NOTE: there are also sample config files in the "configs" subdirectory on the downloads page.
The JAR file "VirtualH89.jar" should run out of the box (without and config file or disk images). Simply invoking the command:
java -jar VirtualH89.jar
should start the virtual computer and give the "MMS:" prompt from the ROM Monitor program. Monitor commands may be given to poke around the system, but booting will require disk drives and diskettes. It is, however, a simply way to test that your computer can run the virtual H89.
To do more, setup a configuration file and some disk images. First, setup a subdirectory to work in, to keep from cluttering up some other directory. Copy VirtualH89.jar to that subdirectory.
This example is to boot MMS CP/M 2.24. Create a config file in your home directory named ".v89rc" and add this contents:
slot_p503 = WH-88-16 slot_p504 = MMS77316 mms77316_drive5 = FDD_5_25_DS_ST mms77316_drive6 = FDD_5_25_DS_ST mms77316_disk5 = mms-cpm-distro.logdisk rwand copy the file "mms-cpm-distro.logdisk" from the VirtualH89Accessories archive or repository to your current directory (the "work" subdirectory created in the previous step). Then start the VirtualH89 again. You can now boot CP/M 2.24 using the boot command "b" (boot) followed by "j" (MMS 5" drive #1) followed by RETURN. After booting, the screen should look like this:
MMS: Boot JJ- 32K Z89/Z90 CP/M v2.242 (c) Magnolia Microsystems 1982 A0>
NOTE: It is necessary to install the 16K RAM add-on (WH-88-16) because it includes the "ORG-0 mod" which is required by CP/M. There is currently no option to install only the ORG-0 mod without extra RAM.
See "Monitor EPROM 444-84B" documentation from MMS (in the "docs" subdirectory of the downloads page) for more information about boot options and other monitor commands.
The above system has the 16K RAM add-on (64K total RAM), the MMS 77316 Double Density Controller, two 5" DS ST (48tpi) drives, and the MMS CP/M 2.24 distribution diskette already mounted in the first 5" drive (controller drive #5).
You may want to turn down the volume on the H19 "beep". Add the following line to your config file to set the volume to "20%":
h19_beep_volume = 20
Serial ports may be added with the following:
slot_p505 = H-88-3
However, those ports will need to be removed if you later add the MMS77320 SASI interface (which also includes the ports).
A blank 5" DD DS floppy image is available in VirtualH89Accessories in the file "blank5ddds.logdisk". This file may be copied into any number of new files in order to create "blank" diskettes. The FORMAT command on CP/M will not function, so this is the only method to get blank disks.
Follow the procedures outlined in the "CP/M™ 2.24 Operating System User Guide" from MMS, available on the downloads page from the subdirectory "docs". This document contains a set of procedures for using your system, including making backups and formatting new disks. For the virtual H89, formatting and copying diskettes is done on the host system by manipulating "logdisk" image files. So, when the User Guide tells you to format a new disk, simply copy "blank5ddds.logdisk" into a file with a new name (and the ".logdisk" suffix). When making backup copies of system disks, one can either use the procedures (after FORMAT) described in the user guide, or go to the host system and copy the logdisk files into backup copies.
Here is one possible procedure for making a backup copy of your CP/M distribution diskette. Unless otherwise noted, commands are entered on the virtual H89 at the CP/M prompt "A0>". The prefix "(host)" indicates actions on your host computer, and "(gui)" indicate actions on the virtual H89 GUI (menus).
Similarly, make a "working" copy of the CP/M distro.