SymbOS network support development

[Edoz(MSX)]

Very impressive! Cool to have telnet!!! 

[Prodatron]

Btw, currently I have to post MSX screen shots.
But the cool thing about this is, that now all coding isn't platform specific. The platform specific W5100 code is only about 50 lines of Z80 assembler for the CPC (already done! quite simple IN/OUT stuff) and about 100 lines of Z80 assembler for the MSX (due to it's more extensive memory slot selection methodes for the memory mapped hardware implementation). Most of the W5100 code isn't platform specific, and applications itself of course not at all. It seems, that for the Enterprise 64/128 they will choose the W5300 ethernet controller, which is more powerful - somehow the maximum for the Z80. 128K transfer buffer, 8 sockets instead of 4. The principle is still the same, so it's easy to adapt it.

[XyphoesRe]

So now you do an network version of Whacky Wit?  SPRING! matters

[MaV]

Most of the W5100 code isn't platform specific, and applications itself of course not at all. It seems, that for the Enterprise 64/128 they will choose the W5300 ethernet controller, which is more powerful - somehow the maximum for the Z80. 128K transfer buffer, 8 sockets instead of 4. The principle is still the same, so it's easy to adapt it.

I just had a glance and according to this link http://www.wiznet.co.kr/Sub_Modules/en/product/Product_Line.asp?cate1=5&cate2=7 the W5300 really is the most advanced of the WIZnet series of TCP/IP chips.
Are other network chips being discussed?

[Prodatron]

The other network hardware which is currently investigated for the CPC is the ESP8266 WLAN Module. It has to be connected via RS232, so it could be used with the CPC Booster/MiniBooster. It is quite an intelligent piece of hardware, which can handle even more stuff compared to the Wiznet controllers. Though I have no idea if the "indirect" connection via RS232 could have disadvantages compared to the W5x00. We can probably talk about it on the Revision party this weekend together with Octoate

[MaV]

We can probably talk about it on the Revision party this weekend together with Octoate

Yep, we'll discuss that at the Revision!

[Prodatron]

Yesterday evening I had my first internet chat using a Z80 computer. And my chat partner was using SymbOS on his machine, too

This was my view in Germany:





And this was Edoz view in the Netherlands:





...both connected to Karlochs' BBS in Spain
That was a strange feeling... I want to have this on the CPC as soon as possible, too!

ANSI/VT100 code conversion in SymTel is finished now. Next step is dynamic socket management inside the Network Daemon to make multiple network sessions with multiple applications possible at the same time.

[Joseman]

This is like a dream come true regarding CPC.

I think that the topic about "internet on the CPC" or "IRC on the CPC" is as old as the internet itself! 

how is going the CPC-ethernet card? will be a SF2 addon or MX4 compatible card or what! ? 

[CraigsBar]

This is like a dream come true regarding CPC.

I think that the topic about "internet on the CPC" or "IRC on the CPC" is as old as the internet itself! 

how is going the CPC-ethernet card? will be a SF2 addon or MX4 compatible card or what! ? 

well... Sf2 add-on, mx4 card or mini booster add-on all suit me lol.

[TFM]

What's about Dr. Zed internet card? Wasn't that up and running in 2007 already? Or did this get dropped now for making space on newer generation hardware?

[CraigsBar]

What's about Dr. Zed internet card? Wasn't that up and running in 2007 already? Or did this get dropped now for making space on newer generation hardware?

it never went beyond prototype stage. Before Dr. Zed retired from hardware manufacture. I suspect he took the schematic etc with him.

[Prodatron]

Dr.Zed isn't active on the CPC anymore.

[TFM]

In this case ... why not using new chips which make life even more easy. 

[Trebmint]

In this case ... why not using new chips which make life even more easy. 

Sadly Prodatron isnt a hardware designer, so has had to wait for somebody to attempt it. Luckily it seems this hardware is gonna appear soon on both the Enterprise and CPC, as well as the existing MSX hardware. Personally as a purely emulator user I want WinApe support so I can get the Symbos Network API working inside Unify, and start coding network based apps and games. Cant wait to play you all online

[rpalmer]

People,

I am still developing an ethernet card (of which I have one prototype using the CS8900a chip). But development of the CPC web browser is taking up much more time and nearing completion of gettting most if not all of the HTML browser capabilities (see attached picture it).

The next card i intend to build will be based on the SPI interface I posted a schematic a while ago.

rpalmer

[TFM]

You guys should join forces, so one day there will be a _REALLY_ working something. And to focus on one solution also makes it more easy for the software side. 

[Prodatron]

Yep, we'll discuss that at the Revision!

We are all on the Revision now and Octoate makes a LOT of progress with the ESP8266!! 
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Many greetings from the Revision party 2015!!

[TFM]

Many greetings from the Revision party 2015!!

All of you enjoy your time there and have a lot of fun! 

[XyphoesRe]

Epic work, octoate did. Now we can IRC even in BASIC .-)

[HAL6128]

All of you enjoy your time there and have a lot of fun! 

...yeah, with a lot of "Karlberg Pils" Expansion connected

[MaV]

Time for some serious crypto-stuff for ssh, mail, text browsing and ftp!

Now I need to buy an ESP card or two.

[TFM]

IRC in BASIC with the CPC    Can't wait to read about it at The Amstrad CPC news portal soon. 

[Edoz(MSX)]

SymbOS 3.0 Preview with TCP/IP and telnet !! - YouTube

[Joseman]

Every time that i see videos like this (worpad, mp3, network) on a Z80 machine it seems for me incredible, and i wonder what would we thinked in 1992 with all of this working in our CPC'S...

I really think that we were fooled by the industry making  us think that our z80 machines weren't good enough and that we need a new machine. Still i had my cpc until end of 1995! but obviously they were forcing us to leave our beloved machines for powerful PC without souls and any magic...

[Singaja]

On the other hand WinAPE and such really kicked started rapid prototyping so one can speculate if without it and invaluable internet/wiki knowledge it would be feasible as of 1995.