PM24555 PCMCIA flash memory - how interfaced?

"Ian Stirling" <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote in message 
news:4425a3c5$0$3623$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net...
> 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.

Its a Linear Flash card, this wont appear as an ATA device at all, rather a 
block of memory. Often used to upgrade firmware in devices such as routers.

Philip 

In sci.electronics.design Electric dabbler <no.spam@microsoft.com> wrote:
> 
> "Ian Stirling" <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote in message 
> news:4425a3c5$0$3623$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net...
<snip>
>> 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.
> 
> Its a Linear Flash card, this wont appear as an ATA device at all, rather a 
> block of memory. Often used to upgrade firmware in devices such as routers.

I know.
I was just commenting on the other posters comment that it's not 'real'
IDE over PCMCIA slots, for hard drives et al (for devices that support
IDE)