Configuring XEN-PC 560 (Revenge) with Specialix card under SCO Unix

This bulletin concerns the XEN-PC 560 fitted with the Revenge motherboard, product code RA.

As is the case with other systems the Specialix card requires 32k of shared RAM and this RAM must not be cached or set aside for shadowing of ROM. (IPB 3140 details setup issues in a XEN-LS II and Samurai based XEN-PC. IPB 3162 details setup issues in the FT//ex.)

The cache issue does not arise on the XEN-PC 560, but the settings relating to shadowing do have to be set correctly.

By default there is no shared RAM available for add in cards. IPB 2192 details this general issue, but the following steps have been verified by Unix Support to configure a working Specialix card Under SCO Unix:

1. Shortly after power-on press F1 to enter CMOS setup.
   
2. Select Advanced CMOS Setup.
   
3. Change the following two options as follows by using the <PgUp> & <PgDn> keys to cycle through the available choices:

   Disable shadow memory size 64k
   Disable shadow memory base D0000

4. Press <Esc> to return to the main menu.
   
5. Press F10, or select the main menu option, followed by Y to save and exit

Set the Specialix card as follows:

This will set the card to an address of D0000

When installing the Specialix driver we advise selecting polled mode rather than specifying an interrupt so as to leave interrupts free for other uses. Polled operation functions satisfactorily under SCO Unix.

You can safely ignore the questions it asks about how much memory is installed and whether certain other cards are installed that may conflict. Answer no to the question about other conflicting cards (assuming that none are installed). You will then be given settings to be used for SW1, SW2, and LK1, however these can be ignored as they are only a suggestion based on your answers. The settings above should be suitable.

The Specialix driver will find the card on whatever valid RAM address setting is used, the switches and link on the card can be changed if clashes occur without re-installing the driver. The polled operating mode (or the IRQ used if an IRQ has been selected) is coded into the driver at install time, to change this requires a re-installation of the driver.

This IPB supersedes IPB 3179 issued on 23 September. Please destroy the previous version.

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