K FM (1050 disk drive)
* Western Digital WD1770 (BBC 'B', TI-99/4A et al) 3.5"/5.25"
* NEC uPD765A (3.0" Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Sinclair Spectrum +3 - can add more platforms using this chip easily)
* Probably Atari ST (not tested... yet - but it's the same as MS-DOS I believe)
* soon anything else I can get my grubby mitts on.

Catweasel Prefs program to set the type of drive attached, and which SIDs are enabled. You can connect 40 track 3.0"/5.25" drives (the latter untested for now), 80 track 300rpm DD 3.0"/3.5"/5.25" (the latter needs a few tweaks when I get round to it, but I don't have one..), 80 track HD 300rpm 3.5", or 360rpm 5.25" drives.

Mono and Stereo SID support - currently Vice 2.2 supports it with a special compile, I'm trying to get the changes merged with the main build.

GUI-based disk imager - uses MUI so will be dead easy to port.

I've also added Catweasel joystick, mouse and keyboard support to JanusUAE under AROS. The device comes in two files: catweasel.device and catweaselsid.device (the catweaselsid.device uses the same read/write system as Windows, so it's easy to port).

Does anyone have an interest in this?

Thanks,

Quote:

I can test any drivers that spirantho writes on the Peg2 with my 1.25GHz G4 PowerMac and both the Catweasel Mk3 & Mk4 cards. I am also getting the source code to compile myself and do some testing on my G4 PowerMac tomorrow. I hope there is not too much work needed to be done to change the AmigaOS4.x drivers to work with MorphOS2.6, but we won't know until we try.

Even with the zipfront in your quiksilver I don't think it's going to fit well. I also have a zip in mine and having a closer look. I think the button of the diskdrive will not match up with that faceplate. You do have a lot of space above the optical drive, maybe it's better to hack to complete drive inthere. You only have to make rectangular hole in the front then and you can keep the zip.

On the other hand we had a Belgian AMigaclub meeting yesterday... I think having 4 or 5 powermacs that are virtually all the same was kind of depressing. I think I am just going to hack that powermac hardware into some nice PC case with lots of space.

Quote:

Well, sure, if I write/adapt a driver for a specific hardware, I would like to keep the related hardware at least. This was the case for most of my past projects and it should be the same for this one if possible. A driver is usually never complete, to have continued access to the hardware wouldnt be that bad ....
Anyway, if anyone else is able to do the driver, I wouldnt have a problem with it, either ....

Quote:

That is what I thought, and my offer to donate part of the money needed to purchase you a Catweasel Mk4 card still stands. It appears that spirantho has agreed to work on MorphOS2.x drivers for the Catweasel cards now that he has a Peg2, but if you wish to work in collaboration with him on those drivers, maybe a few other MorphOS users will agree to join me in providing the money needed to purchase you a Catweasel Mk4 card.

I'll try and take a look on Monday, and get a copy of the source to AmigaDave, and anyone else who wants it! It should work on a PowerMac just fine, don't worry - the OS is the same, and the PCI bus is effectively the same.

I (and Dave!) will keep you all informed. :)

That would be very cool. I would be nice to have a floppy controller for the Powermac and access to Amiga disks could prove useful. Does anyone have experience with which brand/make of drives would work best for this application?

Teac and Sony are the better ones - avoid Mitsumi, though, even though their drives are good I've heard of people having trouble with a Catweasel. Also get a dedicated drive, not one with USB readers and stuff.

Amigadave

I think its waaay easier if someone just sends Frank (pega1) his catweasel instead of taking up a collection and waiting for the board to come in (if you can find one)

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Only if they don't want their Catweasel Mk4 anymore and are willing to give it to Frank. Did you miss his reply to me that stated he would like to keep what ever Catweasel Mk4 is sent to him for further work on drivers and for his personal use?

As soon as we have a few other people that agree with the value of getting a Catweasel Mk4 for Frank, I will send him my 20 euro donation. Even if we only get 80 euros for Frank instead of 100 euros, at least that will reduce his cost to get a Catweasel by 80%.

Edit: @pega-1/Frank, the only reason I asked regarding keeping the Catweasel Mk4 was that some people feel that it is a useless addition to a MorphOS2.x computer and would not want to keep one installed in their Pegasos, or G4 PowerMac. I understand and agree that developers should be expected to keep any hardware they receive to write drivers or software for, but since the primary function of the Catweasel MK4 is to read/write floppy disks and most people today think that a floppy disks are a waste of time and have no place on a modern computer, I could also understand why some MorphOS2.x developers would not want to keep a Catweasel Mk4 and floppy drive installed in their own MorphOS2.x computers.

[ Edited by amigadave on 2010/11/14 19:04 ]

You are my hero man.
I was just about to post a question about using a cat weasel on a power mac. I bought some games and don't have an ADF to match them.
Thanks

If all goes well you'll be able to do as you can on AOS 4 - i.e. install copy-protected disks using WHDLoad.

So far I've got the device compiling and initialising, but no PCI code yet....

Watch this space!

sprirantho

You are awesome.. keep it going and the morphos devs are always there to help as you know! Keep them slackers busy lulz.. between playing xbox and driving their ferraris not much time for stuff :)

seriously though many users have been clamoring for catweasel support. After Jens bugged out on bbrv he punished the morphos crowd.. seems funny to punish morphos users (and potential customers) because some other person/company screwed you? Well glad he opened sourced it.

I haven't checked Jens site to confirm this, but I don't think Jens has "Open Sourced" the drivers. I thought that the AmigaOS4.x drivers were developed from recompiling the Linux drivers, which I thought were written by someone else besides Individual Computers.

If that is not the case, someone can correct me here.

amidave

ah you are probably right...

Jens did provide me with the necessary documentation, but he didn't send me any source apart from some of the 68k framework.
These drivers are made from the original cwfloppy linux drivers, ported to AmigaOS 4 by someone on AW.net/amigans.net, and then I got my hands on them and ripped them up. :) When I got them they supported reading AmigaDD disks and not much else.

Current status is that the drivers are mostly working! Need to deal with some oddities in the way MOS uses the device which AOS and AROS don't... should have something for people soon....

You are a wizard Ian!

Spirantho

the NEW MEGAhero for Morphos!

Tell me that when I have it working fully. :)

I'll try and stick around on #morphos today so if anyone is there and can help me beta-test it that'd be good...!

Edit: Incidentally, my handle comes from my days of playing "Lords of Chaos" - I (and a friend) used to always think of different names for our wizards to give them "personality" and this one stuck. :)

[ Edited by spirantho on 2010/11/18 9:19 ]

OK, people - please now visit http://www.retroreview.com/iang/Catweasel/ !
All testing bug reports welcome (donations even more so as I'm totally skint at the moment ;) )!

Great work Ian! I'll test the drivers in a few days and report back :)

@spirantho

Hi,

I have a Catweasel MK3 flipper PCI (I use this card correctly at the moment in a Windows host), Is It usable my MK3 card with your driver in MorphOS ? (I could use it in PowerMac G4 MorphOS2.x and/or in Pegasos2 MorphOS2.x/AmigaOS4.x)

thanks
regards

[ Edited by Divinity on 2010/11/18 20:58 ]

Quote:

I will install the Catweasel Mk4 in my G4 PowerMac in an hour or two and try out the driver(s), then give you a report back with what I find out. I also have a Mk3 Flipper Catweasel that I will also test after the testing of the Mk4 is completed.

Hey Dave
If you want to sell either of those boards let me know.. you cant need 2? :P

Does the driver work with the Mk3? When you find out, can you let me know too please? :)

If it doesn't work I should be able to make it work if you can help debug it.

Quote:

sure , I'm interested to use it in MorphOS (in particular in PowerMac)