16-bit ICM/LF systems/software

[Al Kossow]

I've had a few 80186 slave boards for a while, and just picked up an ICM CPZ-186 SBC.
I was wondering if the TurboDOS for it has turned up. I didn't see a thread about 16 bit
TurboDOS beyond the one about getting it running on a PC.

 

[new_castle_j]

Yes I have the TurboDOS software for the ICM CPZ-186. I actually do support for a small business that is still running their inventory and accounting software on an S-100 with a CPZ-186 master and 12 CPS-BMX slave processors. ICM did a great job of implementing their master/slave communication via DMA. Jerry Mulchin originally developed that DMA hardware circuit when he worked on the Z80 CPU board for Don Tarbell. I'll need to set up my disk imaging rig in order to get those images archived.

ICM hardware requires various "personality boards" to interface with a floppy or hard drive and a console or modem, just having the S100 board from ICM isn't enough to get one of their systems going

 

[Al Kossow]

Thanks! that would be helpful.
The CPZ-186 has an on-board floppy controller. http://www.s100computers.com/Hardware Folder/IMS/80186 SBC/80186.htm
I've had a pile of other boards for a while, I need to go back and see if I have a hard disk controller
Do you have any idea what this is? https://www.ebay.com/itm/202780990952

 

[twmiller]

I actually do support for a small business that is still running their inventory and accounting software on an S-100 with a CPZ-186 master and 12 CPS-BMX slave processors.

That is simultaneously awesome and also terrifying. :D

 

[new_castle_j]

The onboard floppy chip on the CPZ-186 still requires a personality board to work, they offered an interface to either 5.25" or 8" floppy disk, (picture of 8" personality board is attached)
There was also a hard disk personality board that connected to the OMTI 5xxx series SASI to MFM bridge board for hard disk, this was their recommended hard disk option, but the CPZ-186 played well in other hard disk controllers that resided in the bus (as long as you had the software). I'll also attach a photo of the needed personality board for interfacing with a serial console.

The disk from the ebay listing that was sold is a boot disk for TurboDOS 1.43 release for ICM hardware. It's incomplete though, there would be at least 2 other floppies that go with it to make up the full distribution. That particular disk is a very late release for ICM, after Cubix/LF-Technologies/Industrial Micro Systems bought them out and for a short time supported the hardware line. The main reason for the buyout was to shut them down.

If you have the hardware, I can help with the rest of the process to bring the system up.

 

[Al Kossow]

I've dumped the firmware from the board I bought, and got a scan of the manual which includes the schematics of the personality boards

Index of /pdf/intercontinentalMicroSystems/ICM_CPZ-186

I suspect the prom is for a 5" drive (CPZ-186_40T on the label)
Are there other firmware versions around?

 

[new_castle_j]

Yes, I have firmware for 8" floppy + OMTI HDD boot, and 8" floppy + Monitor Dynamics HDD boot, I don't recognize what CPZ-186_40T could refer to... perhaps 40-Track floppy?

 

[Al Kossow]

I suspect it's 5" 40trk flp