Disassembling NeXT hardware diagnostics utility

[andreas_g]

Hello all,

the NeXT hardware diagnostics utility is a great tool for testing and improving Previous through reverse engineering.

Unfortunetely some of the tests are very complex and especially for Ethernet it is almost impossible to understand what is expected by the test. Therefore the test still fails when run under Previous.

There are two known variants of the tool: One for the original 68030 based NeXT Computer (filename "diagnostics") and one for non-Turbo 68040 based NeXTcube and NeXTstation (filename "dvt040").

Is someone capable of disassembling these binaries using some modern tools? I am more interested in the 68030 (diagnostics) variant because it supports more tests. Ideally the binary would be converted to some C-like code that makes it possible to understand what the tool expects from real hardware.

[cuby]

The 68030 diagnostics tool is still in a.out format, otool doesn't handle this.

I disassembled the dvt040 diagnostics tool on the NeXT machine on my desk -> PM...

[jade_nekotenshi]

I'd think turning an AI loose on it could at least produce ASM code, if not C (or some other HLL/MLL), I'm not sure if that helps.

[ZombiePhysicist]

https://x.com/0xDeniAi/status/2111433889587527770?s=20

This REALLY area is developing so fast. Curious how this evolves.

[andreas_g]

Thank you very much for all offers! With the help of cuby I was able to partially understand how the Ethernet test works. I will soon add a patch to make Previous finally pass the test.

[andreas_g]

Do we know if there has ever been a diagnostics tool for Turbo systems?

[ZombiePhysicist]

I take it that the regular 040mtools don't work on the turbos?

[andreas_g]

I take it that the regular 040mtools don't work on the turbos?

Yes, they are for non-Turbo 68040 only.