Blog
After the work on the Suska ip core has been slowed down this years in the light of recent events, the core is roughly in a state as of February this year. Nevertheless the Suska-III-C core has been improved a little bit. In the download area there are all respective files. Interesting for the owners o a Suska-III-C boards might be the timing improved configuration files which provide a better stability of the boards.
TTYL
Wolfgang
Posted by Wolfgang on Dec 26, 2011
works as of February 2011: the development of the Suska ip core continues steadily. Due to the availability of the different Suska hardware platforms Suska-III-C, Suska-III-B and Suska-III-T, the development of the microcontroller firmware and the digital modelling of the FPGAs results in parallel development.
Suska-III-B:
We work on the completion of the firm- and configware of the Suska-III-B boards. While the configware (digital modelling) of the FPGA is at 100%, the completion of the firmware of the Atmel microcontroller which handles the system control, the PS/2 mouse- and keyboard transfer and the SD card management will last a while.
Suska-III-C:
The Suska-III-C ip core, which is developed and maintenanced since years, is currently examined concerning incompatibilities and improved in this sense. Smaller bug fixes were done in the recent time (DMA sound, real time clock). There are some programs which do not work on Suska-III-C. We currently evaluate, if the 68K00 ip core could be responsible for this behaviour. The firmware of two microcontrollers (PS/2 and system control) is complete. The third controller which shall handle the sd card and the ability to upgrade the FPGA respective boot device via the sd card is in progress means is developed hand in hand to the work on the Suska-III-B firmware. Currently the is no publicly available sd card firmware for this controller.
Suska-III-T:
the work on the ip core of the smallest but most performant Suska board is turning out to be most complex of all. Because the Suska-III-T hardware is developed completely as a 32 bit system, there is a need to have the 68030 microprocessor available. Therefore the work currently focuses on the development of the digital model of such a 68030 respective the 68K30 ip core which shall later provide a functional compatible model compared to the original CPU. The current status is as follows: the bus controller in conjunction with the internal data- and instruction caches, the cache controller and the memory management unit (MMU) which interferes with the mentioned functional modules is completed and in intensively testing. We assume, that the completion of the 68K30 will last a longer time up to now.
wf
Posted by Wolfgang on Feb 24, 2011
The Suska ip core version 2K10B is available for download now (20101229). What's ahead? This year we will provide new hardware and extensions over the existing ip core. Happy New Year to all; have fun.
w.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jan 01, 2011
After a lazy Summer, the development of the different Suska ip cores will proceed from today.
Posted by Wolfgang on Oct 01, 2010
We have released the Suska-III-C configware in it's version 2K10A. We have introduced several details, which resulted among others from feedback of users of the Suska-III-C boards. Generally spoken, the new configware version can be considered a maintenance release. Unfortunately we are very busy in the moment and can not provide both, software and hardware development. So we have decided to bring out more suffisticated changes in the version 2K10B if there are people supporting the project by writing software for example drivers for ethernet, audio or USB. Have a look at the release notes in the Configware directory.
enjoy WF.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jun 28, 2010
Currently we work on several updates of the Suska-III-C IP core. We have improved the ACSI-SCSI bridge to get SCSI-II devices working. Furthermore there is an updated RP5C15 real time clock emulation; so we have now a working real time clock. There are also investigations to improve the audio DAC functionality and the DMA sound system.
The IP core of Suska-III-B is nearly finished. More informations on Suska-III-B will be released in the near future.
Posted by Wolfgang on Feb 22, 2010
The Suska IP Core in it's version 2K9B is out now. It features improved stability a bunch of improvements resulting from the feedback of the Suska-III-C boards and significant changes to prepare the core concerning Falcon functionality and upgrade capability. See the readme file for more information. You can download the stuff from www.experiment-s.de.
WF
Posted by Wolfgang on Dec 25, 2009
The Suska IP core for the Suska-III-C boards will be released in December in version 2K9B. It features excellent stability and fixes some bugs. Furthermore there are several significant sructural changes to meet better compatibility for enhancements concerning Falcon functionality. Shortly the Suska-III-B will be presented on experiment-s.
Posted by Wolfgang on Nov 20, 2009
The Suska IP core is now in a rather stable condition. The feedback of testers using the Suska-III-C board gave us very useful information to improve several details. The Suska-III-C boards has been exhibited on the Eurocon 2009 in Vienna and the ABBUC annual general meeting in October 2009. Suska-III-C will feature in the future Falcon functionality. Therefore we work on the IP cores of the COMBEL, the VIDEL and the Falcon DMA. The working title of this effort is 'Core-F' which will first be released as a configuration file especially for the Suska-III-C boards.
WF.
Posted by Wolfgang on Oct 30, 2009
Suska-III-C can now handle PS/2 keyboards and mice. The Joystick 1 is useable via the auxiliary port of the PS/2 microcontroller.
Posted by Wolfgang on Sep 10, 2009
There are investigations to enhance the Suska IP core. Among others there are foreseen the following modules:
1. The hard disk driver HDDRIVER is loaded from a serial EEPROM during the boot process.
2. More video modi.
3. Updates of the operating system or the IP core may be installed via a SD card. There is no necessity for programming adapters any more.
4. Implement 68030 functionality to the CPU IP core. In this way, the Falcon TOS should work.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jul 10, 2009
The Suska-III-C Boards are now available. Please visit the Inventronik shop for further details.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jul 10, 2009
Suska-III-C tests are in progress and up to now successful. We currently prepare information material and user manuals.
Posted by Wolfgang on Apr 13, 2009
The Suska-III-C (classic) series is now in production. If all works fine, the first boards can be expected on March 20th.
Posted by Wolfgang on Mar 07, 2009
The core 2K8B is ready for download from this site.
Posted by Wolfgang on Dec 24, 2008
The code freeze for the configware version 2K8B is done. We will add some documentation, change the folder tree in the download section a little bit and will then release the sources as supposed on December 24th.
Posted by Wolfgang on Dec 15, 2008
The core 2K8B is now near the code freeze and will be released as expected on December 24th. Most significant changes are a fully working CPU and a stable system running EmuTos and almost all TOS versions.
Posted by Wolfgang on Nov 22, 2008
After weeks of intensive CPU debugging the status is now, that emutos and all TOS versions except TOS 1.02 are in a working condition. The core debugging was heavily supported by T. Gubener, who could evaluate several CPU bugs using his sophisticated CPU validator. Thanks to T. Gubener for this great job. Not working are currently the disk access and the Blitter.
Posted by Wolfgang on Sep 05, 2008
Core 2K8A released.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jul 16, 2008
Currently we prepare to release the Suska IP core version 2K8A. It is in a condition, that allows TOS 1.00 and EmuTOS to boot up-to the desktop. All desktop functions seem to work properly and the execution speed is fairly good. Unfortunately the drives are not working yet (see 2008-05-20). Atari TOS version 1.02 will not boot properly and ends up with bombs. TOS 1.04, TOS 1.62 and TOS 2.06 go through the boot process, but show an ugly desktop which is in no way useable. The release version 2K8A is meant to get feedback from interested developers. We think that the remaining problems are CPU related. If there is anybody out there who can help, please feel free and contribute any comments or testing results.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jul 07, 2008
Here we are again, two weeks later. We have been using almost all our free time to play with Suska. TOS 2.06 now runs up to the memory test screen. This worked after optimizing the Microwire interface and adding a few shadow registers. We make is so far that we see the message ‘Memory Test Complete’. After that the system stops. Hacking the keyboard produces the key click sounds, therefore the system seems to be waiting for ???
Debbuging without source code is really hard. If someone knows what TOS is waiting for … PLEASE LET US KNOW!
Posted by Jens on Jun 05, 2008
No success with the floppy yet. We are not sure if this has been tested in EmuTOS (since EmuTOS mainly runs on the Atari-Emulators like Hatari or Aranym). For now we’ll use the original TOS 2.06 (german version) to check if Suska runs with that.
The first trial was problematic. We saw a screen full of horizontal stripes.
Posted by Jens on May 20, 2008
The menu problem has us stumped, so for now we’ll attack the floppy problem. The improperly detected drives are gone. When we attach a floppy to the board it shows up correctly as drive A:. However we’re still trying to teach it how to read and write.
Posted by Jens on May 09, 2008
Two and a half weeks later, we have solved our mouse problem. It was a failure in the interrupt handling of the CPU. Currently we have 12 drives (floppy and hard drives) on the Desktop although there are none attached. Another effect we observe freezes the menu selection spontaneously. At least unfreezing it is easy, just press any key on the keyboard.
Posted by Jens on Apr 30, 2008
Yeah! We see the EmuTOS Desktop on the screen! Well, as long as we don’t move the mouse. If we do, the system crashes or the mouse pointer jumps all over the screen. This has been the state of affairs for several days. We have no idea what is behind that. It’s a chewy situation!
Posted by Jens on Apr 10, 2008
Ok, we make progress. We see the EmuTOS start screen. Debugging with Jens really helps. He creates test versions and with Aranym we are then able to compare the behaviour of our 68k CPU with the one Aranym uses (60030). So far we have the impression that our 68k CPU isn’t bad at all ;-).
Posted by Jens on Mar 18, 2008
Suska works better and better. Jens has taken over programming the microcontrollers. One MC will be used to flash the Proms, the other is for the configware of the FPGA. No Byteblaster of any sort is needed. We decided to go with EmuTOS as Suskas operating system. Compared to the original TOS we gain the advantage of being able to debug with source codes. Our first start of the OS was sobering though. Nothing on the screen. No sound … sigh!
Posted by Jens on Feb 02, 2008
Straight forward we go. The IP core has been altered to allow a Bootloader to write the OS into Flash-Proms. For this we use a serial interface and small command line program on the PC side. The SD-RAMs are also functional.
Posted by Jens on Jan 15, 2008
I didn’t have much time lately, way too much other work. However, the circuit board has been assembled and the first test looks promising. All voltages, the clock system, the additional microcontrollers, Active Serial and the JTAG interface work.
Posted by Jens on Dec 05, 2007
Finally, after a delay, the Suska-Classic Circuit Board has been produced and will soon be assembled. So far no errors have been found neither in layout nor in schematics.
Posted by Jens on Oct 04, 2007
After another six months of development, the core 2K7A is ready for download from this site. There is also the forthcoming Suska-III hardware.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jun 18, 2007
After about 8 month of development, the 68K00 core is coming slowly to it’s completion. After the alpha version was published in December 2006, the core is now under intensive testing. 55 of the about 80 operations are tested up to now and can be considered probably working. The core can be expected in early summer.
Posted by Wolfgang on May 07, 2007
The version 2K7A of the Suska IP core ist currently under construction. Main changes against the 2K6B are a modified CPU and several changes in peripheral modules. The core is now 100% compatible with the Suska-III hardware which is developed right now.
Posted by Wolfgang on Feb 26, 2007
The Suska version 2K6B core ist out now. You can download it from this site. The most conspicuous features are the 68000 core in alpha state and the top level file for a whole STE machine in a chip. For more information see the respective readme files. Enjoy.
Posted by Wolfgang on Dec 24, 2006
The 68000 processor is now under development. All modules except the opcode control state machine and the top level file are finished. The ALU supports the MULL and DIVL from the 68020 and up.The work is progressing straight forward.
Posted by Wolfgang on Oct 04, 2006
We have a wonderful summer in Germany. Therefore I am very lazy. The work is concentrating on English translation of my web site and in some minor enhancements for the Suska IP core.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jul 27, 2006
The Atari IP core sourcecodes are now available for download in version 2K6A.
Posted by Wolfgang on Jun 10, 2006
The project site of the Atari IP cores is now established. For the core is nearly finished in its first version, the download section was added a project tree. Uploads in the near future.
Posted by Wolfgang on Apr 06, 2006
