[Coco] CoCoNet beta release

[Sean]

Thanks Roger!

But I thought we were going to be getting our SD card Drive Paks for Christmas!

On Wed, Dec 23, 2009 at 11:38 PM, Roger Taylor <operator at coco3.com> wrote:
> Merry Christmas all,
>
> Now that we're on the subject of CoCo to PC and storage solutions for the
> CoCo - this might be a good time to throw a basic version of CoCoNet out
> there to get some feedback.
>
> The CoCoNet ROM is 16K and is a replacement for Disk BASIC 1.1  It works on
> any CoCo with Extended BASIC.  CoCoNet is currently primarily a multi-drive
> system with the ability to mount PC and web .dsk files and save remote files
> onto remote-mounted virtual disks.  These basic features combine to form a
> very powerful and unique storage system for almost any CoCo.
>
> We've got several ROMs out there that only give one or two types of disk
> drives.  My ROM will continue to add more DOS-compatible "drives" to the mix
> over time.  This includes RAM disks, hard drives, Flash drives, MicroSD pak
> drives (blazing 230400 bps), bitbanger drives, floppy drives, network
> drives, and any others I can think of.
>
> The ideal solution for letting the CoCo deal with remote files and
> networking features is to have the PC server deposit files onto virtual
> disks for the CoCo, offloading 99% of the work and hassle.  The CoCo
> basically says "give me this file or disk" and then it appears to the CoCo
> in a native format it already has support for in Disk BASIC.
>
> Use a CoCo-to-PC cable (mine) or a DriveWIre cable, or any other basic 4-pin
> CoCo bitbanger serial cable and get 115200 bps virtual drives for using .dsk
> images stored on your PC or the web.
> Use a Tandy RS-232 Pak or my Deluxe Wireless RS-232 Pak, and get 115200 bps
> virtual drives.  With the wireless pak, the CoCo finds your PC and connects
> automatically within a few seconds.
> Using a Drive Pak (MicroSD card pak), CoCoNet gets a massive 2gb of storage
> (that's a lot for a CoCo).
> Real drives are supported as well.
>
> All drive types are possible at the same time.  You can mount one of each
> drive type to each CoCo drive 0-3, or 4 of each, 2 and 2, etc.  BACKUP,
> COPY, LOAD, SAVE, etc. between all drive types (web disks are read-only,
> however).
>
> RAM disks haven't been added yet, but should be in the official release or
> 1.1.
>
> There are currently a few bugs/issues that could leave the CoCo in an
> undesired state after an error occurs in BASIC.   CoCoNet switches between
> the ROM and All-RAM map at times and currently doesn't have error trapping
> to put the CoCo back in it's native mode.  I know how to do this, but I've
> been short on time.
>
> The CoCoNet server applet should work on any Windows PC that has the .NET
> framework 2.0 installed.  The .ini file controls what disks are initially
> mounted over the serial links, and all sorts of other settings.  You can
> also mount disks by pathname or URL *FROM THE COCO*.
>
> CoCoNet finds the most likely important disk drive system out of the ones
> available and attempts to run *.BAS on startup from that device.  The track
> 34 scanner has been disabled for now, where a 'DOS' command would be issued
> automatically on powerup if the disk is bootable that way.
>
> A 6551 remote copy of NitrOS-9 is premounted on drive 0 with this beta
> release.  In other words, NitrOS-9 boots on the CoCo over your serial pak or
> wireless pak, and the .dsk resides on your PC as you use it on your CoCo.
>
>
> http://www.coco3.com/community/coconet_beta.zip
> --
> ~ Roger Taylor
>
>
>
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