Altos 586T User manual

-- __ ALTO S _ ~
586 T/986 T
SYSTEM REfERENCE MANUAl

586T/986T
System Reference Manual

Federal Communications Commission Notice
Warning
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions manual, may cause
interference to radio communications.
It has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A computing device pursuant to
Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed
to provide reasonable protection against such
interference when operated in a commercial
environment.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is
likely to cause interference in which case the user,
at his own expense, will be required to take whatever
measures may be required to correct the interference.
THE INPORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
WITHOUT NOTICE. NEW EDITIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT WILL
INCORPORATE CHANGES AS THEY ARE PUBLISHED.
iii

Acknowledgements
CP/M-86, MP/M, and MP/M-86
are registered trademarks
of Digital Research, Inc.
Z80 is a trademark of Zilog,
Inc.
Multibus is a trademark of
Intel Corporation.
UNIX is a trademark of Bell
Laboratories.
XENIX is a trademark of
Microsoft Corporation and is a
microcomputer implementation
of the UNIX operating system.
iv

About This Manual
This manual is intended for system programmers,
engineers, technicians, and others who need to
understand the internal operation of the 586T
and 986T. It presents information about func-
tions that are internally programmed and those
that can be programmed by the user.
Those who need information about signal names,
voltages, pin assignments, and specific circuit
elements, should consult the Altos 586T/986T
Maintenance Manual (P/N 69~-156~2-~~1) •
Manual Conventions
Certain conventions are followed in the descriptions
and diagrams used in this manual. Those which may
not be obvious are listed below.
Convention
*
Hexadecimal
notation
Meaning
The asterisk symbol, following
a capitalized, bolded mnemonic
indicates a "not" function ~
an active low signal.
Example: CSINT*.
A hexadecimal number is indicated
by an "H" following the number.
Example: 29H
Some terms are used interchangably and mean the same
thing:
System Bus and Multibus
Counter-timer and programmable interval timer
Byte bus and 8-bit bus
System memory and main memory
I/O and peripheral
v

Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to the 586T/986T
Chapter 2: System Hardware
Chapter 31 Central Processing Unit Functions
Hardware Overview ••••••••••••• 3-3
System Interfaces. • • • • • • • • • • • • 3-13
System Initialization and Operation.. 3-14
Addressing • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 3-19
Chapter 4: Controller Board Functions
• 4-3
• • • • • 4-10
Hardware Overview •••••
CPU-Controller Interface •
Controller Initialization.
Controller Sequences • • • • • • •
Addressing • • • • • • •
Chapter 5: Storage Devices
Streaming Tape Unit. • •
Hard Disk. • • • • • • •
Floppy Disk ••••••••
Chapter 6: System Firmware
586T/986T Monitor Program.
Monitor Commands •••
System Commands. • • • • •
RAM Based Debugger • • • • •
Monitor System Calls •••
Monitor Control Blocks •••
Controller Board Firmware.
Appendices
• 4-16
• • 4-17
• • 4-22
• 5-3
• • 5-11
• • 5-13
6-3
6-7
• • 6-12
• • 6-13
• •••• 6-17
• • • • • 6-22
• 6-23
Appendix A: 586T/986T Serial Controller •• A-I
Appendix B: CPU Board Jumpers ••••••• B-1
Appendix C:
Controller Board Jumpers • • • C-l
vii

ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure Title
1-1. Altos 586T/986T Computer System
wi th Terminal • • • • • • • • 1-3
2-1. System Block Diagram • • • • • 2-5
3-1. Dynamic Relocation •••••••• 3-5
3-2. Memory Management Block Diagram. • 3-6
3-3. Reserved Memory Locations ••••• 3-15
3-4. I/O Port Decoder Block Diagram •• 3-19
4-1.
4-2.
4-3
5-1.
5-2
5-3
5-4
Simplified Block Diagram •
Interrupt Controller • •
QIC-e2
Interface • • • • •
1/4-inch Tape Cartridge.
Serpentine Recording • •
QIC-24 1/4-inch Streaming
Tape Format • • • • • • •
Hard Disk Sector Format. •
•
4-3
• 4-6
4-8
5-6
5-7
• 5-11
• • 5-13
6-1 Memory Map Altos 586T/986T • • • • 6-4
6-2 IOPB Mapping for Altos 586T/986T • 6-21
'l'ABLES
Table
3-1.
3-2.
3-3.
3-4
3-5.
3-6.
3-7.
3-8.
3-9.
3-1e.
Title
Interrupt Priority Levels. • • • • 3-le
Z8e Memory Map • • • • • • • • • • 3-12
Control Bits Port Definition
(Port 58H). • • • • • • • 3-18
8e86 I/O Port Addresses. • • 3-2e
Memory Management I/O
Port Definition. • • • ••• 3-22
Memory Management I/O
Port Addresses. • • • 3-24
Violation Port (78). • • • •• 3-32
Error Address Port 1 • • • • • • • 3-33
Error Address Port 2 • • 3-34
Z8e I/O Addresses. • • • 3-35
viii

TABLES
Table
4-1.
4-2.
4-3.
4-4.
4-5.
4-6.
4-7.
4-8.
4-9.
4-1B.
4-11.
Title
Local Memory Map • • • • • • • • • 4-5
Tape Command Bit Definition •••• 4-9
Hard Disk Interface Parameter
Block • • • • • • • • •
Streaming Tape Interface
Parameter Block • • • •
Floppy Disk Interface
Parameter Block • • • • •
I/O Decoder Addresses. •
SDH Register (External).
Input Port • • • • •
Floppy Port. • • •
Tape Port. • • • • • • •
Data Transfer Port • • •
• •
4-14
4-15
• 4-16
• 4-24
• • 4-24
• • 4-25
• • 4-25
4-26
4-26
5-1. Performance Specifications
(Tape). • • • • • • • •• •• 5-4
5-2 4-to-5 Run Length Limited Code • • 5-5
5-3. Tape Status Bytes. • • •• • • 5-9
5-4. Performance Specifications
(Hard Disk) • • • • • • • • 5-12
5-5. Performance Specifications
(Floppy Disk) • • • • •• •• 5-14
ix

Chapter 1
Introduction to the 586T/986T
Overview ••••••
Hardware Features •
Capabilities. • •
Options • • • • •
Operating Systems • • •
Related Publications. • • • •
Specifications. • • • • •
1-1
• 1-3
• 1-4
. . . . . 1-4
• 1-5
• • 1-6
• • 1-6
• • 1-7

Introduction to the 586T/986T
Figure 1-1. Altos 586T/986T Computer System.
Overview
The Altos 586T/986T is a powerful, multiuser, multi-
tasking system designed to meet the needs of micro
and mini-computer users. It supports industry-standard
operating systems and languages, communications, and
business application software. The 8986-based, 16-bit
architecture of the 586T/986T can perform larger, more
comprehensive tasks for more users than an 8-bit system.
1-3

Introduction to the 586T/986T
Hardware Features
The 586T/986T has the following hardware features:
o Multiple processor CPU board-
8086 central processing unit operating at 10 MHz
Z80A serial I/O processor
o 586T has 512 Kbytes of Main Memory
986T has 1 Mbyte of Main Memory
Both systems use byte parity error checking
o Intelligent Controller board for Hard Disk, Streaming
Tape, and Floppy Disk units.
o Integral 40 or 80 Mbyte Winchester drive, 1 Mbyte
Floppy Disk drive, and 60 Mbyte cartridge Streaming
Tape unit.
o WorkNet Local Area Network port (RS422)
o Firmware for self-diagnostics at power-qp.
o Time-of-day clock with battery back-~p.
o Power fail detection circuitry.
Capabilities
The 586T/986T has these outstanding performance
features:
o Multiple processing. Ten serial RS232 channels
on the 986T support up to nine users, plus a serial
printer. The 586T supports five users and a serial
printer. The systems can handle hard disk, tape,
and floppy disk operations concurrently.
o Memory Management. A proprietary memory
management
system provides logical-to-physical
address translation and contiguous physical
memory blocks for each task.
1-4

Introduction to the 586Tj986T
This reduces the need for swapping users or tasks
out to disk. The system also provides write and
access protection to each assigned block of memory.
o ~ Diak Control. The Hard Disk Controller can:
perform multiple sector read and writes;
cross over track and sector boundaries;
do automatic, transparent retries;
perform overlapped seeking when two drives
are connected and accessed concurrently.
o Cartridge ~ Back-up. The 586T and 986T
provide cartridge streaming tape back-up for
the Hard Disk (up to 69 megabytes per DC699A
cartridge).
Options
Several configurations are possible by adding options
to the standard systems.
o Memory Expansion. Memory on the 586T can be
expanded to 1 Mbyte by adding a 512 Kbyte Memory
Expansion board. (The 986T contains 1 Mbyte of
memory as standard equipment).
o ~ ~ Expansion. The systems support hard
disk expansion through two connectors on the rear
panel, H.D. EXPANSION and B.D. RADIALil,
to which data and control cables can be attached.
o Communications. A Communications printed
circuit board supporting SN~ or X.25 protocol
and four serial (RS232) channels can be
installed in lieu of the serial expander board
on both the 586T and 986T systems.
1-5

Introduction to the 586V986T
Operating Systems
The 586T and 986T run the following operating
systems:
o Concurrent CP/M-86
o XENIX version 3.B RTS (Run Time)
Related Publications
The following publications are available from Altos:
btl Number
l56B2
16177
16333
15494
13499
14646
Title
System Maintenance Manual
Setting-Up Guide
Illustrated Parts List
Introduction to Concurrent CP/M-86
Introduction to XENIX
WorkNet
1-6

Specifications
Physical Characteristics
Width
Height
Depth
Weight
16 7/8"
6"
18"
36 Ibs.
Environmental and Safety Standards
Meets FCC Class A reqUirements
UL and CSA approved
Ambient Temperature Range
Introduction to the 586T/986T
50-- 90 degrees F (15 -32 degrees C)
Relative Humidity
non-condensing 20-80%
Power dissipation
300 Watts
1-7

Chapter 2
System Hardware
Introduction. • • • • • . . . . .
2-3
• 2-3
Physical Description ••
Central Processing Unit
Controller Board. • • •
(CPU) Board • • • 2-3
Serial I/O Expander Board • • •
512 Kbyte RAM Expansion Board •
2-1
. . • • • 2-6
• • 2-6
• 2-7