Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!dptg!rutgers!ucsd!network!sdcsvax!ucsdhub!cuuxun!cuuxb!fmcgee From: fmcgee@cuuxb.ATT.COM (~XT6510300~Frank McGee~C23~L25~6326~) Newsgroups: comp.sys.att Subject: Re: (LONG) AT&T 6386 onboard floppy controller Summary: documentation is there, getting better on 6386/SX/25/33 Keywords: 6386 documentation Message-ID: <2984@cuuxb.ATT.COM> Date: 9 Aug 89 15:43:40 GMT Expires: 22 Aug 89 23:00:00 GMT References: <186@nisca.ircc.ohio-state.edu> Reply-To: fmcgee@cuuxb.UUCP (Frank W. McGee) Followup-To: comp.sys.att Distribution: comp.sys.att Organization: AT&T Computer Systems, Lisle, IL Lines: 229 In article <186@nisca.ircc.ohio-state.edu> bobd@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Bob DeBula) writes: >Is there nay way to disable the onboard floppy controller on the AT&T >6386 WGS motherboard (16Mhz)? I seem to be having flakey problems >with it and the WD1007-WA2 ESDI controller (with floppy controller) >in my 6386 (I've already played around with jumpers on the WD1007 >without much luck). The problem seems to come in when I have the [ miscellaneous info deleted ] >**FLAME ON*** >BTW why are >the jumper settings for AT&T's 6386 kept a deep dark secret (same goes >for WD hard disk controllers, etc....)? I would really appreciate >(as would numerous others I'm sure) if hardware vendors INCLUDED some >documentation for their products. Similarly, I would really *like* to >know how to set the DIP switches on my 6386s 32-bit memory board just >in case I would like to do something absurd like add some more memory >to it. I don't think there is any excuse not to provide this information >free of charge (or at least with a nominal fee) with the hardware (or at >least put in a "if you want to know this send $2.50 to cover shipping" >type of notice in with the machine/hardware. Are any vendors listening >(AT&T -- hint,hint)? I really don't want to spend a couple hundred on >the technical manual just so I can change a few jumpers to make my >machine/hardware do reasonable things. (I also don't want circuit >diagrams & resistance ratings and a bunch of other obscure facts which >mean nothing to me since I'm not an electronics wizard & don't want to >become one). >***Flame OFF*** >If anyone knows the magic DIP settings for the memory board & would be >willing to send them to me, I's appreciate it much. Thanks for listening, >I've got to go take some asprin now........... On the older 6386 and 6386E (and on most AT&T cpu's), there are two items you can order; a service manual and a hardware reference manual. In general, the service manual includes information on how to take the machine apart, and replace each of it's components. It also includes technical information on the jumpers on the motherboard. There are no documented jumpers pertaining to the on-board floppy controller. The hardware reference is a rather in-depth description of how the machine functions at the bit level. For the 6386, the items are : 6386 WGS Processor Service Manual 999-300-396 6386 WGS Processor Hardware Reference Manual 999-300-397 The nine digit number following the title is the select code, the number you should give CIC when you order the document. The number for CIC is 1-800-432-6600. They can also keyword search for a title, and similar manuals exist for the 6386E, 6386/SX, and 6386/25. There will also be manuals for the 6386/33 when it starts shipping. These manuals do cost $$ (about $150 each). But in the case of the service manual for the 6386 and 6386E, the service manual also includes another diagnostics disk which contains a low level formatter. In the case of the 6386/SX, 6386/25, and 6386/33 you are going to get exactly what you asked for. How to open the case, jumpers, etc. are all documented very well in the User's Guide, which comes with the cpu. So unless you really are doing repair work, or are doing development in 80386 assembler you don't need the service manual or technical reference. In the specific trouble you are having with the WA2 controller, I'd look elsewhere for the problem. I've had a WD 1006-WA2 running in a 6386 20 Mhz. desktop for over 3 months now, and haven't noticed any flakiness. I'd suggest running your floppies off of the motherboard controller though, not the WA2. In the specific case of your need for memory dip switch settings, they are documented in the service manual, and also in the memory upgrade kit if you purchase your SIMMs from AT&T. Surprisingly, it also has a select code (999-300-501), so it's probably orderable from CIC. I also have a few things online that describe the settings, and I'll attach them below. On the 6386/SX, 6386/25, and 6386/33 there are only a few jumpers to set to indicate which banks are populated (one jumper on the motherboard and 3 on each expansion card) so it's a lot easier to do on the new machines. In addition, on the 6386/SX, 6386/25, and 6386/33 the jumper settings are described in the User's Guide, which is provided free with the cpu. Hope this helps, Frank McGee, AT&T Tier 3 Indirect Channel Sales Support attmail!fmcgee ---------------< C U T H E R E >------------------------ Please note that I call the AT&T memory cards 4 MB and 16 MB cards, based upon their total capacity. AT&T official nomenclature calls them 1 MB and 4 MB cards based upon the amount of memory in each bank. Wherever you see "4 MB memory board" below it refers to the memory card that can only be populated with 256K SIMMs. Configuring 6386 Memory Boards Recently, a quick reference chart crossed my desk that showed how to configure the dip switches on 6386 4 MB memory boards in brief. To use it, your boards need to be populated ENTIRELY with 256K SIMMs. We found the chart usefull, so I'm posting it here. In addition, I'm posting the information found in the 6386 WGS Service Manual that describes the general case. In addition, there should be a 6386E Service Manual coming, but as far as I know no definite date has been set for it's availability. Incidentally, if these switches are not set correctly, your machine will fail to boot; it probably will not even be able to run the the initial hardware diagnostics. It is important to note that there are 4 different memory boards for the 6386 product line. The 6386 uses the 120 ns. memory boards, and the 6386E uses the 100 ns. memory boards. It is very important that you also distinguish between a 4 MB board and a 16 MB board. You cannot populate a 4 MB board with 1 MB SIMMs and get reliable performance. Although the boards look very similar, there are differences, and you are taking a serious risk if you configure a 4 MB board with 16 MB of memory. The quick chart refers to 4 MB boards only. QUICK CHART FOR 4 MB MEMORY BOARDS To use this chart, your memory board(s) should be fully populated with 256K SIMMs. In this chart, ON=0, OFF=1. L07LL SWITCH : (in this configuration, the L07LL switches are all always on) | | TOTAL | | SWITCH SETTINGS BOARD NUMBER | CAPACITY | MEMORY | X Y | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | 4 MB | 4 MB | 3 0 | ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 | 4 MB | 8 MB | 7 4 | ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 | 4 MB | 12 MB | 11 8 | ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 | 4 MB | 16 MB | 15 12 | ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- L06LL SWITCH : | | TOTAL | | SWITCH SETTINGS BOARD NUMBER | CAPACITY | MEMORY | X Y | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | 4 MB | 4 MB | 3 0 | ON ON OFF OFF ON ON ON ON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 | 4 MB | 8 MB | 7 4 | ON OFF OFF OFF ON OFF ON ON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 | 4 MB | 12 MB | 11 8 | OFF ON OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 | 4 MB | 16 MB | 15 12 | OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is the information that is provided in the 6386 WGS Service Manual on memory upgrades and configurations. L07LL AND L06LL SWITCH FUNCTIONS : L07LL : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 parity disable ---| | | | | | | | banks installed (2 bits) -----| | | | | | | banks installed --------| | | | | | board disable -----------| | | | | page selection (4 bits) --------------| | | | page selection -----------------| | | page selection --------------------| | page selection -----------------------| L06LL : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 lower address boundary (4 bits) --| | | | | | | | lower address boundary -----| | | | | | | lower address boundary --------| | | | | | lower address boundary -----------| | | | | upper address boundary (4 bits) --------------| | | | upper address boundary -----------------| | | upper address boundary --------------------| | upper address boundary -----------------------| MEMORY BOARD SWITCH SETTINGS (256K SIMMs) : 0=ON, 1=OFF ----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | L07LL | L06LL | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Board | | | | | Address Boundary | Board | Memory | | Banks | Board | Page | -----------------| Number | Capacity | Parity | Installed | Enable | Select | Upper | Lower | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------| |(switches)| 1 | 23 | 4 | 5678 | 1234 | 5678 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------| 1 | 1 MB | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0000 | 0000 0000 | | 2 MB | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0000 | 0001 0000 | | 4 MB | 0 | 00 | 0 | 0000 | 0011 0000 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 | 1 MB | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0000 | 0100 0000 | | 2 MB | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0000 | 0101 0000 | | 4 MB | 0 | 00 | 0 | 0000 | 0111 0000 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 | 1 MB | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0000 | 1000 0000 | | 2 MB | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0000 | 1001 0000 | | 4 MB | 0 | 00 | 0 | 0000 | 1011 0000 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEMORY BOARD SWITCH SETTINGS (1 MB SIMMs) : 0=ON, 1=OFF ----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | L07LL | L06LL | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Board | | | | | Address Boundary | Board | Memory | | Banks | Board | Page | -----------------| Number | Capacity | Parity | Installed | Enable | Select | Upper | Lower | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------| |(switches)| 1 | 23 | 4 | 5678 | 1234 | 5678 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------| 1 | 4 MB | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0000 | 0011 0000 | | 8 MB | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0000 | 0111 0000 | | 16 MB | 0 | 00 | 0 | 0000 | 1111 0000 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 | 4 MB | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0001 | 0011 0000 | | 8 MB | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0001 | 0111 0000 | | 16 MB | 0 | 00 | 0 | 0001 | 1111 0000 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 | 4 MB | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0010 | 0011 0000 | | 8 MB | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0010 | 0111 0000 | | 16 MB | 0 | 00 | 0 | 0010 | 1111 0000 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Frank McGee, AT&T Tier 3 Indirect Channel Sales Support attmail!fmcgee