BlueSCSI and the x68000

[Reechard]

I purchased an open source BlueSCSI device from one of the sellers at https://scsi.blue and it booted up the v4 image first try with no issues. I definitely recommend this device and it's the cheapest SD <> SCSI solution I found by far. I ordered a 25pin external for my Compact XVI, but I see no reason why the 50pin wouldn't work just as well. I searched the forums and only saw the device mentioned once, buried in another thread.

[spud]

Compared to RaSCSi this is purely HDD right? So no networking or anything, even if you'd get a ESP32 kinda thing with wifi?

[Reechard]

That's correct, it's pure HDD, single device. I don't see why the firmware couldn't be expanded at some point to support the wifi ESP32, but I think pure simplicity and lowest price point were the goals of the project. I'm not a microcontroller dev but I looked over the source code and it is a VERY straightforward, no-nonsense application.

[amigo-mexicano]

I bopught one and couldn't make it work with my PRO model. Asking around, it seems it's a problem with the terminator resistor array, not be strong enough in its signal or something like that. How did you set up yours @Reechard ?

[Cyothevile]

I bopught one and couldn't make it work with my PRO model. Asking around, it seems it's a problem with the terminator resistor array, not be strong enough in its signal or something like that. How did you set up yours @Reechard ?

SASI model doesn't provide TERMPWR pin and the MCU won't get power.

It requires external power for the HDD emulator to run.

[tsmvp]

I purchased an open source BlueSCSI device from one of the sellers at https://scsi.blue and it booted up the v4 image first try with no issues. I definitely recommend this device and it's the cheapest SD <> SCSI solution I found by far. I ordered a 25pin external for my Compact XVI, but I see no reason why the 50pin wouldn't work just as well. I searched the forums and only saw the device mentioned once, buried in another thread.

Using an XVI Compact here as well. Which BlueSCSI device did you get? The one with the DB-25 connector or with the black, rectangular one? And for the cable, what did you get? I mean I am going to buy one but it seems the external one with the DB-25 is really great for Macs but performance is better (that is what I have heard) with the 'internal' one. My plan is to 3D print a small enclosure that looks like the real external X68000 disks that were sold back in the day and have it painted the same color, etc so it looks like a nice, 'real' HD (LOL). But ideally I want to minimize the amount of cables, adapters, etc going from the XVI Compact to the damn BlueSCSI.

CR

[ImportantBet]

@tsmvp

I would avoid DB25 - I don't know of a 1:1 adapter that would connect DB25 to Compact SCSI port. And yes, I believe they have slower transfer speeds than internal models.

You have more connection flexibility with the internal ones instead if you were to ever swap between different computers.

[Cyothevile]

You guys with the compacts REALLY need to get that adaptor off of Yahoo, and then a SCSI50 to IDC50 cable.

[hyrulebr]

I purchased an open source BlueSCSI device from one of the sellers at https://scsi.blue and it booted up the v4 image first try with no issues. I definitely recommend this device and it's the cheapest SD <> SCSI solution I found by far. I ordered a 25pin external for my Compact XVI, but I see no reason why the 50pin wouldn't work just as well. I searched the forums and only saw the device mentioned once, buried in another thread.

Did you bought an external version like that?

https://jcm-1.com/product/bluescsi-db-25-external-v1-1a/

[Soyburger]

Where did you get your hard drive image and how did you label it? I downloaded what I thought was the correct V4 image, but I'm not sure and it won't boot or show up on my X68000 at all. So I assume the image I'm using is bad or not formatted correctly.

[Jehuty]

Which x68000 do you own an is the boot device set correct in switch.x ?

[Soyburger]

I have a Super HD with a ram expansion and an Xellent30s 030 Accelerator. I have both an external and internal BlueSCSI, but was testing with the external version. I'm brand new so I have no idea what switch.x even is. I'm able to boot using Human68k v2.0 from a retail copy I purchased.

[HIggy]

I am just deciding what SCSI emulator to buy.
I have a CZ-600CE only 1mb at the moment

I am borrowing a friends PiSCSI, but I don't need all the functions and I want to mount it internally so BlueSCSI looks good.

There does not seem to be a clear 'it works' and any info on BlueSCSI Wiki. There are the Termination resistors and Term headers people have played with.
I know I will need to provide separate power as my SASI/SCSI does not provide power.

I have made a CN50 - IDC50 cable (just copied my friends) but I do plan on making a 26-pin to 50-pin cable so I can mount internally. The CZ-600CE has a 26-PIN header but it must be different to the ACE as SCSI cable pictures seem to show a 20-PIN header.

[armitage]

I am trying to get an external BlueSCSI to work on my SUPER. On occasion, when I boot from floppy, it works and I can view the directory of C: but if I set the boot device to SCSI0 (or SCSI1 as in this example) and reboot, the BlueSCSI lights come on, but the machine always freezes up with a blank display and nothing happens.

According to the BlueSCSI log, everything looks okay:

Code Select Expand

BlueSCSI <-> SD - https://github.com/erichelgeson/BlueSCSI
VER: 1.1-20221203-USB
DEBUG:0 SDFAT_FILE_TYPE:3
SdFat version: 2.2.0
Sd Format: exFAT
SPI speed: 50Mhz
SdFat Max FileName Length: 64
Initialized SD Card - let's go!
Sd MID:27 OID:PH
Sd Name:SD32G
Sd Date:3/2022
Sd Serial:746262115
 - HD10 GamesV4SP1.hds HDD / 943718400bytes / 921600KiB / 900MiB
ID:LUN0:
 0:----:
 1: 512:
 2:----:
 3:----:
 4:----:
 5:----:
 6:----:
Finished initialization of SCSI Devices - Entering main loop.

This is with the GamesV4 .hds image on an ExFAT formatted sdcard. I tried a different model of card as well just in case it was that but had the same problem.

Update: it looks like the image works fine as long as I boot from floppy. I can run programs from C: just fine. But the very first time I try and boot from SCSI, the image becomes corrupt and it no longer works at all, even when booting from floppy.

Any ideas what I'm missing here?

Thanks!

[kanjiology]

I am trying to get an external BlueSCSI to work on my SUPER. On occasion, when I boot from floppy, it works and I can view the directory of C: but if I set the boot device to SCSI0 (or SCSI1 as in this example) and reboot, the BlueSCSI lights come on, but the machine always freezes up with a blank display and nothing happens.

According to the BlueSCSI log, everything looks okay:

Code Select Expand

BlueSCSI <-> SD - https://github.com/erichelgeson/BlueSCSI
VER: 1.1-20221203-USB
DEBUG:0 SDFAT_FILE_TYPE:3
SdFat version: 2.2.0
Sd Format: exFAT
SPI speed: 50Mhz
SdFat Max FileName Length: 64
Initialized SD Card - let's go!
Sd MID:27 OID:PH
Sd Name:SD32G
Sd Date:3/2022
Sd Serial:746262115
 - HD10 GamesV4SP1.hds HDD / 943718400bytes / 921600KiB / 900MiB
ID:LUN0:
 0:----:
 1: 512:
 2:----:
 3:----:
 4:----:
 5:----:
 6:----:
Finished initialization of SCSI Devices - Entering main loop.

This is with the GamesV4 .hds image on an ExFAT formatted sdcard. I tried a different model of card as well just in case it was that but had the same problem.

Update: it looks like the image works fine as long as I boot from floppy. I can run programs from C: just fine. But the very first time I try and boot from SCSI, the image becomes corrupt and it no longer works at all, even when booting from floppy.

Any ideas what I'm missing here?

Thanks!

For the x68000 you should use the ArdSCSino firmware, it is specifically targeting x68k
Pin compatible with the bluescsi hardware https://github.com/ztto/ArdSCSino-stm32

[kanjiology]

I am having an issue with the bluescsi I hope someone could give me some insight with.

I have a X68000 PRO that I have used with a bluescsi for a couple months now, but now all of a sudden when I use it, I get the issue "low scsi level" and it won't boot the bluescsi any longer. I have not changed anything in my setup. I do notice that when I do a cold boot I can at least get into the HumanOS, but then I cannot actually start up any games I get the abort, refresh message, and after that any subsequent boots gets me the low scsi level warning message and booted to the insert floppy disk screen.

I have tried the following troubleshooting methods:
1. Made sure the bluescsi termination is on.
2. Tried a variety of different SD cards.
3. Checked the molex for the correct voltages.
4. Disconnected/Connected the SCSI cable.
5. Changed the scsi-config file.

I can only guess some component is failing, but I am not sure which one. The IOSC-2 I think should be fine since I am able to boot floppy games fine. I do not think it is a ram issue since I can recreate it pretty much every time.

If anyone has any insight of knowledge on such an issue let me know.

[armitage]

For the x68000 you should use the ArdSCSino firmware, it is specifically targeting x68k
Pin compatible with the bluescsi hardware https://github.com/ztto/ArdSCSino-stm32

Thanks for the info!

I got my hands on the new BlueSCSI v2 and am happy to report it works right out of the box on my SUPER.

[kanjiology]

For the x68000 you should use the ArdSCSino firmware, it is specifically targeting x68k
Pin compatible with the bluescsi hardware https://github.com/ztto/ArdSCSino-stm32

Thanks for the info!

I got my hands on the new BlueSCSI v2 and am happy to report it works right out of the box on my SUPER.

Awesome, maybe I will try and get one of those...

[kanukanu]

Hi everyone,

A gorgeous X68000 Super entered the family fairly recently and so far I've been happy with playing with simple floppy disks, requiring the most basic knowledge possible. In advance, sorry for the silly question but I promise I've spent a good amount of time looking for how to make my BlueSCSI to work.



When I turn the computer on, the BlueSCSI lights blink and everything seems to work perfectly, except that it it not detected.
In it is the X68000_V4.HDS image flashed to a 64GB Fat32 Sandisk SD.

I've read on a FAQ that I needed to press the OPT.1 key to select the boot device. For the moment, the X68000 is looking for a floppy to boot.
Yet, the OPT.1 key does not do anything and, as a matter of fact, neither do all the keyboards keys (I've tried them all).

The seller told me that I only needed a keyboard to make the SCSI device detected and that the master disk floppy was unnecessary for non-SASI models. 

Do I miss something?

[kanjiology]

For bluescsi you don't flash the image on the sd card, you would just drop the file HD00_512.HDA or something similar on there formatted as exFat or Fat32.

[kanukanu]

Thanks Kanjiology. Good to know!
Browsing for a HD00_512.HDA file sent me to 100% Mac or Amiga forums so I've watched this Retrobits video again...

...and he points out to the https://github.com/rdmark/RASCSI-X68k
I think it will get me the files required for my SD card configuration (but will that allows for the BlueSCSI to be detected, I'm not that sure...)

EDIT: ok, wrong way. I'm so not tech-savvy. I'll try the XM6 emulator as mentioned a bit later in the video.

[aotta]

But how did you config boot option in  switch.x setup? Did you select scsi as first?

[kanukanu]

That's my problem, without the master disk, I can't even enter the HumanOS prompt menu. I can't type the "switch" command and I'm basically stuck on this "please insert floppy" screen.

[kanjiology]

That's my problem, without the master disk, I can't even enter the HumanOS prompt menu. I can't type the "switch" command and I'm basically stuck on this "please insert floppy" screen.

You would just rename the V4 image to that, HD00_512.HDA. Your model should support SCSI out of the box without the master floppy.

[kanukanu]

I've tried that but the X68000 Super prompts the same "missing floppy" message... (pictured above)

Now when I launch ChoRenSha and exit the game, I get get the Human68k OS. I've tried the SWITCH command but to no avail. Maybe there's something I could get from here.



Do you know the key to press during the boot sequence to select the boot device?

[Jehuty]

To select the boot device you must press help on Power On / reset. Then the X68000 let you choose from which partition to boot. But i think you have to get at lest a 2nd bootable partition to get the menu.
I don´t know if scsi machines boot from scsi without the selection in switch, i own a XVI and never tried this, alway startet with Mastersdisk and select SCSI0, after the first boot i could select std. My CZ600 with System Sacom SCSI Card also have to first start switch. Switch.x i a executable on the Masterdisk, it isn´t in the Rom. So your try with ChoRenSha can´t work until you copy switch.x on that disk.
Where are you from ?

[kanukanu]

Thanks Jehuty. I'll ask if the seller can make me a MasterDisk because I can get anywhere as of now. And, yep, I've tried the Help key but to no avail.
(I am from France)

EDIT: Finally solved my issue by asking the seller who told me he was using WinImage... which eventually led me to this "Restoring image to physical media" wiki section.
Got hold of a MasterDisk floppy in the meantime but I don't know whether I'd ever use it.