19-07-2026, 12:41 PM
Hi Shane.
The dual floppy drive Starnet server used a 56k bee as the computer, and the associated 50 way cable went into the drive box where it connected to the floppy disk controller (as used in the 56k bee system) and the starnet network interface boards. There were no hard disk options for this setup. It wasn't until the 128k bee was released that the bee could become a hard disk based unit. The 128k coreboard has a build variant where the floppy disk controller bits are not loaded and a 40 way IDC header is installed where the normal 34 way floppy drive connector is.
The 40 way cable then connects to the WD1002-05 hard disk controller and the network interface boards. The Network interface motherboard (that has ports 1-8) has 50 way & 40 way connection points.
Additionally the side select signal for the floppy drive is still generated on the coreboard, and is sent down the 40 way cable and then split out from the cable and jumpered into the floppy drive cable.
IN the earlier units there were mods done to the WD1002-05 board for the floppy side select signal, but jumpering the cable avoided this and maintained the manufacturer (WD) warranty on the cards.
While it's theoretically possible to connect a WD1002-05 to a 56K bee, there is no software support for it.
The file server software is either dual floppy support version, or the much upgraded version for the hard disk based server.
The dual floppy drive Starnet server used a 56k bee as the computer, and the associated 50 way cable went into the drive box where it connected to the floppy disk controller (as used in the 56k bee system) and the starnet network interface boards. There were no hard disk options for this setup. It wasn't until the 128k bee was released that the bee could become a hard disk based unit. The 128k coreboard has a build variant where the floppy disk controller bits are not loaded and a 40 way IDC header is installed where the normal 34 way floppy drive connector is.
The 40 way cable then connects to the WD1002-05 hard disk controller and the network interface boards. The Network interface motherboard (that has ports 1-8) has 50 way & 40 way connection points.
Additionally the side select signal for the floppy drive is still generated on the coreboard, and is sent down the 40 way cable and then split out from the cable and jumpered into the floppy drive cable.
IN the earlier units there were mods done to the WD1002-05 board for the floppy side select signal, but jumpering the cable avoided this and maintained the manufacturer (WD) warranty on the cards.
While it's theoretically possible to connect a WD1002-05 to a 56K bee, there is no software support for it.
The file server software is either dual floppy support version, or the much upgraded version for the hard disk based server.