<C> 1994 by GEnie ========================================================================== This file is brought to you by The Commodore 64/128 RoundTable on GEnie This file may be published or excerpted in User Group newsletters providing credit is given in this manner: "Copyright 1994 by GEnie From the Commodore 64/128 RoundTable File#:#####" This file maybe be distributed, if distributed whole and unaltered, on <RETURN>, <S>croll, <Q>uit ? non-profit BBSs or non-profit networks. For more information on GEnie call by modem: 1-800-638-8369 (8-N-1 300/1200/2400) Enter: HHH Then reply: xtx99018,commrt Then enter: Commodore And enjoy! ========================================================================== On February 7, 1995 the Commodore RTC had two guest speakers: Peter Fiset from Performance Peripherals, Inc. and Paul Gardner-Stephen the author of 64NET. Paul was communicating from Adelaide, South Australia via internet and a node in Arizona. The topic of discussion was 64NET. This is the program that allows a Commodore 64/128 user to access PC hardrives. The evening was spent exploring the different ways to use 64NET. If you have an old XT or 286 that you find you use sitting around, this is the conference that you want to download.s GEOS-TIM (Tim Hewelt) was the host for the night, and THE.OUTLAW (Cam Stewart) edited these transcripts. =============================================================================== <GEOS-TIM> Our guest tonight are Peter Fiset and Paul Gardner-Stephens. Peter is the designer and owner of such great hardware developments as Ramdrive, BBG Ram, BBU battery backup, and the most recent addition: BB RTC. Welcome Peter. <Peter Fiset> Hello Tim. <GEOS-TIM> Peter has brought a guest that is communicating from Australia. Paul Gardner-Stephens has written a program that is being used in Australia. It is called 64NET, and is the topic for tonight. Welcome Paul. <Paul Gardner-Stephen> Hello :) <GEOS-TIM> Paul- I guess the first question is.. What is 64NET? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> 64net is a system for the C64/C65/C128 and IBM compatible computer systems which lets your commodore 8bit computer take advantage of the large storage devices of the IBM compatible computers. The access to this storage is also much faster than regular 15xx drives. <GEOS-TIM> I understand that 64Net is being used in Australia. How long has it been out? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> I first started work on 64NET in 1992, and the first "public" release was in late 1993 (v1.46) <GEOS-TIM> With this program, can you run C= programs from the PC hard drive, or are you limited to data files? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> You can LOAD,SAVE, OPEN & CLOSE to the PC drives. So , yes, you can run programmes directly from the PC's drive. You can also give the files "proper" 16 char names. <GEOS-TIM> Outlaw has a question.... <Outlaw> Are you saying you've found away to use an IBM HD without the CMD's controller chip? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> no. 64NET operates by using a cable and a software wedge or replacement kernel in the C64/C128. The PC does all the "hard" work. <GEOS-TIM> Doc has a question... <Doctor> Greetings, Mr Gardner. I was curious as to how compatible your system is on the Commodore software side. <Paul Gardner-Stephen> Obviously not a great deal of software is compatible when using the wedge (especially in C64 mode) would Work <Doctor> In particular does the I/O functions of this cable interfere with other functions of the computer, such as modem I/O. <Paul Gardner-Stephen> For modem I/O, 64NET will interfere, unless you are using a swiftlink, or a 64NET acceletor card. For software compatibility, 64NET in combination with the replacement ROM's will work with most software, with the exception of some fastloaders and a few programs which are "operating system unfriendly" and assume particular drive information <Doctor> It sounds like this system isn't what you'd call JiffyDOS compatible. <Paul Gardner-Stephen> 64NET will in fact work with Jiffy DOS, when using the 64NET patches to the JD Kernel. The Patch program will be available soon for those who have a PROM burner, or proof of JD ownership. OH.. and after all, JD is handy, but it isn't the whole world! <GEOS-TIM> We will be running through several topics tonight....we sort of jumped the gun on compatibility... Our next topic is How does it Work? After that we will be getting into compatibility....then Practical considerations, followed by future developments So lets go into the next topic First, I guess we should ask....What hardware requirements are there? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> A C64/C65/C128, and some sort of IBM compatible computer. An XT with say 512KB is quite adequate. A HDD is prefered, but 64NET will also happily run from Floppy disks! So in other words for as low as A$75 you can have a hard-disk for your C64! which can take SCSI,IDE,MFM,ESDI or whatever! <GEOS-TIM> Is there any limit to size as far as the hard drive is concerned? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> Nope, you can theoritically have an unlimited capacity. I have my IBM on a network at University occasionaly where I have approx 14GB of disk online. BTW.. A$75 approx = $55US I think. <Peter Fiset> WOW <Paul Gardner-Stephen> Files can be upto 2billion blocks. <GEOS-TIM> So exactly what goes on when one uses 64 NET? How is the C= looking at the program? And what is the IBM doing? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> From the C64, 64NET just appears as another device number (anwhere between 4 and 255). :) The IBM can either display a "network console" or run 64net in the background. The two are connected by a cord which goes from the C64's user port to the IBM's printer port (any one) <GEOS-TIM> Snogpitch has a question. <Snogpitch> How many C-64's can be hooked up to the PC? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> Upto four C64/C65/C128's (any combination) can be connected to a single PC. This is limited only by the fact that you cant get 5 printer ports on an IBM! Multi-user operation can have network style "logins" with a password option. <GEOS-TIM> OUTLAW has a question <Outlaw> I take it in order to make this work, you have to buy an IBM.. why would I really want to? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> To "purify" the Evil IBM's soul by allowing it become a humble servant of a C64 or C128 :) And also to get you a dirt cheap C64/C128 hard0disk <Peter Fiset> Excellent <Outlaw> if I'm going the route to buy an IBM, I'd prefer to use it as such.. I can't see the cost effectiveness here.. if you can find one <Paul Gardner-Stephen> What can you use a 4.77Mhz XT with 512KB for? other than 64NET and maybe PACMAN? Here in Australia you can easily find second hand XT's and stuff at Computer Auctions or in the "Trading Post" newspaper, I'm sure there are similar publications over there You can pick up such a computer for about A$25 with a 20MB hard-disk. And many of the people have a PC already (for work or whatever) <GEOS-TIM> Doc has a question. <Doctor> How fast does data come from the PC into the Commodore? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> Depending on your setup, it can be as fast as 45KB/seconds. However with a "bog standard" C64 rates of upto 10KB/sec can be expected. and approx 18KB/sec with a C128 in "fast" mode. <Paul Gardner-Stephen> The C65 clocks approx 32KB/second. oh.. the 45KB/sec is with a C64 and Flash/8 .. I forgot to mention is 100% !! <Peter Fiset> Super! <GEOS-TIM> Lets ease into compatibility,again. How compatible is 64NET with my favorite program...GEOS? I know you have a lot of GEOS users over in Australia...what kind of feedback have you been getting? <Paul Gardner-Stephen> 64NET Drivers are available for GEOS, which allows you to have 1541,1571 ,1581 and possibly "native" partitions. <GEOS-TIM> that was my next question. LOL <Paul Gardner-Stephen> Several utilities are included eg 64net MOVE, 64NET Config etc. l...
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