[comp.unix.microport] Drive # for hd errors

mdg@smegma.UUCP (Marc de Groot) (06/15/88)

The hard disk I/O error messages are cryptic (to say the least) and Microport
users deserve an apology.  I am posting a quick note, and I will follow it
with more details later.

The "status", "estat", and "drstat" number which print out are registers
in the hard disk controller.  They are called the status register, error
register, and SDH byte, respectively.  A detailed description of their contents
can be found in Western Digital's documentation and in the IBM Technical
Reference, Options and Adapters volume.

The drive number on which the error occurred can be decoded from drstat.
If bit 4 of drstat (the fifth bit from the right) is set, the error occurred on
drive 1.  If bit 4 is reset, the error occurred on drive 0.


-- 
Marc de Groot (KG6KF)
UUCP: uunet!{uport,ubvax}!smegma!mdg
AMATEUR PACKET RADIO: KG6KF @ KB6IRS 
"smegma (smegma) n. 1. Progress, intelligently planned." -D. Dew