PM24555 PCMCIA flash memory - how interfaced?

I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.

What I know is this:

It is PCMCIA
It is probably 20MB, linear flash
It was made by Intel at one time (but doesn't feature on their
website)
It was also made by Smart Modular Technologies (but likewise) and they
may still be supplying it

I cannot find even a data sheet on it anywhere.

However, it is used in a number of products currently on the market.

Presumably this won't appear as a block storage device in a normal PC,
but should appear (as linear memory) within the address space
somewhere?

As regards writing it, it could be done internally, or the PC would
need to run the usual flash writing code (applying a certain # of
pulses to each location, etc).

Any suggestions on how to use this item would be much appreciated.

Peter.
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E-mail replies to peter240@peter2000AB.co.uk but remove the A and the B.
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In sci.electronics.design Peter <nospam@nospam9876.com> wrote:
> 
> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
> 
> What I know is this:
> 
> It is PCMCIA

Plug it into a linux box.
What does card services report on insertion.
It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.

 Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
>> 
>> What I know is this:
>> 
>> It is PCMCIA
>
>Plug it into a linux box.
>What does card services report on insertion.
>It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.

How would one proceed to make a byte for byte copy of one of these
flash cartridges, for example?

They are marketed as Linear Flash e.g.

http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=A18507

*********
Linear Flash PC Cards support true random access so reads literally
happen in a flash. Not only can these cards access stored data
rapidly; they can also execute programs directly from the card. This
opens the doors for vertical applications. Non volatile Linear Flash
cards are used in a variety of applications, including networking and
telecom equipment, industrial controls and instrumentation. Random
access, ruggedness and reliability are the basic qualities required of
Linear Flash cards. Adding convenient size and low power consumption
makes a sure winner. Linear Flash cards from SMART Modular
Technologies are fully PC Card (Type I) compatible and operate faster
than hard disks, but are removable like floppy disks. Since there are
no moving parts, Linear Flash cards operate reliably in conditions
that can be normally hostile to data. These cards use solid state
components that can be used day-in-day-out because they are far more
reliable than the moveable parts of hard drives.
**********

What does the above description indicate?

I did plug it into a Windows 2000 laptop and Windows did not find
anything.

In sci.electronics.design Peter <z180@nospam24.com> wrote:
> 
> Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> 
>>> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
>>> 
>>> What I know is this:
>>> 
>>> It is PCMCIA
>>
>>Plug it into a linux box.
>>What does card services report on insertion.
>>It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.
> 
> How would one proceed to make a byte for byte copy of one of these
> flash cartridges, for example?

I would put it in my laptop, and follow the instructions given in the
PCMCIA-HOWTO for linux, which gives details of how to do that.

I have absolutely no clue how you'd approach it under windows.

Peter wrote:
> Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
> >>
> >> What I know is this:
> >>
> >> It is PCMCIA
> >
> >Plug it into a linux box.
> >What does card services report on insertion.
> >It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.

Yes, it should have IDE mode, but you have to plug it in the IDE cable.
The PCMCIA card interface does not enable IDE.

You have to plug in the middle 50 pins (out of 66) in an IDE-CF
converter.
Of course, you have to remove the adapter bracket to do so.

See: http://cfd.linnix.com for the IDE-CF converter.

>
> How would one proceed to make a byte for byte copy of one of these
> flash cartridges, for example?
>
> They are marketed as Linear Flash e.g.
>
> http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=A18507
>
> *********
> Linear Flash PC Cards support true random access so reads literally
> happen in a flash. Not only can these cards access stored data
> rapidly; they can also execute programs directly from the card. This
> opens the doors for vertical applications. Non volatile Linear Flash
> cards are used in a variety of applications, including networking and
> telecom equipment, industrial controls and instrumentation. Random
> access, ruggedness and reliability are the basic qualities required of
> Linear Flash cards. Adding convenient size and low power consumption
> makes a sure winner. Linear Flash cards from SMART Modular
> Technologies are fully PC Card (Type I) compatible and operate faster
> than hard disks, but are removable like floppy disks. Since there are
> no moving parts, Linear Flash cards operate reliably in conditions
> that can be normally hostile to data. These cards use solid state
> components that can be used day-in-day-out because they are far more
> reliable than the moveable parts of hard drives.
> **********
>
> What does the above description indicate?
>
> I did plug it into a Windows 2000 laptop and Windows did not find
> anything.

In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
> 
> Peter wrote:
>> Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> >> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
>> >>
>> >> What I know is this:
>> >>
>> >> It is PCMCIA
>> >
>> >Plug it into a linux box.
>> >What does card services report on insertion.
>> >It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.
> 
> Yes, it should have IDE mode, but you have to plug it in the IDE cable.
> The PCMCIA card interface does not enable IDE.

It can.

IIRC.
IDE mode is an option for PCMCIA cards.
It can either be pin-strapped to select it, or it can be selected through
the PCMCIA interface.
Once IDE mode is selected, it's not a PCMCIA device any more, until
reset.

Not all PCMCIA memory cards present an IDE interface.

Ian Stirling wrote:
> In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
> >
> > Peter wrote:
> >> Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> >>
> >> >> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
> >> >>
> >> >> What I know is this:
> >> >>
> >> >> It is PCMCIA
> >> >
> >> >Plug it into a linux box.
> >> >What does card services report on insertion.
> >> >It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.
> >
> > Yes, it should have IDE mode, but you have to plug it in the IDE cable.
> > The PCMCIA card interface does not enable IDE.
>
> It can.
>
> IIRC.
> IDE mode is an option for PCMCIA cards.
> It can either be pin-strapped to select it, or it can be selected through
> the PCMCIA interface.
> Once IDE mode is selected, it's not a PCMCIA device any more, until
> reset.

IDE devices specify the ports and registers as well, which are probably
routed to the IDE cable, not to the PCMCIA device.

> 
> Not all PCMCIA memory cards present an IDE interface.

In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
> 
> Ian Stirling wrote:
>> In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
>> >
>> > Peter wrote:
>> >> Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> What I know is this:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> It is PCMCIA
>> >> >
>> >> >Plug it into a linux box.
>> >> >What does card services report on insertion.
>> >> >It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.
>> >
>> > Yes, it should have IDE mode, but you have to plug it in the IDE cable.
>> > The PCMCIA card interface does not enable IDE.
>>
>> It can.
<snip>
>> Once IDE mode is selected, it's not a PCMCIA device any more, until
>> reset.
> 
> IDE devices specify the ports and registers as well, which are probably
> routed to the IDE cable, not to the PCMCIA device.

Nope.
Once it's switched to IDE mode, it's electrically an IDE device. (until
reset), and is accessed as an IDE device.
No seperate cable.

Ian Stirling wrote:
> In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
> >
> > Ian Stirling wrote:
> >> In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Peter wrote:
> >> >> Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> What I know is this:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> It is PCMCIA
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Plug it into a linux box.
> >> >> >What does card services report on insertion.
> >> >> >It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.
> >> >
> >> > Yes, it should have IDE mode, but you have to plug it in the IDE cable.
> >> > The PCMCIA card interface does not enable IDE.
> >>
> >> It can.
> <snip>
> >> Once IDE mode is selected, it's not a PCMCIA device any more, until
> >> reset.
> >
> > IDE devices specify the ports and registers as well, which are probably
> > routed to the IDE cable, not to the PCMCIA device.
>
> Nope.
> Once it's switched to IDE mode, it's electrically an IDE device. (until
> reset), and is accessed as an IDE device.
> No seperate cable.

OK, first disable your IDE devices in your bios, so both signal drivers
wouldn't be fighting with each other.  Second, rewrite your bios to
switch PCMCIA  to IDE mode before initializating IDE.  In case you
can't rewrite your bios, then rewrite your operating system to switch
the PCMCIA device before probing IDE.  Most OS probe IDE very early and
PCMCIA very late.  In case you can't rewrite your OS, just get the IDE
cable adapter.

In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
> 
> Ian Stirling wrote:
>> In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
>> >
>> > Ian Stirling wrote:
>> >> In sci.electronics.design linnix <me@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > Peter wrote:
>> >> >> Ian Stirling <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> >> I have a quantity of these and would like to be able to use them.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> What I know is this:
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> It is PCMCIA
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >Plug it into a linux box.
>> >> >> >What does card services report on insertion.
>> >> >> >It may simply present a 'true ide' interface.
>> >> >
>> >> > Yes, it should have IDE mode, but you have to plug it in the IDE cable.
>> >> > The PCMCIA card interface does not enable IDE.
>> >>
>> >> It can.
>> <snip>
>> >> Once IDE mode is selected, it's not a PCMCIA device any more, until
>> >> reset.
>> >
>> > IDE devices specify the ports and registers as well, which are probably
>> > routed to the IDE cable, not to the PCMCIA device.
>>
>> Nope.
>> Once it's switched to IDE mode, it's electrically an IDE device. (until
>> reset), and is accessed as an IDE device.
>> No seperate cable.
> 
> OK, first disable your IDE devices in your bios, so both signal drivers
> wouldn't be fighting with each other.  Second, rewrite your bios to
> switch PCMCIA  to IDE mode before initializating IDE.  In case you
> can't rewrite your bios, then rewrite your operating system to switch
> the PCMCIA device before probing IDE.  Most OS probe IDE very early and
> PCMCIA very late.  In case you can't rewrite your OS, just get the IDE
> cable adapter.

Google 'point enabler'.
It appears as a seperate device in IO space, like a second IDE
controller.
I have several laptops that will boot from PCMCIA devices.