[Coco] Coco > internet... OS9 vs NitrOs9

[Aaron Wolfe]

Ok, I will try to explain it :)

Most of the talk on the list recently has been about using DriveWire
to connect a CoCo to the internet.  DriveWire is not the only way to
do that, but it's a pretty neat way to do it.

DriveWire requires NitrOS-9 to the best of my knowledge.  In fact, in
developing the upcoming version of DriveWire, Boisy has found some old
bugs in OS-9 that are only now corrected in NitrOS-9, and also made
some changes in NitrOS-9 to support things we are doing in DriveWire.
It may be possible to make these same changes in Microware OS-9, but I
would imagine it would be a tremendous amount of work and the end
result would be something basically the same as what NitrOS-9 already
is.

DriveWire provides 15 virtual serial ports under NitrOS-9 using a
single physical port, just the bit banger.  Each of these 15 virtual
ports has it's own virtual modem, built in to the DriveWire server,
which allows legacy telecom programs like terminal programs and BBSes
to be connected to the Internet.  These ports can also be used by new
applications that communicate with the outside world via TCP/IP.  This
makes it possible to run a web server, telnet, ftp or an IRC client on
the Coco, and that's just the beginning.

Without DriveWire, you can still do a limited amount of connection
between the outside world and the Coco.  You won't have things like a
web server or other internet functionality, but you can still make
telnet connections in and out (run a bbs, etc).  You need a physical
serial port (6551 and/or bitbanger should work)  for each line, so in
your case you could theoretically get 4 lines up.  You will also need
the same number of serial ports on your PC (or multiple PCs) and
cables between everything.  You will need software to bridge each
serial port to a TCP socket.  The "Internet Modem" program can do this
for one port.  I do not know if it is possible to run multiple copies
of the Internet Modem program on one PC, but you'd need to do
something like that to have a virtual modem on each serial port.
There are other programs besides Internet Modem that do this same
thing, maybe one can be found that supports multiple serial ports more
easily.

As mentioned earlier, yet another option for systems without NitrOS-9
and Drivewire would be a terminal server.  These often have 4,8,16, or
more serial ports.  Again you will need one serial port on CoCo for
each line you want to make available.  A terminal server would
probably work better for incoming connections than for outgoing, since
it does not include a "virtual modem" type of functionality.  There
may still be a way to use it to make outbound connections, it just
won't work like a modem.

So in a nutshell.. NitrOS-9 + DriveWire gives you 15 lines all with
internet modem and more using just the bitbanger and one cable.
Regular OS-9 requires one serial port per line, a PC with the same
number of serial ports, the same number of serial cables, and then
some software running on each serial port to do the virtual modem bit.

Hopefully that makes sense, if not, I can try to answer any specific
questions you have.
-Aaron



On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 10:46 PM, George Ramsower
<georgeramsower at gmail.com> wrote:
>  I'm an idiot on this.
>
>  I don't understand why MWare OS9 and Nitros9 can't be used in the same way.
>
>  In an earlier post "Coco on the internet - how do I do that?"...
>
> ----------------------------------------
> On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 10:52 AM, Sean <badfrog> wrote:
>> There is another method that shouldn't rely on NitrOS9. Look into a
>> device called a Lanronix, it converts serial to LAN, you telnet to the
>> device and it passes through the serial. Unfortunately they are
>> rather expensive.
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 12:19 AM, Aaron Wolfe <aawolfe> wrote:
>>> Without NitrOS9 your options are a bit limited (only one line unless
>>> you have multiple 6551s), but it can be done. You just need an
>>> program like "Internet Modem"
>>>
>  ---------------------------------------
>
>
>  If I want to connect my coco to the internet, emulating multiple modems, why does it require Nitros9?
>
>  I do understand that it will require a new driver for the serial port.
>
>  Is the new <bit banger driver> written in such a way that it is not compatible with MW OS9?
>
>  What elements of Nitros9 would be required if they were to be built into a MWare boot disk? (Frankinos9)
>  Or.. does this require a new operating system(Nitros9)?
>
>  BTW: I have a CC3 6809, 512k, with three 6551 com ports, an available bit banger and a SCSI drive. I don't know if that info helps or if there is not enough info.
>
>  I like the idea of using the bit banger port. It would be a lot simpler than building a system using a "console server"(I'm not clear on how THAT works) and my existing com ports.
>  The bit banger would serve my intentions well.
>
> George(the idiot)
>
>
> --
> Coco mailing list
> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>