[comp.sys.next] Problem with SCSI errors after connecting PLI floppy

juan@bitnerd (05/14/91)

I have a NeXT cube with an HP 660MB hard disk that was upgraded to a 68040 CPU  
from the original 68030 CPU.  I recently purchased a PLI turbo floppy 2.88, and  
since I've hooked it up, I've been getting SCSI errors that have caused my hard  
disk to crash with a LOSS OF DATA.

Note that the terminator switch on the PLI drive is set to the on position, and  
there are no other SCSI devices attached.  The PLI drive is set to device 4.

In order to verify that the problem is indeed caused by the addition of the PLI  
floppy, I disconnected the floppy for a period of 4 days and monitored the  
file: /usr/adm/messages in which SCSI errors are logged.  I found no SCSI  
errors reported for a period of four days.

I then reconnected the floppy and found that the errors immediately returned.   
The following lines were extracted from the /usr/adm/messages file today after  
reconnecting the PLI floppy.

May 13 15:14:24 bitnerd mach: sd0 (1,0): ERROR op:0x2a sd_state:4 scsi  
status:0x0
May 13 15:14:24 bitnerd mach: sd0 (1,0): sense key:0xb  additional sense  
code:0x47
May 13 15:14:24 bitnerd mach:     SCSI Block in error = 0 (front porch)

The errors are not that frequent, the seem to occur about once a day, altho not  
at regular intervals.

Note that the problems booting that I mentioned in my earlier posts have been  
resolved (see summary post entitled: "FIX for problems booting from hard disk  
when PLI floppy is attached") and should not be a factor in this new problem.

Also, in response to my earlier post, I did receive some mail indicating that  
there may be some problems with the termination switch on the PLI, and that  
things work better with higher SCSI IDs, but I've not yet gotten a confirmation  
from PLI on these problems.

If your system has experienced the same symptoms, or if you have some  
information that may help, please reply.  When I get resolution on this problem  
I will post a summary.
--
Juan Pineda
juan@apple.com
-- 
Juan Pineda

madler@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Mark Adler) (05/14/91)

Looks like the HP 660M vs. PLI floppy problem belongs in the FAQ ...

Mark Adler
madler@pooh.caltech.edu