Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!motcsd!motsj1!mcdchg!ddsw1!karl From: karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) Newsgroups: comp.unix.i386 Subject: Re: Blindingly fast disk I/O and problems with 1542 ans SCSI tape Summary: AHA1542 and Archive VP150S works for us; we have NO problems with them Keywords: ESDI SCSI Message-ID: <1990Feb18.015933.13614@ddsw1.MCS.COM> Date: 18 Feb 90 01:59:33 GMT References: <155@zds-ux.UUCP> <511170@nstar.UUCP> <452@shiloh.UUCP> <73@rylos.UUCP> <1171@digiw.UUCP> Reply-To: karl@mcs.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) Organization: Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. - Mundelein, IL Lines: 56 In article <1171@digiw.UUCP> petri@digiw.UUCP (0000-Admin) writes: > I have used adaptec > 1542 controllers, but ihave had big problems with Archive > 150 M SCSI streamers. I have got always PANIC .. error code 17 > when i have used steamer . I am now looking some other > solution for SCSI disc and tape. > The problem with 1542 and Archive 2150S is not problem with > only one unit , i have tested 5 diferent ones of 1540 / 1542 > three 210S`s and in many diferent computers. .... And > once i got it working, but then i sold controller ... !. > The problem is not with SCSI id , not with parity . You've got problems with the SYSTEM; that drive/host adapter combination is known good! Check first that the system works ok with the adapter. From MSDOS, go into DEBUG, and do: g=dc00:9 This will run a test for the first-party DMA. If this test does not pass for the entire address range, you have a problem with the motherboard you are using and MUST fix it. Otherwise you will eventually see nasty results, including bad data on the disk, panics, and other untracable problems. Note that this test is not documented in the manual. IF this test passes, you should be able to use the board without trouble. Note that the test will take up to 5 minutes per segment, and it checks each segment of memory separately. Take the time to let the test run over the entire base RAM. IF THIS DOES NOT PASS try changing the Bus clock rate if you can (some motherboards can change I/O waits, clock speeds, etc). This shouldn't matter, but once in a while it does. If you still can't get the board to pass diagnostics DO NOT USE THE AHA154x WITH THAT MOTHERBOARD. Doing so is inviting some really nasty problems, none of which you will be able to isolate. We've seen bad disk writes (ouch!) and panics on boards which don't pass the diagnostics. Note that ISC by default will ignore the sync jumper and DMA transfer rate jumpers on the AHA board. We have patches to enable these functions in test; for now, pull the DMA rate jumpers and SYNC ENABLE jumper while you're running the DMA test from the ROMs in order to simulate the actual rates you'll be using under ISC. We sell this combination of components, and use it in-house. I've yet to have a problem with the Archive 2150S and AHA1542 in a motherboard that correctly supports the first-party DMA that it uses. (We can also write 125MB tapes in the 2150S, although ISC specifically says that won't work... you just have to know which minor devices to use :-) -- Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, !ddsw1!karl) Public Access Data Line: [+1 708 566-8911], Voice: [+1 708 566-8910] Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. "Quality Solutions at a Fair Price"