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Zilog ez80

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  • 25-02-2004 6:17pm
    #1
    Typedef
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,564 ✭✭✭


    Is there a patch to gcc such that Linux/uClibc can be run on this architecture.

    Or is there some flavour of NetBSD which has already been ported?

    <insert social life here>


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    #2
    atheist
    Registered Users Posts: 251 ✭✭atheist


    The Zilog Z80, as used in the ZX Spectrum and numerous other machines (frequently on the disk controller), is an 8bit processor and could only natively address 64K of memory. The operating systems were usual minimal running the hardware and a single language like BASIC or Forth, though there were full blown operating systems like CP/M or MS-DOS (as the Z80 could and did run 8088 code).

    I think the most practical thing to use a Z80 personal computer for (if it has a serial port) is as a dumb terminal to a Unix box. And playing Jumping Jack :)

    As many embedded devices use Z80 processors, there are cross compilers such as http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/

    I could not find a minix port, except for machines with beefier processors, and even simpler environments like TAOS did not get back ported.


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    #3
    Typedef
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,564 ✭✭✭Typedef


    Ah.

    The Zilog ez80 (aka the newly released version of the famous/infamous z80), in 8bit mode can only address 64k of memory, but, it can be switched to a type of 24 bit mode (apparently) which allows it to address up to 16mb of ram.

    Ergo, if you could get (a) something with which to flash it properly and (b) a decent compiler (maybe a patch for the ez80's instruction set to the sdcc), then you should be able to put, something like Linux or NetBSD onto it, provided you had ported the Hardware specific portions of the Kernel to the zilog's architecture.

    http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/zil/zil100.html

    I wasn't talking about making something like contiki... but, now that you mention it... just 'maybe'.

    http://www.dunkels.com/adam/contiki/


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    #4
    atheist
    Registered Users Posts: 251 ✭✭atheist


    http://uzix.sourceforge.net/index.php?page=links&lang=us :cool:

    I wonder where the z280 fits in the family.


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    #5
    sceptre
    Registered Users Posts: 19,608 ✭✭✭✭sceptre


    Totally off-topic (sorry) but did Sega use a Z80 in the Genesis/Megadrive?


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    #6
    atheist
    Registered Users Posts: 251 ✭✭atheist


    No - only in some versions. A quick google :rolleyes: gives
    http://dextremes.com/genesis/gen-spec.html


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