Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!gatech!uflorida!beach.cis.ufl.edu!george
From: george@beach.cis.ufl.edu (Stephanie George)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Novell -- Disk storage requirements
Keywords: Novell, Pissed, Unreasonable Novell Policies
Message-ID: <20360@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>
Date: 25 May 89 20:40:11 GMT
References: <3510@ddsw1.MCS.COM>
Sender: news@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU
Reply-To: george@beach.cis.ufl.edu ()
Organization: UF Psychology Department
Lines: 52

In article <3510@ddsw1.MCS.COM> karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) writes:
>
>I wish to use Novell with an ESDI controller and drive.  These controllers
>build a disk parameter block during the POST sequence, effectively
>"overriding" the disk type set in the ROM (you set the ROM type to "1" in
>all cases).  For example, you may end up with a "virtual" disk configuration
>of 630 cylinders, 15 heads, and 63 sectors per track.  The controllers are 
>register compatible with the WD1003 (specifically, a WD1007A-WA2 with
>Maxstor XT4380E drive).
>
>Will Novell V2.15 (Advanced netware and SFT netware) run under these
>circumstances?  Or am I still screwed?
>--
>Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)

Yes, it will work, eventually, sort of.  I have a WD1007A-WA2-F001 with a
Priam 638 300Mb ESDI drive and am running Netware 286 2.12 with no problems
yet.  Getting there was no piece of cake, though.

First, make sure that the ROMs on your WD-1007 are NOT: 62-002069-030 on the
(40 pin) 8757 and 62-000217-031 on the 2764.  These numbers are on stickers on
the chips (which, you hope, are socketed).  I got some upgraded ROMs from a 
Novell reseller who knew a guy who worked for Western Digital, so I can't say 
how anyone else might get upgraded ROMs.  Calling WD tech support is usually 
a good place to start.  The numbers I have that DO work are: 62-002069-802 on 
the 8757 and 62-000217-802 on the 2764.  (The number that I have for WD tech 
support is 800-777-4787 in Irvine, CA.)  Also make sure that sector translation
is ENABLED (jumper W14 open).

Second, after assembling the controllers, disks and computers, boot with DOS,
run DEBUG and execute the WDFMT format program from ROM by typing "g=c800:5".
If your disk has more than 1024 cylinders, you must use 63 SPT (sectors per
track) when you set the type of the disk.  Otherwise use the ESDI standard of
34 SPT.  Do the surface analysis and low level format from ROM (this takes
a while).  This is the only surface analysis you will do, so let it take as
long as necessary.

Third, use the Novell COMPSURF only to format the drive for Novell.  DO NOT
let COMPSURF do its own surface analysis.  It will go ok for a while and then
when you're not looking will mysteriously choke.  Cross your fingers, do
whatever is needed to apease your favorite deity and install the Novell NOS.
And you're on your way to a happy network.  MAKE FREQUENT BACKUPS just in case
(good advice in any case).

It's worked for me for about 4 months now with nary a problem, but there were
a few times that I was really sweating it out (like the times I thought I had
a perfectly useless $2300 300Mb disk...).

Good luck!

Stephanie George
george@beach.cis.ufl.edu