IBM System/23 Datamaster: Difference between revisions
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[[File:ROS Memories.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Some of the sixteen ROS memories|Some of the sixteen ROS memories]]
The ROM Operating System or simply ROS is the firmware of the System/23. It consists in a set of sixteen ROMs of 8KB each, for a total of 128KB, although the service manual states 112KB which means they did not count the non-paged ROM memory<ref>SY34-0171-0 IBM 5322 Computer Service Manual, page 74</ref>. Each ROS ROM has a unique diagnostics identification code, which is determined by the outputs of two 74LS138 3:8 decoders. ROMs 02h and 09h are fixed in the memory map, where the rest are paged in the memory range 4000h-7FFFh. ROMs 0Eh and 0Fh are not present but the logic to select them is implemented even if there is no place to place them in the board; still, with an appropriate ROM adapter their space could be enabled to inject code into the system.
ROMs paged 0-7 are present in the board while ROMs paged 8-15 are expected to be provided by expansion cards on their corresponding slots. Therefore, the maximum theoretical ROM capacity for the Datamaster consists of 272KB if the 0Eh-0Fh gap and pages 8-15 are used.
Regarding the diagnostics, every single ROS image contains its own reference inside the code<ref name=":0" />. It is still not known at the moment of this writing but it is supposed to be part of the verification algorithm used by procedure PID 1200. Other important aspects to have in mind during the checks are that if the ROM identifier is inverted the memory is faulty. In case it is underlined, usually means that it is not present or detected. Usual causes for this fault are either power supply issues or memory select signals.
Regarding the memories as components, they usually come as Mostek MK36000 or Motorola 68366 and has been reported that in early units the components were Motorola 68766 EPROMs due to delays in supply lines<ref>https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/searching-for-ibm-s-23-datamaster-users.1241962/post-1386460</ref>. Nowadays, the Mostek memories are prone to fail and are one of the major causes of failure of this kind of computer. The issue can be solved easily with adapters, in case that the appropriate firmware is provided.
=== RAM Memory ===
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Still, it is known that the official maximum of 128KB is just the maximum for the earlier models of 5322, as later revisions could address up to 256KB by configuring some jumpers in the motherboard. This is possible as the bank control register is implemented with a 74LS670, which is 4 bits wide, giving 16 pages of 16KB each. Additionally, there is a non-banked page which is used among other things as the display memory. For this reason the actual theorical maximum memory for a System/23 is 272KB. Still, it has been hinted that some clones of the system exist and that those expand the width of the page register to eight bits, giving the theorical maximum to 4112KB to them.
The memory boards contain one or two TMS4132 arrays of 9 memories each<ref name=":0" />. Having nine units per bank allows them to have a data byte width of data plus a ninth bit for parity. Both because of the rareness of the format of the TMS4132 and the replacement of the official reference led for years to believe that IBM soldered the memories in piggyback to cope with failure rates when in reality it was a feat of Texas instruments to sell them directly soldered after manufacture of both dies. This kind of memory contains a 16KB bank per package and both packages have a slight difference of the pinout to not have conflict with /CAS and /RAS.<ref name=":0" />
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Memory is subject to many diagnostics tests, some of which are considered critical and could prevent the system from successfully IPL, giving the impression of a completely dead computer whereas only the memory could be failing. It has also been tested that the computer won't boot if no memory board is present at the "feature" socket.
A common cause of failure for this board and subsequently the whole computer is by having faulty capacitors in shortcircuit in the RAM power supply lines<ref name=":0" />. By simply removing them the issue is solved. In case of 4132 failure, each 4132 upper and lower packages must be separated in order to run the tests.
=== Diagnostics port ===
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