Documentation Updates

- Minor improvements to hard disk documentation in System Guide.
This commit is contained in:
Wayne Warthen
2024-08-01 11:40:23 -07:00
parent 307b8bb11b
commit cd70a62d67
32 changed files with 3001 additions and 35 deletions

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@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ execution.
![Bank Switched Memory Layout](Graphics/BankSwitchedMemory){ width=100% }
## Bank Id
RomWBW utilizes a specific assignment of memory banks for dedicated
@@ -262,6 +263,89 @@ Common Bank:
It is a fixed mapping that is never changed in normal RomWBW operation
hence the name "Common".
# Disk Layout
RomWBW supports and automatically detects 2 different disk layouts
known as Modern (hd1k) and Classic (hd512). Specifics of these two
variants are described in separate sections below.
RomWBW supports up to 256 CP/M slices (0-255). Under hd512, the slices
begin at the start of the hard disk. Under hd1k, the slices reside
within partition type 0x2E.
RomWBW accesses all hard disks using Logical Block Addressing (pure
sector offset). When necessary, RomWBW simulates the following disk
geometry for operating systems:
- Sector = 512 Bytes
- Track = 16 Sectors (8KB per Track)
- Cylinder = 16 Tracks (256 Sectors per Cylinder, 128KB per Cylinder)
If one is used, the FAT Partition must not overlap the CP/M slices.
In the case of hd1k, the CP/M slices are within partition 0x2E and the
FAT partition must not start after the last CP/M slice, but does not need to start immediately after it nor does it need to extend to the end of the hard disk.
Drive letters in CP/M are ASSIGNed to the numbered slices as desired.
At boot, RomWBW automatically assigns up to 8 slices to drive letters
starting with the first available drive letter (typically C:).
Microsoft Windows will assign a single drive letter to the FAT partition
when the CF/SD Card is inserted. The drive letter assigned has no
relationship to the CP/M drive letters assigned to CP/M slices.
In general, Windows, MacOS, or Linux know nothing about the CP/M slices
and CP/M knows nothing about the FAT partition. However, the FAT
application can be run under CP/M to access the FAT partition
programmatically.
A CP/M slice is (re)initialized using the CP/M command CLRDIR. A CP/M
slice can be made bootable by copying system image to the System Area
using SYSCOPY.
The FAT partition can be created from CP/M using the FDISK80 application.
The FAT partition can be initialized using the FAT application from CP/M
using the command `FAT FORMAT n:` where n is the RomWBW disk unit
number containing the FAT partition to be formatted.
## Modern Disk Layout (hd1k)
![Modern Disk Layout](Graphics/hd1k)
The CP/M filesystem on a Modern disk will accommodate 1,024 directory
entries.
The CP/M slices reside entirely within a hard disk partition of type
0x2E. The number of slices is determined by the number of slices that
fit within the partition spaces allocated up to the maximum of 256.
## Classic Disk Layout (hd512)
![Classic Disk Layout](Graphics/hd512)
The CP/M filesystem on a Classic disk will accommodate 512 directory
entries.
The CP/M slices reside on the hard disk starting at the first sector
of the hard disk. The number of CP/M slices is not explicitly recorded
anywhere on the hard disk. It is up to the system user to know how
many slices are being used based on the size of the hard disk media
and/or the start of a FAT partition.
A partition table may exist within the first sector of the first
slice. For Classic disks, the partition table defines only the
location and size of the FAT partition. The Partition Table does
not control the location or number of CP/M slices in any way.
The Partition Table resides in a sector that is shared with the System
Area of CP/M Slice 0. However, the RomWBW implementation of CP/M takes
steps to avoid changing or corrupting the Partition Table area.
The FAT partition can be created from CP/M using the FDISK80
application. The user is responsible for ensuring that the start of the
FAT partition does not overlap with the area they intend to use for
CP/M slices. FDISK80 has a Reserve option to assist with this.
# System Boot Process
A multi-phase boot strategy is employed. This is necessary because at