x68000:installing_scsi2sd_on_x68000

The following information is up to date as of January 2020.

The goal here is to have a working external SCSI solution for the X68000. This is especially handy for individuals that have multiple X68K (easier to move the device between them) or update the flash drive often. Some X68000 systems don't even support internal hard drives without a lot of hacking (Compact, Red Zone, etc.)

The instructions below cover both newer SCSI based X68000 machines as well as older SASI based machines. You need to know if you have a SASI or SCSI machine; you should not attempt the SASI instructions on a SCSI machine. The SCSI instructions will not work on a SASI machines either.

SASI only steps will be highlighted as such: [SASI]
SCSI only steps will be highlighted as such: [SCSI]
Steps that will be common to both will not be highlighted

PreReq:

SCSI2SD V5.x (http://www.codesrc.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=SCSI2SD)
50 pin to 25 pin SCSI adapter for the SCSI2SD (purchase at same time as SCSI2SD)
(optional) 3D printed case for the unit
[SASI] any microUSB 5V cellphone charger to power the SCSI2SD PCB
1GB or bigger SD/MicroSD card with adapter
SCSI external cable to connect between your X68000 and 25 pin

The cable is the most difficult part. Some X68000 machines have the original SCSI-1 CN-50 connector. Others use the SCSI-2 external Centronics (MC-50) connector. You will require a cable that converts from your X68000 external SCSI port to the 25 pin SCSI-1 port on the SCSI2SD.

Some things to keep in mind:

The X68000 external SCSI connector follows standard SCSI pinout (even on SASI machines)
You might have to use multiple adapters (e.g. MC-50 to CN-50 adapter, and then CN-50 to 25 pin SCSI cable)
The 25 pin end needs to be male. This was commonly used on Apple computer peripherals of that era

Software setup:

1) [SASI] Create system boot disk that will install SASI boot loader into SRAM:

Download the SASI boot disk SxSI V5 with DMA patch Translated by Eidis
write it to 5.25 1.2MB floppy using XFloppy 1.1 in Windows 98 (or find a friend that can create this boot floppy for you)

2) [SASI] Install SASI boot loader

boot the floppy
At the A prompt type:

     cd sxsi
     bootset.x
     Enter: ED0100    (this is the memory address in SRAM for the boot loader)
     Enter: 5         (wait 5 seconds before searching for SCSI boot devices)

Next, we change the “BIOS” settings. There is no BIOS on X68K, but there is a utility to update boot settings called SWITCH.X. The comprehensive manual can be found here: https://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=human68k_manual:system:switch
At the A prompt type:

     switch.x
     with arrow keys, scroll down to BOOT and press ENTER
     Use spacebar to set it to: ROM $ED0100
        - You are telling it to start the SASI boot loader!
     Press Enter, and scroll all the way to the bottom
     Press Y to save settings

3) Create Hard Drive image on micro SD card:

Download WinImage and install
Download latest x68000 hard drive image from the x68000 FTP site (search for x68000v4.zip)
unzip drive image and launch WinImage
Make sure microSD card is now plugged into your computer (e.g. SD external card reader)
from the “Disk” menu select “Restore Virtual Hard Drive image on Physical drive…”
select the card reader
make sure you're able to list all files
navigate to where you opened x68000v4.zip and select X68000_V4.HDS
It will take a few minutes to write the image to the micro SD card

Hardware setup:

1) Update and configure the SCSI2SD device

the main SCSI2SD web site (http://www.codesrc.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=SCSI2SD) links to the following download section (http://www.codesrc.com/files/scsi2sd/latest)

     firmware/ <--- download latest firmware for the SCSI2SD 5.x device 
     scsi2sd-util  <-- download the setup utility

scsi2sd-util is an application to configure your SCSI2SD USB attached device. Download it from the folder corresponding to your OS (windows/64bit/scsi2sd-util.exe for Windows, mac/scsi2sd-util.dmg for Apple OSX)
connect the SCSI2SD device via a microUSB cable to your computer and launch scsi2sd-util
from the File menu select “Upgrade Firmware…”
select the above firmware file and let it update
click on “Load from device” button
On “General settings” tab:

     Startup delay = 0
     SCSI selection Delay = 255
     on SCSI2SD 5.1 and newer units make sure Enable SCSI terminator is enabled
     all options should be disabled

[SCSI] On “General settings” tab you may also select this (optional):

     enable SCSI-2 support

[SASI] On Device 1 tab:

     Device is enabled
     SCSI ID = 3
     Device Type = Hard Drive
     SD card start sector = 0
     sector size = 512
     sector count = 2048000

[SCSI] On Device 1 tab:

     Device is enabled
     SCSI ID = 0
     Device Type = Hard Drive
     SD card start sector = 0
     sector size = 512
     sector count = 2048000

click “Save to device” button
click “Load from device” button to verify the settings have been stored

2) Put it all together

50 pin to 25 pin converter plugs into SCSI2SD
MicroSD card plugs into SCSI2SD
SCSI cable connects between X68K external hard drive port and SCSI2SD
[SASI] Power is connected to SCSI2SD from outlet via microUSB port
[SCSI] SCSI2SD gets power from the system via SCSI connector
make sure there is no floppy in X68K and power on the system

Enjoy!