OS-9

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Introduction

The FNX6809 combined with the F256 makes a great system for running OS-9/6809. OS-9 is a real-time, embedded operating system created by Microware Systems Corporation. While it was used in many areas of industry, home computer users know it best for its implementation on the Tandy Color Computer sold by Radio Shack

Today, a community effort has led to the creation of NitrOS-9, an open source version of the OS-9 operating system. Throughout this page, I'll refer to NitrOS-9 as OS-9.

A word about platforms

This page assumes you're running on Linux or macOS. If you're using Windows, these instructions don't apply, and someone will have to step up and write steps to develop on that platform.

Tooling

Cross-hosted development is the fastest way to develop for the F256. For this you need the following:

  • lwtools - an assembler/linker package
  • ToolShed - a set of tools for creating disk images
  • NitrOS-9 - the NitrOS-9 operating system in source form
  • FoenixMgr - tools to load code into RAM or Flash of the F256.

You can pull these down individually, or better yet, use @strickyak's great CoCo Shelf repository. It has a Makefile which gets all of the above and puts it in a convenient location (note that you'll have to update your shell script of choice to include the locations of the binaries in the PATH environment variable).

Here are the terminal commands for Linux and macOS to pull down all the required software: 

cd
git clone https://github.com/strickyak/coco-shelf.git
cd coco-shelf
export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/coco-shelf/bin"
make ANON=1 nitros9/done FoenixMgr/done

(If you have a github account and your github ssh key is loaded, you can omit `ANON=1` on the last command, so it will check out git repositories using your github username, in case you want to push changes.)

There is a special Make target for re-flashing the F256Jr or F256K, but first time you run this command, it should fail. Then you have to edit the `port=` line in `FoenixMgr/foenixmgr.ini` and run the command again (with the cable plugged in): 

make ANON=1 run-f256-flash        # Old command for F256Jr that works?

or 

make ANON=1 run-f256jr-flash      # TODO fix this

or 

make ANON=1 run-f256k-flash       # TODO fix this

Configure FoenixMgr

The makefiles for f256 NitrOS-9 use the bulk-flash command from FoenixMgr. This command is in the bin directory of coco-shelf. The bin directory must be in your PATH in order for the flash procedure to work from the NitrOS-9 makefile. On linux, add a line to your .profile similar to: 

PATH="$HOME/coco-shelf/bin:$PATH"

FoenixMgr's foenixmgr.ini file must also be configured with the correct port to flash the f256. The F256 Jr.Jr. and F256 K2 both have a USB-C serial port that requires no additional drivers. The F256 Jr. and F256-K have a USB debug port which requires a special driver to work. The procedure for the F256 Jr.Jr. and F256 K2: plug the usb cable to your computer and the F256 and turn on the F256. On linux, type lsusb to verify the connection. The output should show an FT4232 UART: 

~/coco-shelf/FoenixMgr $ lsusb

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 174c:55aa ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1051E SATA 6Gb/s bridge, ASM1053E SATA 6Gb/s bridge, ASM1153 SATA 3Gb/s bridge, ASM1153E SATA 6Gb/s bridge
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 017: ID 0403:6011 Future Technology Devices International, Ltd FT4232H Quad HS USB-UART/FIFO IC
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 248a:8367 Maxxter Telink Wireless Receiver
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub

Next change directory to coco-shelf/FoenixMgr and run python FoenixMgr/FoenixMgr.py --list-ports. 

~/coco-shelf/FoenixMgr $ python FoenixMgr/fnxmgr.py --list-ports
 
++ python3 FoenixMgr/fnxmgr.py --list-ports
  Description: n/a
  Manufacturer: None
  Product: None
/dev/ttyUSB3
  Description: New Retro Computer - New Retro Computer
  Manufacturer: Xilinx
  Product: New Retro Computer
/dev/ttyUSB2
  Description: New Retro Computer - New Retro Computer
  Manufacturer: Xilinx
  Product: New Retro Computer
/dev/ttyUSB1
  Description: New Retro Computer - New Retro Computer
  Manufacturer: Xilinx
  Product: New Retro Computer
/dev/ttyUSB0
  Description: New Retro Computer - New Retro Computer
  Manufacturer: Xilinx
  Product: New Retro Computer

The second port,/dev/ttyUSB1, should be the correct port. Change the port line in foenixmgr.ini to this port and save it (you don't have to worry about the other settings): 

~/coco-shelf/FoenixMgr/foenixmgr.ini

[DEFAULT]
port=/dev/ttyUSB1
labels=sample.lbl
flash_address=380000
chunk_size=1024
cpu=65816

FoenixMgr should now be configured to flash the FEU.

Building FEU and OS-9 Level 1 from scratch

FEU is the Foenix Executive Utility. It resides in flash and hosts a debugger and booters that can bring up operating systems like OS-9. FEU runs under OS-9 Level 1, so go ahead and build the entire operating system: 

cd nitros9
export NITROS9DIR=$PWD
cd level1/f256
make 
cd feu

Now you can flash the image into the F256. You must have a USB cable connected to the system from your computer. Note: if you're using a Mac, you won't be able to upload code into the F256 due to the driver manufacturer being so behind on updates. You can use a Linux VM and FoenixMgr tools in bridge mode on the Mac.

There are distinct builds of FEU for the F256 Jr and the F256K. Power up the machine, then select the correct command: 

cd feu
make flash_f256jr

or 

cd feu
make flash_f256k

Then (this is in addition to make flash_f256jr or make flash_f256k): 

make flash_f0

Once the flash completes, restart the machine and FEU should come up.

Building OS-9 Level 2

To build OS-9 Level 2, run these commands (this assumes you have added the NITROS9DIR environment variable as above: export NITROS9DIR=$PWD from the top level nitros9 directory): 

cd ../../level2/f256
make dsk

This produces the following disk images for the F256 Jr and the F256K: 

NOS9_6809_L2_v030300_f256jr_dw.dsk
NOS9_6809_L2_v030300_f256jr_sd.dsk
NOS9_6809_L2_v030300_f256k_dw.dsk
NOS9_6809_L2_v030300_f256k_sd.dsk

The dw disk images are for booting from DriveWire. The sd disk image are for booting from the SD card. You need to write the images onto an SD card, then insert the SD card into the F256 and restart.

Here's how to image the SD card.

Linux

On Linux, insert the SD card into your computer. Ttype lsblk to find the correct device and replace sdx on the command line below with it: 

dd if=NOS9_6809_L2_v030300_f256k_sd.dsk of=/dev/sdx

macOS

On macOS, insert the SD card into your Mac. A dialog will likely appear telling you that the disk you attached isn't readable. Click the "ignore" button, then type diskutil list external to obtain the device name of the SD card and replace diskx on the command line below with it: 

sudo dd if=NOS9_6809_L2_v030300_f256k_sd.dsk of=/dev/diskx

Once the command completes, type: 

diskutil eject /dev/diskx

You can then safely remove the SD card.

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