> "Greg A. Woods" <woods@weird.com> wrote:
> [ On Saturday, May 4, 2002 at 20:39:26 (-0700), Don Yuniskis wrote: ]
> > Subject: Re: SparcStation ipx versus Sparc Classic
> >
> > "Greg A. Woods" <woods@weird.com> wrote:
> Well in the case of console interrupts you really do want the lowest
> possible level hardware interrupt, esp. given that the reason you might
> want to interrupt the system is that it's got a bug of sorts where it's
> managed to disable/ignore all device interrupts.  Other than the Big Red
> Switch (which is definitely an IBM/PC euphemism!), this console
> interrupt is your last resort to understanding anything of why your
> system has mysteriously locked up.....  Even a serial BREAK condition is
> barely suitable, and only if the system always treats console interrupts
> with the utmost priority and care (and as few people as possible ever
> muck with that code).
> 
> I really wish my sparcstations had at least a hardware reset switch....

Yes, I had a pair of old Compaq 386's that predated the concept of
a reset button.  No big deal... I figured I could hack one on (since I had
service manuals for the machines).   Um, *nope*!  The reset signal
was generated internal to an ASIC meaning a significant amount of
board surgery to cobble in a "button".  :-(   Morons.

> > So, hard to say *they* didn't "do their best"...  I should peek inside
> > one of the SPARCs to see what *their* interface looks like...
> 
> Good idea!  :-)

<grumble>  As if I didn't have *enough* stuff to do.... :>