[comp.unix.i386] Blindingly fast disk I/O and problems with 1542 ans SCSI tape

petri@digiw.UUCP (Petri Alhola) (02/17/90)

In article <73@rylos.UUCP> dave@rylos.UUCP (David Mutterer) writes:
>
>I just installed a 7000 FASST2 on my 386 running 386/IX 2.0.2
>and using a ST-277N (seagate) that someone gave me. It works just  
>fine... I have an ESDI controller as my primary drive and use the
>SCSI controller for a secondary drive.  Installation wasn't bad
>although the automated script didn't work for me... (I have a lot
>of things on this system they assume you don't) but 10 minutes of
>manual labor and it was up and running.
>
>And if anyone is interested, I'll be testing a Exabyte 8MM tape drive
>soon. 
>
	Does this driver support ISC High petrformange disk driver
	( HPDD ) and soes it support SCSI tapes. 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 .


 	Petri Alhola
	petri@digiw.fi

karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) (02/18/90)

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, <well-connected>!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"

pdg@chinet.chi.il.us (Paul Guthrie) (02/18/90)

In article <1171@digiw.UUCP> petri@digiw.UUCP (0000-Admin) writes:
>	Does this driver support ISC High petrformange disk driver
>	( HPDD ) and soes it support SCSI tapes. 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 .


I have had this combination working for months with no problems, so
you must have either a configuration problem, or some other hardware
problem.  First, there are some problems with SCSI IDs.  I put
my HP disk on SCSI ID 1 and the Archive 2150S on ID 4.  The archive
doesn't seem to get recognized on any ID < 4.  Also you need the
latest ROMs (21247-5 I believe) in the 2150S.... The rev 3 would not
work properly. Also, check your cabling and terminators.  One thing
I quickly found out is that SCSI is power terminated..... ie if I
switch off my tape drive, my disk gets scribbled onto!  Anyway, this
combo of the 1542A and 2150 + a nice fast SCSI disk is
fantastic.... it is very fast, and I don't eat a slot and IRQ for a
seperate tape controller.
-- 
Paul Guthrie
chinet!nsacray!paul

mark@zok.UUCP (Mark W. Snitily) (02/18/90)

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 .

This is just a data point for other readers out there:  I'm using an
Adaptec 1542 controller with an Archive 2150S tape drive with absolutely
no problems.

-- Mark

Mark W. Snitily                 Consulting Services:
894 Brookgrove Lane             Graphics, Operating Systems, Compilers
Cupertino, CA 95014             (408) 252-0456
mark@zok.uucp

nvk@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Norman Kohn) (02/21/90)

In article <1171@digiw.UUCP> petri@digiw.UUCP (0000-Admin) writes:
>In article <73@rylos.UUCP> dave@rylos.UUCP (David Mutterer) writes:
>>
>>I just installed a 7000 FASST2 on my 386 running 386/IX 2.0.2
>>and using a ST-277N (seagate) that someone gave me. It works just  
>>fine... I have an ESDI controller as my primary drive and use the
>>SCSI controller for a secondary drive.

What is the support status of this driver?  I thought that ISC planned
not to support it until a later release
-- 
Norman Kohn   		| ...ddsw1!nvk
Chicago, Il.		| days/ans svc: (312) 650-6840
			| eves: (312) 373-0564

ajm@icc.com (Al Marmora) (02/21/90)

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 .
>
>
> 	Petri Alhola
>	petri@digiw.fi

It works for me... and four other individuals with whom I work.
In fact, we all are using Adaptec AHA-1542A host adapters,
Archive 2150S tape drives, and Newbury 4380S disks (inspite of
Roy Neese's warnings about bus-arbitration problems with the 4380's)

Anyone out there have a sure-fire way to reproduce the bus-arbitration
problem?  Does the problem only occur with heavily loaded disks or
have we just been lucky so far?  All revisions of Newbury drives?

--al