Need your opinion regarding GR8NET capabilities | MSX Resource Center (Pagina 40/58)

Van AxelStone

Prophet (3199)

29-05-2017, 11:18

Hi @ Eugeny_Brychkov, how much it costs with shipping to Spain? Thanks.

Van Eugeny_Brychkov

Paragon (1232)

29-05-2017, 13:29

Manuel wrote:

Eugeny, can you give an overview what GR8NET is actually doing that makes this possible?

In quick: it loads data from SD-card, manages it (e.g. puts pics to screen, sprites to their respective areas in VRAM), and loads and plays music. GR8NET's buffer RAM is 1MB, and it is possible to load significant graphics and audio data into it.
Download archive, and look into BASIC program.

AxelStone wrote:

Hi @ Eugeny_Brychkov, how much it costs with shipping to Spain? Thanks.

Please send me email.

Van DarkSchneider

Paragon (1030)

29-05-2017, 14:25

After reading the manual, I really feel this like a real MSX device, it includes BIOS access to its features, BASIC extension...impressive.
Witn only one device, we get network, MSX-Audio and PCM among others that are really useful.
Network gaming, with MSX-Audio, and PCM samples? And all in one single device?

It includes the MSX-Audio BIOS functionality? Not the program that boots with the cartridge, I mean its BIOS and EXTBIO, like with the MSX-Music.

IMO is very imporant that all the features to be available at BIOS level, so ASM/C/Pascal developers could have access to all them.

Van Eugeny_Brychkov

Paragon (1232)

29-05-2017, 15:07

DarkSchneider wrote:

It includes the MSX-Audio BIOS functionality? Not the program that boots with the cartridge, I mean its BIOS and EXTBIO, like with the MSX-Music.

There're limitations by the MSX standard design. Cartridge can expand the slot, but subslot 0 is GR8NET itself, subslot 1 is mapped RAM, subslot 2 is Nextor and subslot 3 can be any other thing. For mapper mode 8 for this any other thing I have chosen MSX-MUSIC BIOS for simple reason - because YM2413 will not be detected without this BIOS, while Y8950 can be detected through its I/O ports.

Van Wolverine_nl

Paragon (1160)

29-05-2017, 16:13

Eugeny_Brychkov wrote:

I did not implement NFS or Windows sharing, however had such thoughts. GR8NET firmware can access HTTP-based resources through web browser or using netbload.

I was talking about (Server Message Block) SMB protocol, which is supported by MAC OS, Unix, Windows/DOS etc.

Eugeny_Brychkov wrote:

Wolverine_nl wrote:

lets say a Rasp.Pi

Can it work as web server?

Raspberry Pi, yes it can.

Eugeny_Brychkov wrote:

Wolverine_nl wrote:

or pc folder without the files inside an image.

I do not understand. Folder without files? Which image are you talking about? Please explain.

no, sorry, a bit confusing sentence, here is it more clear:
like a shared folder on another workstation or file server within a LAN, probably using SMB protocol :)
Not like Nowind USB interface, which connects to a shared DSK file (image) ;)

Van DarkSchneider

Paragon (1030)

29-05-2017, 17:19

Eugeny_Brychkov wrote:

DarkSchneider wrote:

It includes the MSX-Audio BIOS functionality? Not the program that boots with the cartridge, I mean its BIOS and EXTBIO, like with the MSX-Music.

There're limitations by the MSX standard design. Cartridge can expand the slot, but subslot 0 is GR8NET itself, subslot 1 is mapped RAM, subslot 2 is Nextor and subslot 3 can be any other thing. For mapper mode 8 for this any other thing I have chosen MSX-MUSIC BIOS for simple reason - because YM2413 will not be detected without this BIOS, while Y8950 can be detected through its I/O ports.

Ok it makes sense. Don't know how is made, but if subslots (but the 0 that is the device itself), or at least that subslot 3 could be multiplexed (so select what to be with a selector) would be great. I.e. set it as MSX-Music, and would be like now, set it as MSX-Audio, and then the MSX-Music is hidden and the MSX-Audio would be raised to be at subslot 3, etc.
But unless the device is made with a fully programmable implementation I suppose is not possible, if at some parts depends on pure hardware, because it would require a complete revision for the switching support.

Van Eugeny_Brychkov

Paragon (1232)

29-05-2017, 17:43

Wolverine_nl wrote:

like a shared folder on another workstation or file server within a LAN, probably using SMB protocol

Current protocol implementations are:
- HTTP through browser, thus you can browse your Pi being a server;
- TCP and HTTP through BASIC OPEN statement (see respective manual chapter);
- UDP through BASIC OPEN and SNDDTG call.

I did not investigate how SMB works, but you can use TCP or UDP BASIC capability to write your own implementation of the protocol in BASIC. Yes, in BASIC! If you will do it, then we can port it into assembler and I will consider its inclusion into GR8NET ROM.

Van Eugeny_Brychkov

Paragon (1232)

29-05-2017, 17:46

DarkSchneider wrote:

I.e. set it as MSX-Music, and would be like now, set it as MSX-Audio, and then the MSX-Music is hidden and the MSX-Audio would be raised to be at subslot 3, etc.

I can do it, I think there's still space for MSX-AUDIO ROM in flash chip, and it will require changes to FPGA configuration.
The only issue you should be aware of that you will not be able to switch ROMs "on the fly", reboot will be required.

DarkSchneider wrote:

But unless the device is made with a fully programmable implementation I suppose is not possible, if at some parts depends on pure hardware, because it would require a complete revision for the switching support.

FPGAs are powerful, that's why they are there!

Van Robby

Master (219)

29-05-2017, 20:52

Hi Eugeny,
Question, is the functionality CALLNETPLAYWAV in order to play mp3's expired? Because i receive a illegal function call. However, i am able to play a mp3 file through call netbrowse, accessing my sdcard and pressing tab.

Van Eugeny_Brychkov

Paragon (1232)

29-05-2017, 22:02

Robby wrote:

is the functionality CALLNETPLAYWAV in order to play mp3's expired?

There's nothing to expire. There's no term license

Robby wrote:

iBecause i receive a illegal function call.

There's magic command CALLNETCODE which may give you idea about the source of the issue.

Robby wrote:

However, i am able to play a mp3 file through call netbrowse, accessing my sdcard and pressing tab.

Please contact me by email or skype or FB chat, my first idea that there's something wrong with arguments.