68kMLA Classic Interface

This is a version of the 68kMLA forums for viewing on your favorite old mac. Visitors on modern platforms may prefer the main site.

Click here to select a new forum.
Possible to save SE/30 settings without PRAM battery?
Posted by: fatal3rror on 2021-08-28 14:04:13
Is it possible to save the time, volume, etc. settings without a PRAM battery on an SE/30?
Perhaps by setting the time via NTP? If that is possible, is there a way to restore the other settings without requiring the battery?

It would be really nice to never have to worry about a "ticking time-bomb" of a battery while having these conveniences.
Posted by: cheesestraws on 2021-08-28 14:14:35
The only thing you can't currently save is the network interface, or at least not save it usefully. To do the rest will take a multi-pronged approach:

  • PRAM Auto-Restore restores most of the settings. What it does not do is meaningfully restore the settings that require restarting (32-bit addressing and network interface) or, obviously, the time.

  • For 32-bit addressing, I wrote Force32 (https://github.com/cheesestraws/force32; latest build in this post)

  • For time, you can either use NTP (several clients, including the "Network Time" control panel) if you want an IP-based protocol, or Tardis/Timelord if you want an AppleTalk-based protocol.
Posted by: Nixontheknight on 2021-08-28 16:21:03
Is it possible to save the time, volume, etc. settings without a PRAM battery on an SE/30?
Perhaps by setting the time via NTP? If that is possible, is there a way to restore the other settings without requiring the battery?

It would be really nice to never have to worry about a "ticking time-bomb" of a battery while having these conveniences.
You could just replace the holder with one that holds a CR2032
1