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From:	Andrew Cottrell <andnews AT ihug DOT com DOT oz DOT au>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject:	Re: True 32-bit OS possible ?
Date:	Mon, 21 Jan 2002 21:28:02 +1100
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>>Is there a true 32-bit OS that can execute C programs involving
>>interrupts without using extentions or Protected Mode or any such tricks ? I am
>>looking for a OS that does not require C programs to have OS specific
>>commands written into it. Ideally a compiler and OS that can create a
>>"straight" executable without support apps.
>
>I think this is a design flaw of the Intel x86 line of CPU chips, originally
>designed when 640 KB RAM was thought plenty for anybody's needs.  Now for
>backward compatibility, these CPUs start in 16-bit real mode.  I think PowerPC
>is straight 32-bit, Sparc (non-Ultra) is straight 32-bit, Alpha and Ultra Sparc
>are 64-bit, and as far as I know, these CPUs don't distinguish between real and
>protected mode.

It's a great place where the CPU that "wins" does not have an
othoganal instuction set like the other normal CPU's out there. Intel
does produce one CPU that does the i960 (and they did design it!!!! it
was not purchased from someone else)...

>> If you want to play with serial comms and other hardware device in a
>  PC hardware platform and not have to worry about the complexities of
>  how it is done then there are a number of serial comms packages
>  available for DJGPP that hide the complexities of access the hardware.
>
>Where do I find such serial comms packages, and would they be for 32-bit DOS
>(DPMI) without MS-Windows?

They work under DOS (DPMI) and in a command promt under Win 9x, NT
4.0, 2K and XP. I have used a number of the serial libraries under
DJGPP and they are availabel from the V2TK directory on the Simtel
mirrors. The features vary from assembly libraries with missing
functinality up to multi com port support with 9 bit or wakeup mode
support (maily used in embedded 8261 designs to reduce CPU usage
overhead). I have mainly used DZCOMM and PMCOM. Curently I use PMCOM
for my work and so far it works fine. If you want to download a
working example of a data sniffer then check out my home page at
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~acottrel/
 where you can download DSCOPE source which includes PMCOM and a cut
down version of Allegro that has keyboard and timer support only. 

DSCOPE should get you started with PMCOM.  

Hope all goes well.

Andrew

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