karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) (11/10/89)
In article <601@nixpbe.UUCP> freiss@nixpbe.UUCP (MArtin Freiss) writes: >Hi, >I'm fairly new to the Xenix brand of UN*X and would like the net's >opinion on something. I apologize if this has been discussed before. > >I'm in the process of buying a harddisk for my '286 clone to run Xenix >on. As the Seagate SCSI drive + controller bundled package comes cheaper >over here than a "normal" MFM drive, I'm toying with the idea of buying >one - about 60 meg, of which I want to reserve about 40 for Xenix. No no no! >I'm not worried about DOS, but how do I get Xenix to run with a SCSI >drive? Is anyone out there who can give me pointers on how to install >Xenix 286 (version 2.2.1) on this beast (or best, can give me a step >by step explanation how to do it) ? You can't normally. The "cheap" SCSI controllers are supported only through a BIOS rom, which of course isn't used in protected mode. The end result is that you would have to write a disk driver. This might get >real< tricky, as you also need to do the boot-type things in order to make it fly. There >was< such a beast posted to one of the groups a while back, but it would certainly need modification for Xenix, and I bet that bringing up the system in the first place would be quite a bit of "fun". In short, don't bother unless you like hacking on drivers and the like. -- Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl) Public Access Data Line: [+1 312 566-8911], Voice: [+1 312 566-8910] Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. "Quality Solutions at a Fair Price"
edhew@xenitec.on.ca (Ed Hew) (11/14/89)
In article <601@nixpbe.UUCP> freiss@nixpbe.UUCP (MArtin Freiss) writes: >Hi, >I'm in the process of buying a harddisk for my '286 clone to run Xenix >on. As the Seagate SCSI drive + controller bundled package comes cheaper >over here than a "normal" MFM drive, I'm toying with the idea of buying >one - about 60 meg, of which I want to reserve about 40 for Xenix. I suppose it's always possible that Seagate will come across with an SCO Xenix SCSI driver for your 286 that will actually work, but I wouldn't want to bet my bottom dollar on it. Unless you're adept at writing your own device drivers I'd suggest that you will need a 386, an Adaptec 1542 (methinks is the #) SCSI controller, and a suitable SCSI hard drive (I know that the 330 meg Priam works, and I'll be trying a miniscribe 9380S soon), as well as SCO Xenix 2.3.1GT or later. Note the "GT" version. Non-GT versions do not have SCSI support. There are also reportedly other SCSI controllers out there (notably a new Western Digital) with Xenix drivers, but they're not yet on SCO's supported list. >I'm not worried about DOS, but how do I get Xenix to run with a SCSI >drive? Is anyone out there who can give me pointers on how to install >Xenix 286 (version 2.2.1) on this beast (or best, can give me a step >by step explanation how to do it) ? Your Xenix release notes are your best reference. >I do have access to another '286 with MFM drives, if it should be necessary >to install Xenix on a normal system first and configure / link the kernel >there for SCSI. See above. I am not aware of a 286"GT" version of the SCO Xenix o/s. > Martin Freiss UUCP: USA: ..!uunet!philabs!linus!nixbur!freiss.pad > Nixdorf Computer AG !USA: ..!mcvax!unido!nixpbe!freiss.pad Ed. A. Hew Authorized Technical Trainer Xeni/Con Corporation work: edhew@xenicon.uucp -or- ..!{uunet!}utai!lsuc!xenicon!edhew ->home: edhew@xenitec.on.ca -or- ..!{uunet!}watmath!xenitec!edhew # Justice is only relative to what you can afford to prove in court.