Kernal

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Commodore's low-level Operating System was named the Kernal. It comprises the set of low-level hardware interfaces which is consequently used throughout Commodore's 8-bit computer series, beginning with the Commodore PET.

In the 1980's many people believed the word KERNAL was an abbreviation for "Keyboard Entry Read, Network, And Link". According to the legendary account from Robert Russell —one of the dominant people around the development of the VIC20— this name had its origin from a mistake Russell made during the creation of the VIC 20 Programmer's Guide[1] This spelling has been repeated thereafter in countless publications and in the documentation for succeeding machines like the C64[2] or C128.[3]

Functions[edit | edit source]

The Kernal consisted of thirty-nine (39) functions ranging from Input/Output control to file management, memory management, console management and time management. These functions formed the basis for higher level routines in the BASIC ROM like LOAD, SAVE, INPUT and PRINT.

Kernal functions are accessible via a jump-table at the end of addressable memory ($FF81-$FFF3). The Kernal ROM occupied the last 8KB of address space in Commodore 8-bit computers ($E000-$FFFF).

Name Address Function
Hexadecimal Decimal
ACPTR $FFA5 65445 Input byte from serial port
CHKIN $FFC6 65478 Open channel for input
CHKOUT $FFC9 65481 Open a channel for output
CHRIN $FFCF 65487 Get a character from the input channel
CHROUT $FFD2 65490 Output a character
CIOUT $FFA8 65448 Transmit a byte over the serial bus
CINT $FF81 65409 Initialize the screen editor and VIC-II Chip
CLALL $FFE7 65511 Close all open files
CLOSE $FFC3 65475 Close a logical file
CLRCHN $FFCC 65484 Clear all I/O channels
GETIN $FFE4 65508 Get a character
IOBASE $FFF3 65523 Define I/O memory page
IOINIT $FF84 65412 Initialize I/O devices
LISTEN $FFB1 65457 Command a device on the serial bus to listen
LOAD $FFD5 65493 Load RAM from device
MEMBOT $FF9C 65436 Set bottom of memory
MEMTOP $FF99 65433 Set the top of RAM
OPEN $FFC0 65472 Open a logical file
PLOT $FFF0 65520 Set or retrieve cursor location
RAMTAS $FF87 65415 Perform RAM test
RDTIM $FFDE 65502 Read system clock
READST $FFB7 65463 Read status word
RESTOR $FF8A 65418 Set the top of RAM
SAVE $FFD8 65496 Save memory to a device
SCNKEY $FF9F 65439 Scan the keyboard
SCREEN $FFED 65517 Return screen format
SECOND $FF93 65427 Send secondary address for LISTEN
SETLFS $FFBA 65466 Set up a logical file
SETMSG $FF90 65424 Set system message output
SETNAM $FFBD 65469 Set up file name
SETTIM $FFDB 65499 Set the system clock
SETTMO $FFA2 65442 Set IEEE bus card timeout flag
STOP $FFE1 65505 Check if STOP key is pressed
TALK $FFB4 65460 Command a device on the serial bus to talk
TKSA $FF96 65430 Send a secondary address to a device commanded to talk
UDTIM $FFEA 65514 Update the system clock
UNLSN $FFAE 65454 Send an UNLISTEN command
UNTLK $FFAB 65451 Send an UNTALK command
VECTOR $FF8D 65421 Manage RAM vectors


OPEN --------------------+
 CHKIN/CHKOUT ---------+ |
   begin a loop -----+ | |
     input or output | | |
   end a loop -------+ | |
 CLRCHN ---------------+ |
CLOSE -------------------+

C64 U4 Kernal ROM Failure Symptoms[edit | edit source]

  • Blank screen, no border.
  • Most cartridges don't work but a few game carts (example: CBM Kickman and Jupiter Lander) will work with a normal screen because they bypass the Kernal ROM.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Book Volkscomputer - Computer für die Masse 1981 - Startvorbereitungen, p. 114 Language German
  2. C64 Programmer's Reference Guide, p. 268: "The KERNAL"
  3. Video at YouTube 8-Bit Guy's channel: Commodore History Part 3 - The Commodore 64 (remark on the writing of "KERNAL" at 0:05:00)

Links[edit | edit source]

WP-W11.png Wikipedia: Kernal