Re: linux, parport & EPP BIOS calls

Ely Wilson (plexus@ionet.net)
Fri, 16 Oct 1998 04:44:36 -0700 (MST)


On Fri, 16 Oct 1998, David Campbell wrote:

> Does anyone have an idea for the "right way" for performing a call ("shock,
> horror") to the mainboard BIOS?
>
>
> There is a little known extension known as "EPP BIOS" which gives better
> control over the parallel port. The actual location is found by a call to INT 17h
> (BIOS printer location) which then returns a "real mode" address to the BIOS
> address space.
>
>
> Advantages:
>
> a) Avoid the need for wild IRQ probes
>
> b) Change parallel port modes reliably without stumbling around looking for
>
> the IO chipset in wierd and wonderful locations.
>
>
> Disadvantages:
>
> a) EPP BIOS can only be accessed from real mode (urk!)
>
>

It's not to say that these facilities themselves could not be duplicated.
The bios is just providing you with an interface remember that. Can you
email any infomration you have? Looks interesting.

----------- Developer and Network/Systems Engineer
----- ely - Agape Specialty Products, Phoenix AZ
----------- <plexus@ionet.net>

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