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Autoconfig is an auto-configuration feature of Amiga computers which assigns resources to expansion devices without the need for jumpers. It is analogous to PCI configuration.
When the computer is switched on, AmigaOS interrogates each expansion device in turn and assigns address space as needed. In the case of a memory card, the OS would also add the memory to the available system memory. Autoconfig also supports boot ROMs.
Protocol
Expansion devices respond to certain fixed memory addresses starting at hexadecimal E80000 (or FF000000 for Zorro III) if the /CFGIN signal is asserted and the device is not already configured. The CPU reads nibbles of configuration information (usually supplied by a PAL) such as manufacturer ID, product ID, and the amount of address space the device requires. The CPU then writes a base memory address to the device (or tells it to "shut up" if for some reason it can't be configured), and the device asserts /CFGOUT.
The /CFGIN of the first device is tied to ground. The second device's /CFGIN is controlled by the first device's /CFGOUT, and so on.
In a backplane design such as the Amiga 2000, connecting the /CFGOUT of one slot directly to the /CFGIN of the next would create the problem that an unoccupied slot would break the configuration chain. To solve this, the backplane ORs the /CFGIN and /CFGOUT signals to form the /CFGIN for the next slot (/CFGOUT is pulled low if undriven), which allows empty slots to be bypassed. This requires one 74LS32 (quad OR gate) on the Amiga 2000, which is the only motherboard hardware required by Autoconfig.
Hardware Specifications and BUS Connections
Autoconfig was present as standard feature on the Amiga Zorro slots for compatible expansion cards.
Zorro II was the autoconfiguring system of slots into A 2000. It was a 16 bit slot system.
Amiga 2000 could mount almost 5 Zorro expansion cards such as RAM expansions, SCSI controllers for hard disks, graphic cards, etcetera. Two of these cards are front end with ISA bus of Amiga 2000, and could be joined with Bridgeboard Amiga Janus Hardware Emulator, which allows Amiga to run PC Intel based software 80286 and 80386 supported by the two Amiga cards.
Zorro III was the 32 bit autoconfiguring slot system of A 3000 and A 4000.
Notheworty to mention the fact that Zorro III is fully 32 bit, clocked at 33 MHz and it featured both synchronus and asynchronous data transfer capabilities which still are only partially asynchronous when Asynch mode is invoked in PCI slot system.
Comparison with PCI configuration
Compared with PCI configuration, Autoconfig is much simpler, yet provides the same basic functions. PCI allows random access to the configuration space of devices, which requires system registers and I/O lines. Autoconfig requires no such system hardware, but has the restriction that devices can only be configured in sequence, and they remain configured until reset.
References
- Miner, Jay et al (1991). Amiga Hardware Reference Manual: Third Edition. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 0-201-56776-8.
"Autoconfig"