Technical Q&A HW11

PCI Bus and IEEE Standards

Q: Designing PCI Cards and Drivers states (Chapter 4, page 30), "The Open Firmware startup process in PCI-compatible Power Macintosh computers conforms to IEEE Standard 1275 and to the PCI Bus Binding to IEEE 1275-1994 specification."

IEEE Standard 1275-1994 is included in your DDK document, but IEEE Standard 1275 is not. Is Standard 1275 of value with regard to generating onboard Open Firmware, and if so, is Standard 1275 available for our reference?

A: Standard 1275 contains the signal descriptions, the bus-operation specifications, the electrical and mechanical specifications, and the config space definition, so it is useful, but you have to send for it at the following address:

PCI SIG
M/S HF3-15
5200 N.E. Elam Young Parkway
Hillsboro, Oregon 97124-6497
Phone: (503)696-2000