Build Instructions

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• 1

  Documentation for the Project

  Building information is published online under retro-cpu.run wiki page: http://retro-cpu.run/wiki/index.php?title=MSXPI:Specs:EN
  
  For convenience here are the steps:
  

  1. Download Raspbian image with MSXPi already setup. This image starts up the server on boot, and will be ready to listen for MSX commands. Get the image from DropBox here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/icncwnbdo0z0089/AAB9zX1w7pgQFZkWKfxhL82ha). Download file "msxpi_raspbian.img".

  2. Write the image to a SD Card, with at least 8 GB of space.

  • If under Mac OS X or Linux, you can use dd command:

  dd if=msxpi_raspbian.img of=/dev/diskX

  Attention: diskX is the disk corresponding to the SD Card, usually the X is the number 2 or higher.

  • Under Windows, download WinImage (http://www.winimage.com/download.htm) and write the image to the SD Card.

  3. Connect Raspberry Pi to the interface. Use manual section 4 "4 - Connecting MSXPi to the Raspberry Pi"), available on dropbox as well.

  • For Raspberry Pi Zero use Figure 2 as reference on how to plug the Pi to the interface. It will be necessary 7 soldering joints in this case.
  • For Raspberry Pi 2 or 3, connect it to the interface using the provided wires, using Figure 3 as reference, on section 4.

  MSXPi manual: https://github.com/costarc/MSXPi/blob/dev/documents/MSX%20Pi%20Interface%200.8.1.pdf

  4. Insert the SD card into Raspberry Pi and switch it on as follows:

  • For Raspberry Pi Zero, insert the MSXPi in a MSX slot and switch on the MSX. Raspberry Pi Zero will turn on, since it is powered by MSX.
  • or Raspberry Pi 2/3, connect a power adapter to the Raspberry Pi. Then switch on the MSX.

  At this point, the MSX should boot and start searching for MSXPi. After a while, it should boot into MSXPi-DOS. In this setup, MSX should have access to two drives, A: with MSXPi-DOS system, and B: with MSXPi tools and commands. When you use MSXPi along with some other disk interface connected, the drives from that other interface will be available as drive C:, D:, and so on.

  Note: If you prefer to boot MSX form the other disk interface then remove jumper CS1. In this case, you won't have access to he MSXPi disk images.

• 2

  Commands for MSXPi-DOS (MSX-DOS)

  It is possible to use MSXPi along with other disk drive interface, such as the MegaFlashRom SD or ATA-IDE. In this case, MSXPi-DOS burned to the MSXPi EPROM is not started, which means, it is not possible to use the MSXPi disk images stored on Pi. However, all MSXPi commands will be available allowing access to Raspberry Pi, Pi SD card, network and internet. Below are the current commands available for MSXPi - they can be used under both MSXPi-DOS and Nextor/Dos2.

  • prun.com  : Run comands directly on the Linux system/Raspberry Pi.

  Examples of usage:

  prun ls /usr/src/games

  prun cat rst.c

  prun wget http://www.msxarchive.nl/pub/msx/games/msx1/castle.lzh

  • pcopy.com : Copy commands from current MSXPi path to MSX-DOS disks. The current path must be previously set using pcd.

  Examples of usage:

  Copy a file from a http url:

  pcd http://www.msxpro.com/download

  pcopy zanac2.zip zanac2.zip

  Copy a file from Pi SD card:

  pcd /home/pi/msxpi

  pcopy rst.c b:rst.c

  Copy a file from your PC Windows:'

  pcd smb://192.168.1.10/Shared

  pcopy mgear.rom mgear.rom

  • pdate.com : Update MSX-DOS system date. No parameters are required.

  • pdir.com : List files on current path.

  Examples of usage:

  pcd /home

  pdir

  pcd http://retro-cpu.run/MSXPI

  pdir

  • ploadrom.com : Load and run a simple ROM from Pi SD card.

  Examples of usage:

  ploadrom zanac.rom

  • pnewdisk.rom : Create a new disk image (.dsk) on Pi SD Card. The image is created from a template on Pi (msxpi_720KB_template.dsk). This template can be set and viewed with command pset.

  Examples of usage:

  pnewdisk games.dsk

  • preset.com : Reset MSXPi status and try to re-sync communication with Raspberry Pi.

  • pset.com : Define and display MSXPi custom variables / parameters. There are 10 slots available. The parameters are kept on the server, but lost/reset when Pi are restarted.

  The existing parameters are:

  PATH=/home/pi/msxpi

  DRIVE0=disks/msxpiboot.dsk

  DRIVE1=disks/msxpitools.dsk

  WIDTH=80

  free=notused

  WIFISSID=my wifi

  WIFIPWD=secret

  DSKTMPL=msxpi_720KB_template.dsk

  Examples of usage:

  Display the current values assigned to the parameters:

  PSET DISPLAY

  Set your WIFI network name:

  PSET WIFISSID MINHAWIFI

  Set the password for your WIFI network:

  PSET WIFIPWD PASSW0RD

  • PSETDISK.COM  : Switch a disk image on drive 0 or drive 1. Change is immediate.

  Examples of usage:

  Replace image on drive A:

  PSETDISK 0 disks/gamesrom.dsk

  Replace image on drive B:

  PSETDISK 0 disks/gamesrom.dsk

  Note: Path is relative to /hom/pi/msxpi/

  • PWIFI.COM  : Reconfigure the Raspbery Pi wifi networki. WIFISSID and WIFIPWD must have been previously set with command pset (see command pset.com).

  Examples of usage:

  Show WIFI configuration:

  PWIFI DISPLAY

  Enforce reconfiguration of wifi interface using parameters in variables WIFISSID e WIFIPWD:

  PWIFI SET

  • PPLAY.COM  : Controls audio playback on Raspberry Pi. Current available parameters are:
    • PLAY - Start playback of an audio file
    • LOOP - Start playback of an audio file and keep playing it until receive command STOP
    • PAUSE - Put specified audio in pause
    • RESUME - Restart playback of specified audio
    • STOP - Terminate audio playback
    • GETIDS - Show IDs of audio currently playing
    • GETLIDS - Show IDs of loops currently in progress

  Examples of usage:

  PPLAY PLAY music/tron.mp3

  Note: This command returns a unique identifier for this audio - let's call it NN.

  PPLAY PAUSE NN PPLAY RESUME NN PPLAY GETIDS

  PPLAY LOOP music/tron.mp3

  Note: The command returns two IDs: XX NN, where XX is the loop ID, and NN is the audio ID. In order to terminate a loop it is necessary to send two STOP commands: to the loop ID, then to the audio ID, in this sequence.

  PPLAY GETLIDS PPLAY STOP XX PPLAY STOP NN

  Audio loop should be terminated before the audio it is looping.

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