Date   : Wed, 15 Feb 1984 15:51:01 EST (Wed)
From   : Mike Ciaraldi <ciaraldi@Rochester.ARPA>
Subject: Re: Need help designing homebrew system

I would recommend some good books on designing digital and
computer hardware.

Don Lancaster's "TTL Cookbook" covers the basics, and I think
he has one for microprocessors now.

Sol Libes and someone whose name I forgot have a book
on interfacing to the S-100 bus. I realize you are using the
Multibus, but the principles are similar.

You might also get the books Godbout publsihes which collect
all the technical manuals of their products.

Intel makes several Multibus CPU, memory, and peripheral boards.
I think they will send you tech manuals, including schematics, for
free.


In addition, if you want to run CP/M 3.0 you will need
bank switching so the CPU can address more than 64K of memory.
Just having a latch for hig-order address lines may not
be enough.


finally, for bringing up the software, look at the sample
BIOS's in the SIMTEL archives. It is much easier to
produce a working CP/M operating systemif you have access
to another CP/M system with assembler, editor, and
compatible disk drives.

Good luck!

Mike Ciaraldi
ciaraldi@rochester