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Leopard Reference Library
Apple provides information hardware developers can use to create products that are compatible with Macintosh computers and programming interfaces software developers can use to create software that drives or accesses devices.

A guided learning path for hardware and driver developers new to Mac OS X.   Essential information for developing drivers and device-access software.   API references organized by framework.
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How can I tell if a PCI device has on board I/O space? (HTML)
QA1287: Demonstrates "how to" tell if a PCI device has on board I/O space.
PCI and PC Card, Performance Technical Q&As 2003-09-24
SDRAM Problems With Self-Powered USB Devices (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW82: Alerts that non-compliant, self-powered USB devices plugged into a G4, can cause problems with low-voltage-sensitive SDRAM .
Apple Hardware, Human Interface Device & Force Feedback, Performance, Storage, USB Technical Q&As 2003-08-21
Bluetooth Radio Power Class for Apple Systems (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1278: Notes Preferred Bluetooth Transmitter Characteristics for products designed for Apple Systems.
Apple Hardware, Bluetooth, Performance Technical Q&As 2003-08-06
DRAM DIMM power pin connections for Macintosh Computers (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1271: Discusses design considerations for DRAM DIMM power pin connections for Macintosh Computers.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2003-07-04
Power adapter Sensing for the 17" PowerBook (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1266: Details Design and detection considerations for 17-inch PowerBook power adapters
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2003-06-12
Empty Memory Objects (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1259: Describes how two memory management edge cases are handled by the common Mac OS memory allocators.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2003-04-21
Why does logging keep my Printer Module from working? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QA1182: Describes some problems with standard printf logging in a Printer Module on Jaguar.
Printing Technical Q&As 2002-11-06
Why don't all of my PDE localizations show up in all applications? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1185: Explains why some PDE localizations might not appear in all applications.
Printing Technical Q&As 2002-10-16
Faster DDR DRAM in the 867MHz Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1191: Confirms the use of faster DDR DRAM in the 867MHz Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors).
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2002-08-19
Workaround for Asynchronous SCSIAction Crashes (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QA1129: Explains how to workaround asynchronous SCSIAction crashes on Mac OS X.
SCSI Technical Q&As 2002-03-21
PC100 SDRAM DIMMs on the Flat Panel iMac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1130: Describes PC100 SDRAM DIMM limitations on the "original " Flat Panel iMac.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2002-03-18
IOLog and Interrupt Context (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1100: Describes when IOKit runs at primary (hardware) interrupt context.
PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2002-02-13
Power Management; Policy Maker vs. Power Controller (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1121: Describes the differences between a Power Management Policy Maker and a Power Management Power Controller.
AirPort/802.11, Apple Hardware, ATA, Audio, Bluetooth, Ethernet, Fibre Channel, FireWire, Human Interface Device & Force Feedback, Networking, PCI and PC Card, Printing, Scanners, SCSI, Serial, Still Cameras, Storage, USB Technical Q&As 2002-02-13
Working with Configuration Variables (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1119: Explains how to delete a specific Open Firmware configuration variable without using Command-Option-P-R.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2002-02-13
Making sense of IOKit error codes (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1075: Explains how to interpret I/O Kit error codes.
ATA, Bluetooth, Ethernet, FireWire, Networking, PCI and PC Card, SCSI, Serial, USB Technical Q&As 2002-02-07
Energy Star PCI Device (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1108: Provides useful information for developers of Energy Star-compliant PCI devices.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card, Performance Technical Q&As 2002-01-15
IOKit Framework Headers (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1107: Describes the differences between the headers in IOKit.framework and the I/O Kit headers in Kernel.framework.
AirPort/802.11, Apple Hardware, ATA, Audio, Bluetooth, Ethernet, Fibre Channel, FireWire, Human Interface Device & Force Feedback, Mac OS X Server, Networking, PCI and PC Card, Performance, Printing, QuickTime, Scanners, SCSI, Serial, Still Cameras, Storage, USB Technical Q&As 2002-01-15
Menu Bar Clock and NVRAM (HTML)
QA1102: Explains why booting with the Command-Option-P-R keys doesn't reset date and time preferences.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2001-12-21
Resetting NVRAM to factory defaults (HTML)
QA1103: Describes what happens when you boot holding the Command-Option-P-R keys.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2001-12-21
Reducing the size of Physical Memory in Open Firmware (HTML)
QA1099: Describes how to configure the Power Macintosh so less memory is recognized than is actually present.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 2001-12-20
The dreaded "incompatible flag -framework" error (HTML)
QA1096: Explains how to eliminate the incompatible flag -framework error in Project Builder.
ATA, Ethernet, Fibre Channel, FireWire, Networking, PCI and PC Card, SCSI, Serial, Storage, USB Technical Q&As 2001-12-05
Avoiding Kernel Event Conflicts (HTML)
QA1063: Documents the namespace for the vendor_code field of the kern_event_msg structure.
PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2001-09-14
SDRAM, CAS Latency for the (HTML)
QA1071: Describes the supported CAS Latency values for the "QuickSilver", PowerMac G4 CPUs.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2001-09-13
Determining RAM size & location in New World Machines (HTML)
QA1065: Demonstrates Open Firmware method of determining RAM size & location in New World Machines.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2001-08-01
Serial API Choice (HTML)
DV39: Discusses the choice of serial APIs supported by traditional Mac OS and Mac OS X.
Serial Technical Q&As 2001-07-02
128Mb SDRAM ICs limitation on original "Bronze Keyboard" Powerbook G3 (HTML)
QA1040: Outlines Memory ICs design limitation on original "Bronze Keyboard" Powerbook G3.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 2001-06-21
HID Manager Event Data Underruns (HTML)
QA1038: Explains how to correctly handle HID Manager event queue data underruns.
Human Interface Device & Force Feedback, USB Technical Q&As 2001-06-13
Displaying PCI Configuration Registers contents in Open Firmware (HTML)
QA1036: Demonstrates how to display PCI Configuration Resister contents in Open Firmware.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card, Performance Technical Q&As 2001-05-18
Determining Open Firmware version (HTML)
HW100: Demonstrates how to find out the version of Open Firmware on your Macintosh.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-10-06
Was that a path I just saw? (HTML)
HW101: Describes the Open Firmware path that is occasionally shown at boot time.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-10-06
What is an Open Firmware devalias? (HTML)
HW99: Describes devaliases in Open Firmware.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-10-06
Open Firmware Memory bus speed (HTML)
HW97: Describes a method to display memory bus speed for G3 or G4 Macintosh in Open Firmware.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-09-22
Open Firmware version number (HTML)
HW96: Discusses the unique values of Open Firmware version numbers.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 2000-09-22
The "/aliases" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW89: Describes the aliases node in the Open Firmware device tree.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
The "chosen" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW88: Describes how to find the "chosen" node in the Open firmware device tree.
Apple Hardware, Ethernet, Networking, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
The "green" PCI bus (HTML)
HW93: Explains why the PCI bus is considered "green".
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
How many PCI header types exist today? (HTML)
HW92: Briefly describes the three PCI header types defined in the PCI 2.2 specification.
PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
Open Firmware device tree nodes (HTML)
HW86: Explains the usage of the "@n" notation in Open Firmware device tree nodes.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
PCI address/data stepping (HTML)
HW94: Explains that Apple does not support PCI address/data stepping.
PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
PCI class codes (HTML)
HW91: Explains why PCI class codes are important.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card, Performance Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
PCI Macintoshes and CardBus controllers (HTML)
HW87: Explains why older PCI Macintoshes do not recognize a Cardbus controller.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card, Performance Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
Locating the 1275-1994 Standard Document (HTML)
HW85: Alerts that the Open Firmware (IEEE 1275-1994) document can't be found at the IEEE Standards Association site.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 2000-07-17
Checking for the Printer Driver (HTML)
Deprecated - DV42: Describes a legacy Mac OS technique avoiding system hangs when using serial drivers on USB systems.
Printing Technical Q&As 2000-06-19
Legacy Devices (HTML)
HW84: Discusses why legacy devices with hard-wired I/O addresses may not work properly with Open Firmware.
ATA, PCI and PC Card, QuickTime, Storage Technical Q&As 2000-03-20
Maximum Memory for the "Firewire" PowerBook (HTML)
Deprecated - HW83: Discrepancies between PowerBook Developer Note and TIL articles 14870 and 58582, regarding maximum memory configurations.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 2000-03-13
A SCSI little secret (HTML)
HW81: Details what to expect when accessing the motherboard SCSI bus on the Blue & White G3.
Apple Hardware, Performance, SCSI, Storage Technical Q&As 1999-12-20
PCI Header types (HTML)
HW78: Describes the three required types of PCI headers to be provided in its configuration header space.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card, Performance Technical Q&As 1999-11-15
What is a CardBus host bus adapter HBA? (HTML)
HW79: Explains what a CardBus host bus adapter (HBA) is and discusses its implementation on the Macintosh.
PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-11-15
What is an Open Firmware phandle, and why can't I access it from the Mac OS? (HTML)
HW76: Explains an "Open Firmware phandle" and why it is inaccessible from the Mac OS.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-11-15
When to use PCMCIA, PC Card, and CardBus (HTML)
HW77: Explains the differences between PCMCIA, PC Card, and CardBus.
PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-11-15
Explanation of SDRAM configuration Nomenclature (HTML)
HW75: Explains the three-part "Device configuration" numbers for SDRAM in the Power Mac G4 Computer Developer Note.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 1999-10-18
Are the Name Registry device tree nodes unique? (HTML)
Deprecated - HW64: Discusses whether Name Registry nodes copied from the Open Firmware device tree are unique.
Apple Hardware, Audio, Networking, Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card, Printing Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
Can you explain the words "begin" and "again"? (HTML)
HW70: Explains the Forth looping words "begin" and "again" and how to escape such a loop.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
How do I change the numeric base for the Open Firmware user interface? (HTML)
HW66: Explains how to change the numeric base for the Open Firmware user interface.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
How do I determine the top of the Open Firmware dictionary? (HTML)
HW69: Explains how to determine the top of the Open Firmware dictionary.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
Using "words" in Open Firmware (HTML)
HW73: Explains how to search for specific entries within all the global and local Open Firmware words.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
What is the return stack in Open Firmware and can I use it? (HTML)
HW67: Describes the purpose of the Open Firmware return stack and how developers can use it.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
What is the word "see" and how do I use it to help me find what a word does? (HTML)
HW72: Explains the function and use of the Open Firmware word "see".
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
Detecting specific ROM-in-RAM Mac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - HW49: Identifying a Mac by name ("iMac"), and better alternatives for determining specific features ("has Firewire").
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 1999-10-05
Which Machines Support Driver Services Library and the MP Nanokernel? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW63: Lists the systems that do and don't support the Driver Services Library and the MP Nanokernel.
Apple Hardware, Performance, Storage Technical Q&As 1999-07-12
Use the Doorbell (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - FW01: Explains the function of the FireWire Serial Bus Protocol 2 (SBP2) doorbell.
FireWire Technical Q&As 1999-05-17
What is unsolicited status? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
FW03: Explains the meaning and usage of the SBP-2 unsolicited status message.
FireWire Technical Q&As 1999-05-17
TCP/IP Option Sizes (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW62: Enumerates the TCP/IP options and their sizes for Open Transport.
Networking Technical Q&As 1999-04-26
The AAPL, slot-name property and PCI (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW61: Discusses the use of the AAPL,slot name property for PCI
Apple Hardware, Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-04-19
Determining the version of Open Firmware on your Mac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW60: Describes a method to display the version of Open Firmware on a Macintosh.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 1999-03-29
dl command in 1 machine mode (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW51: Describes using the "dl" command in 1 machine mode.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 1999-03-29
PCI SIG (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW55: Describes the meaning of the acronym PCI SIG.
PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-03-29
Stopping Forth command scrolls (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW57: Describes how to limit Forth commands from scrolling off the screen.
Apple Hardware, Performance Technical Q&As 1999-03-29
What is a tokenizer? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW58: Defines a tokenizer.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-03-29
Booting after invoking the Open Firmware user interface (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW48: Tells how to boot a system after entering the Open Firmware user interface.
Apple Hardware, Storage Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
Changing the configuration variable in Open Firmware (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW40: Tells how to change the configuration variable in Open Firmware.
Open Firmware Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
Difference between an Open Firmware word and method (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW46: Describes the differences between an Open Firmware word and an Open Firmware method.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
Difference between using Restart or Shut Down in the Finder's Special menu in Open Firmware (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW47: Explains the differences between using Restart or Shut Down on Open Firmware
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
Do PowerBooks have a PCI bus? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW43: Explains that a Powerbook has a PCI bus.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
How does Open Firmware generate the name property? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW39: Describes the Open Firmware name property generation process.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
Invoking the Open Firmware user interface (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW45: Describes how to invoke the Open Firmware user interface on startup.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
PCI bus on the iMac (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW42: Explains that the iMac has a PCI bus even though it has no expansion slots.
Apple Hardware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
Switching between one and two machine mode for the Open Firmware user interface (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW37: Explains how to change from one machine mode to two in the Open Firmware user interface.
Open Firmware Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
What are configuration variables in Open Firmware? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW38: Defines the configuration variables in Open Firmware.
AirPort/802.11, Apple Hardware, Audio, Ethernet, Fibre Channel, FireWire, Mac OS X Server, Networking, PCI and PC Card, QuickTime, Scanners, SCSI, Serial, Still Cameras, Storage, USB Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
What are generic names in Open Firmware? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW34: Documents the generic names in Open Firmware.
Open Firmware, PCI and PC Card Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
What are snag keys in Open Firmware? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW35: Explains Open Firmware snag keys, including examples of their function.
Apple Hardware, FireWire, Networking, Storage, USB Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
What is meant by 1 machine mode vs. 2 machine mode with respect to Open Firmware? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
HW36: Documents 1 machine mode vs. 2 machine mode in Open Firmware.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 1999-02-15
PrepareMemoryForIO in the NewWorld (HTML)
DV33: Explains the correct use of PrepareMemoryForIO on DMA buffers when writing a device driver for DMA software.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 1998-12-07
OTScheduleDeferredTask When Task Running (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW52: Describes what happens when you use OTScheduleDefferedTask to schedule a task that is running.
Apple Hardware, Networking, Performance Technical Q&As 1997-10-13
How to use the OT modem script engine (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - NW50: Shows how to use the Open Transport modem script engine.
Networking Technical Q&As 1997-07-11
Changing the TCP Window Size (HTML)
NW47: Describes how to change the TCP window size in Open Transport.
Ethernet, Networking Technical Q&As 1997-03-14
Detecting a CD-ROM (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
DV18: Demonstrates CD-ROM drive detection.
Apple Hardware, ATA, SCSI, Storage Technical Q&As 1997-01-31
T_DATA_REQ vs M_DATA TPI Message Blocks (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
NW42: Explains why OT passes data to a TPI module using M_DATA message blocks instead of M_PROTO+T_DATA_REQ.
Networking Technical Q&As 1996-10-25
DR Emulator Caches (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - HW28: Describes the Dynamic Recompiling emulator's cache, including a description of when to flush the cache.
Apple Hardware Technical Q&As 1996-04-08
Getting a List of Drivers & LUNs (logical unit numbers) (HTML)
Deprecated - DV04: Describes a legacy Mac OS technique for obtaining a list of SCSI Parallel drivers, devices, and LUNs.
ATA, SCSI, Storage Technical Q&As 1995-07-01