No, AFAIK the new version of the OF has not yet been released. But if you had anything to say about the development of the Pegasos Open Firmware implementation, what would you ask for? What features, fixes, etc would you suggest?

I would like to see the following:

1. A possibility to set an "ide-delay" system variable in the OF. A "setenv ide-delay 3" command could perhaps take care of cold booting problems on slow-starting Seagate HDD's (and certain IBM's) on G4 systems in a "cleaner" way than manually editing a delay loop in the nvramrc?

2. Ability to read more file systems.

3. Ability to use USB mouse and keyboard in the OF.

4. Ability to boot from USB mass storage devices.

5. MACs for *both* gigabit interfaces.

6. I don't know which (if any) of the hardware performance aspects that is set by the firmware, and/or set in hardware. I think it would be cool to be able to change clock speeds etc from the open firmware in some way. Perhaps through a few "preset programmes", ranging from "100% fail-safe" to "aggressive overcklocking".

Any more suggestions/wishes?

AFAIK

2 and 3 are in the new OF... 4 is not.. not sure about 5 and number 6 is a NO NO. Just what bplan needs is users overclocking and killing their cpus...

magnetic

I agree with all that takemehomegrandma said except 6, I like a lot if they add support (both in OF and MorphOS) for some kmown Serial ATA PCI controllers, SATA HDDs are more silent and faster

Could be funny some eye-candy things on OF like possibility of doing graphic menus.
About OF related but MorphOS too, an official OF and menu condigurator for MorphOS, with the possibility of design the OF menu...

What kind of graphic-enhancement do you mean? Like U-Boot or like TOS build-in in the ROM?

This would be nice, but not really important.

I don't know U-Boot or TOS but i prefer the simple prompt that i'm used to have on "my" sun machines. The clear and straight forward OF is one of the pegasos key features to me. So my advice is: KISS!

Timo

Graphic enhancement is possible in the current OF. (How do you think that nice Bplan logo comes up?) This was demonstrated by Bplan @ SNDF Dallas. Also "Startup Tones" are possible. As I recommended in a previous thread, get a FORTH programming manual and have a ball!

@Sndf DAllas bplan had the Freescale logo come up with a boot tone upon power up!



magnetic

I miss the ability to boot MorphOS from SCSI-CDROM with Symbios-PCI-Card.

How is the Peg II for warm-reboot times?

With my Peg I/G3 the warm reboot is just as long and time-consuming as a cold boot. And it's annoying. The A1 warm reboot is instantaneous compared to the Peg I's - and thats after thinking the Peg I warm reboot was fast when I first saw it!!!!

A boot menu is a must IMO. Although I only run one OS (1.4.2) I appreciate the need to have a menu for multi-OS's. Even if to start with its just a text based job.

Bifford

@Magnetic,

Good advise, haven't programmed forth in about 10 years.
just bought a book from Barnes & Noble.
Also their is a ppcforth program that works in the Mos shell. It is
very basic but gives a start on Mos to work from (outside of the
openfirmware).

@all,

If we knew forth most of the suggestions could be done by us
without waiting for Bplan to implement them. Let them spend their
time on the essentials, like lowprofile motherboard designs and 1.3ghz
7447a's for me

Thanks,

Another thing: It would be very nice to be able to choose different international keyboard layouts in some kind of variable. This should not be too difficult? It's quite annoying to having to remember/experimenting on where all the characters are when you use that american(?) OF key-layout with a Swedish keyboard!


@ Bifford

Regarding Peg2 warmboot times -- I can't spot any difference here between the Peg1 and Peg2. The hardware seems to get re-initialized at warmboots, just like the Peg1.

Katos,
Now thats the Spirit! Please, when you create your ultra cool Forth Scripts for the Peg OF please share them on MZ! :)

magnetic


Disclaimer: Of course, fooling with the OF voids your warranty with Bplan iirc...

@magnetic

I dont think that forth scripts used into OF avoid the warranty, if it does I thimk that must be changed.

@takemehomegrandma

I agree, I was forgeted to say that, Im spanish and is quite anonying to use the american keymkap with my spanish keynoard...

No 1 seems to be fixed with the new SmartFirmware version that came with the ODWs that were handed out at SNDF/Frankfurt. I no longer have any ide-problems cold booting my Pegasos.

-possibility to boot big linux images on peg1 (i dont known exactly
the problem, was told it is initrd size that is too big)

-mouse moves no more disturbing or/and preventing to boot on peg1

-possibility on peg1 to make menus WITH timeout like on peg2

-possibilty for linux to really reboot peg1

[ Edited by jah on 2004/10/27 13:58 ]

Dholm:
Did you try another drive with your ODW? I still use the 40 GB Seagate
and AFAIK it only concerns larger drives.

Am I wrong?

Update:

Today I received the book, "Forth Applications" by S. D. Roberts, 1989 Elcomp Publishing.

Although it covers Forth83 its packed with code. And for $9.45 + shipping, I think it will be well worth it. In 150 Pages it covers the basics of Data Structures, AI, Recursion Procedures, small business programs( Database etc..,) Graphics and Games.

Most of my forth experience is with 8-bit computers, like the c64/128, using JForth95 so I am sure this willl help refresh me. I am anxious to dig in...

Thanks for the suggestion Magnetic.

katos1

That's it, the OF needs an AI an some business programs. SCNR ;)

Of course it needs AI, Don't we all


And you think the OF needs Games?

Ok, i could need an ai sometimes, that's right.
But please, please no games in the OF, or i will never see MOS again.

ironfist:
Nope, but I installed the update on my regular Pegasos which used to have that problem :)

[ Edited by dholm on 2004/10/27 23:21 ]

>SATA HDDs are more silent

*LOL*

Btw, I suggested to include OpenFirmware Pong.
Anyone wants to try if the http://members.aol.com/plforth/ofpong/20020313/ofpong.txt works?

Ofpong doesn't work (at least on my peg1 with 1-year old firmware): "undefined symbol {"

Leo.

[ Edited by Leo on 2004/10/28 15:04 ]

I would like to see a memory testing function in new OF versions... *sigh*

ij

@ingoj

That seems interesting, since normal users to resellers (not need to use an OS for check that).

About Serial ATA support, OS4 ppl has it, but not in u-boot... Time for a chance?

How about HFS file support in OF?

and OF <> yaboot inbuilt translation...

Maybe even the ability to BOOT a MAC DARWIN CD from the darwin 7.0.1.iso
that is open source.
cd and install it native???

Darwin is open source - and apple allow people to freely download it from their
website in PPC and X86 versions.


Just an idea...

Regards

Niteman1969



[ Edited by niteman1969 on 2004/11/4 20:09 ]