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x68000:adding_an_fdx68_to_x68000 [2018/11/29 08:54] leonkx68000:adding_an_fdx68_to_x68000 [2020/06/25 12:29] (current) – [Connection Method] leonk
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 Original web site:  (http://www.geocities.jp/kugimoto0715/fdx68/index.html) Original web site:  (http://www.geocities.jp/kugimoto0715/fdx68/index.html)
 +
 +New web site: (http://retropc.net/gimons/fdx68/index.html)
  
 ====== Background Information ====== ====== Background Information ======
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 ====== Setup and Usage ====== ====== Setup and Usage ======
  
-The original author has great instructions found here: http://www.geocities.jp/kugimoto0715/fdx68/index.html+The original author has great instructions found here: http://retropc.net/gimons/fdx68/index.html
 Use google translate to get the details.  The rest of this page was a result of edited google translate of original page (pulled 11/26/2018) Use google translate to get the details.  The rest of this page was a result of edited google translate of original page (pulled 11/26/2018)
  
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 ===== Connection Method ===== ===== Connection Method =====
  
-The external FDD connecter is labelled "EXTERNAL FDD" on the back of the X68000. This is a very unusual port known as the "miniature delta ribbon (MDR) 40 position female connector". In order to connect an external device to this port an MDR 40 position male connector is necessary. The FDX68 author made a cable for converting this port to a standard 34-pin ribbon cable connector. One should be able to purchase the MDR 40 position male connector at many online retail stores. You will also need to purchase matching enclosure shell for the connector.+The external FDD connecter is labelled "EXTERNAL FDD" on the back of the X68000. This is a very unusual port known as the "miniature delta ribbon (MDR) 40 position female connector". In order to connect an external device to this port an MDR 40 position male connector is necessary. The FDX68 author made a cable for converting this port to a standard 34-pin ribbon cable connector. One should be able to purchase the MDR 40 position male connector at many online retail stores. You will also need to purchase matching enclosure shell for the connector. The 3M part number for the connector is 10140-3000PE and matching shell is 10340-3210-000
  
 {{:x68000:fdx68_xvi_fd_connector.png?nolink&200|}} {{:x68000:fdx68_xvi_fd_connector.png?nolink&200|}}
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 As you can see in the picture below, there are no floppies inserted into X68000 Compact and it is booting from the FDX68. After the system has booted, one can use the //drive// command to list what floppy disk drives the X68000 has detected.  One can see that the X68000 recognized a 4 drive configuration and that we are able to access the 2 emulated floppy disk drives. As you can see in the picture below, there are no floppies inserted into X68000 Compact and it is booting from the FDX68. After the system has booted, one can use the //drive// command to list what floppy disk drives the X68000 has detected.  One can see that the X68000 recognized a 4 drive configuration and that we are able to access the 2 emulated floppy disk drives.
  
-{{:x68000:FDX68_connected_1.png?nolink&400|}} +{{:x68000:FDX68_connected_1.png?nolink&300|}} 
-{{:x68000:FDX68_connected_2.png?nolink&400|}} +{{:x68000:FDX68_connected_2.png?nolink&300|}} 
-{{:x68000:FDX68_connected_3.png?nolink&400|}}+{{:x68000:FDX68_connected_3.png?nolink&300|}} 
 + 
 +===== Swap disks using the command line ===== 
 + 
 +The floppy disk drive of the X68000 has extended specifications including a floppy auto eject mechanism. The floppy eject operation can be instructed both using the eject button on the main unit as well as on the command line. For example, the X68000 game A-JAX boots with both a program disk and data disk 1, the program disk automatically ejects after reading the data and asks the user to insert data disk 2. In this example, we will show how to change a floppy disk using the FDX68. First, lets boot A-JAX: 
 + 
 +<file> 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ sudo ./fddemu -0 AJAX_P.FDX -1 AJAX_1.FDX & 
 +[1] 719 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ FDX68 version 1.00, Copyright (C) 2017-2018 GIMONS 
 +Floppy disk drive emulation 
 + 
 +----+----+----+----------------------------------- 
 + ID | WP | CL | DISK IMAGE 
 +----+----+----+----------------------------------- 
 +  0 | ON | 00 | AJAX_P.FDX 
 +  1 | ON | 00 | AJAX_1.FDX 
 +----+----+---------------------------------------- 
 + 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ 
 +</file> 
 + 
 +Note that "&" is appended at the end of the command line to load the FDX68 service in the background and return command line control back to the user.  Next, we check whether FDX68 is running in the background. We search for it using the ps command. 
 + 
 +<file> 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ ps -ef | grep fddemu 
 +root       719   661  0 12:16 pts/0    00:00:00 sudo ./fddemu -0 AJAX_P.FDX -1 AJAX_1.FDX 
 +root       723   719  0 12:16 pts/0    00:00:00 ./fddemu -0 AJAX_P.FDX -1 AJAX_1.FDX 
 +pi         744   661  0 12:17 pts/0    00:00:00 grep --color=auto fddemu 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ 
 +</file> 
 + 
 +Note that the //fddemu// daemon/service must execute as root. You can also check status and what disk is inserted into fddemu using the //fddctrl// utility: 
 + 
 +<file> 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ ./fddctl -l 
 +----+----+----+----------------------------------- 
 + ID | WP | CL | DISK IMAGE 
 +----+----+----+----------------------------------- 
 +  0 | ON | 00 | AJAX_P.FDX 
 +  1 | ON | 00 | AJAX_1.FDX 
 +----+----+---------------------------------------- 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ 
 +</file> 
 + 
 +You can now turn on the X68000 and try to boot AJAX. After loading the disk for a while, you will be prompted to insert another disk as shown below. At this time, the floppy disk in drive 0 is ejected. 
 + 
 +{{:x68000:FDX68_ajax_insert_disk.png?nolink&200|}} 
 + 
 +<file> 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ ./fddctl -l 
 +----+----+----+----------------------------------- 
 + ID | WP | CL | DISK IMAGE 
 +----+----+----+----------------------------------- 
 +  0 | -- | 00 | EMPTY 
 +  1 | ON | 00 | AJAX_1.FDX 
 +----+----+---------------------------------------- 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ 
 +</file> 
 + 
 +Next, insert A-JAX Data disk 2 using the //fddctl// utility: 
 + 
 +<file> 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ ./fddctl -i 0 -c insert -f AJAX_2.FDX 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ ./fddctl -l 
 +----+----+----+----------------------------------- 
 + ID | WP | CL | DISK IMAGE 
 +----+----+----+----------------------------------- 
 +  0 | ON | 00 | AJAX_2.FDX 
 +  1 | ON | 62 | AJAX_1.FDX 
 +----+----+---------------------------------------- 
 +pi@raspberrypi:/fdx68 $ 
 +</file> 
 + 
 +{{:x68000:FDX68_ajax_play.png?nolink&200|}} 
 + 
 +===== Additional information about disk image format ===== 
 + 
 +In the above examples, the floppy disk images were converted to the FDX format prior to usage. The FDX68 FDD emulator //fddemu// can start without converting the image first and supports other images formats, such as XDF or D68 (it automatically converts to FDX in memory) It is important to note that any format outside of FDX will not save back to the disk image. This is convenient for launching applications and games that do not need save feature. If you do require the ability to save back to disk, you will need to convert to FDX first. 
 + 
 +====== X68000 PRO and similar systems ====== 
 + 
 +===== Connection Method ===== 
 + 
 +The external floppy disk drive connecter is labelled "EXTERNAL FDD" on the back of the X68000. This is a pretty common connector known as the "D-SUB 37 pin female connector" or DB37. In order to connect an external device to this port a Db37 pin male connector is necessary. One should be able to purchase a DB37 pin male connector at many online retail stores. You will also need to purchase the matching enclosure shell for the connector. Lastly, you will require a way to connect this to the FDX68.  A standard floppy disk drive cable (ribbon or round) will work well. 
 + 
 +{{:x68000:external_floppy_socket.jpg?300|}} 
 +{{:x68000:fdx68_dsub37.png?nolink&200|}} 
 +{{:x68000:fdx68_floppy_cable.jpg?nolink&200|}} 
 +{{:x68000:fdx68_floppy_cable_2.jpg?nolink&300|}} 
 + 
 +When making your own cable to convert from DB37 to the 34-pin connector found on the FDX68, the following conversion table and FDX68 pinout should be referenced; match the description of the pins and solder accordingly. After soldering the pins, one should confirm they cable is soldered correctly using a voltmeter. 
 + 
 +NOTE: The DB37 connector should have numbers on them.  Follow those numbers.  Don't get confused by the picture below as the pin numbers are different depending if you look at the front or the back of the connector. 
 + 
 + 
 +{{http://www.gamesx.com/grafx/db37.gif}} 
 + 
 +^  Ext. Pin  ^Signal  ^  Dir.  ^Description 
 +|  1  |/Disk Type Select|Out|Disk type selection signal| 
 +|  2  |NC|  -  |Not connected| 
 +|  3  |/Drive Select 3|Out|Drive selection signal 3| 
 +|  4  |/Index|  In  |Disk index signal| 
 +|  5  |/Drive Select 0|Out|Drive selection signal 0| 
 +|  6  |/Drive Select 1|Out|Drive selection signal 1| 
 +|  7  |/Drive Select 2|Out|Drive selection signal 2| 
 +|  8  |/Motor On|Out|Motor starting signal| 
 +|  9  |/Direction|Out|Head moving direction signal| 
 +|  10  |/Step|Out|Head movement signal| 
 +|  11  |/Write Data|Out|Write data signal| 
 +|  12  |/Write Gate|Out|Write gate signal| 
 +|  13  |/Track 00|  In  |Back to track 0| 
 +|  14  |/Write Protect|  In  |Write protect signal| 
 +|  15  |/Read Data|  In  |Read data signal| 
 +|  16  |/Side Select|Out|Head switching signal| 
 +|  17  |/Ready|  In  |Drive ready signal| 
 +|  18  |NC|  -  |Not connected| 
 +|  19  |NC|  -  |Not connected| 
 +|  20  |/Option Select 0|Out|Option select 0| 
 +|  21  |/Option Select 1|Out|Option Select 1| 
 +|  22  |/Option Select 2|Out|Option select 2| 
 +|  23  |/Option Select 3|Out|Option Select 3| 
 +|  24  |/Eject|Out|Eject signal| 
 +|  25  |/Eject Mask|Out|Eject mask signal| 
 +|  26  |/LED Blink|Out|LED flashing signal| 
 +|  27  |/Disk In|  In  |Disk insertion signal| 
 +|  28  |/ERR Disk|  In  |Disk insertion error signal| 
 +|  29  |/FDD INT|  In  |Disk interrupt signal| 
 +|  30  |Ground|Out|Ground| 
 +|  31  |Ground|Out|Ground| 
 +|  32  |Ground|Out|Ground| 
 +|  33  |Ground|Out|Ground| 
 +|  34  |Ground|Out|Ground| 
 +|  35  |Ground|Out|Ground| 
 +|  36  |Ground|Out|Ground| 
 +|  37  |NC|  -  |Not connected| 
 + 
 +{{:x68000:fdx68_pinout.png?nolink&400|}} 
 + 
 +===== Internal FDD are drives 0,1 and FDX68 are drives 2,3 ===== 
 + 
 +It is not possible to change the ID of the built-in floppy disk drives with a switch on the rear. Therefore the internal FDD are always assigned the first and second boot drives (drive A: and B:) and the FDX68 emulated floppy disk drives as the third and fourth drives (drive C: and D:)  you must set the FDX68 jumpers to location 2,3 for both DRV and OPT as shown below.  
 + 
 +The X68000 can still boot a system from the FDX68 as long as no bootable floppies are found in the internal FDDs. It is also important to note that although games will boot from drives 2,3 many multi-disk games will only search for additional floppy disks in drives 0,1.  This configuration is useful for booting HumanOS (to install SASI boot loader into SRAM, or change SRAM configuration), or single disk games.  
 + 
 +{{:x68000:FDX68_xvi_1.png?nolink&100|}} 
 + 
 +===== Internal FDD are drives 2,3 and FDX68 are drives 0,1 ===== 
 + 
 +To use the FDX68 emulated floppy disk drives as the first and second drives (drive A: and B:) and the internal FDD as the third and fourth disk drives (drive C: and D:) do the following. Set the FDX68 jumpers to location 0,1 for both DRV and OPT as following:  
 + 
 +{{:x68000:FDX68_xvi_3.png?nolink&100|}} 
 + 
 +Next, you will need to change the jumpers on the built-in floppy disk drives. As soon as you remove the cover of the system, you will see the FDD but the jumper is on the back of the internal floppy disk drive, hidden by the cable and it is hard to see and change it. You will need to remove the floppy disk drive. The jumper is not divided by DRIVE and OPTION like on the FDX68. It will be a green jumper as seen below, change this jumper to position 2 or 3 depending on the drive you are working on (both drives can not be set to the same number) 
 + 
 +{{:x68000:fdx68_pro_1.png?nolink&200|}} 
 +{{:x68000:fdx68_pro_2.png?nolink&300|}} 
 + 
 +This configuration will allow you to use multi-disk games using the FDX68 FDD emulator with no drive number issues. But the FDX68 must be running at startup.  If drives 0,1 do not respond on boot-up (even with no disks) the X68000 will not boot (even when trying to boot to a hard drive). 
 + 
 +===== Starting the Floppy Disk Drive emulator ===== 
 + 
 +Using the FDX68 software to emulate the floppy disk drive, mount/unmount images, convert images, etc. is the same on all systems.  Please refer above for instructions on how to use the software. 
  
x68000/adding_an_fdx68_to_x68000.1543445652.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/08/27 20:44 (external edit)