[comp.os.os2.misc] OS/2 SCSI: the answer!

fiasco@ntcpyr.sc.sni-usa.com (Rich Gircys) (05/08/91)

Having seen a number of posting regarding SCSI/OS2/Adaptec, I'm posting
my experience with this issue and hope it's of help. Here goes...

Yeah, I got a 386 box with an Adaptec 1542 controller and SCSI drive so
I want to put OS2 1.21 on it. First, I check my Adaptec drivers and find
that they do not support OS2 1.21. I call Adaptec (back in Dec of last
year) and they tell me a driver will be out in about 4 weeks. To make a long
story short, the end of April comes along and still no driver from Adaptec,
and to make matters worst, all I get is indefinative waffling from Adaptec's
BBS support system.

Well, I finally get a hold of a person to talk to at Adaptec who seems to
be knowledgable. Here's what I was told:

	1. OS2 1.21 will not be suported with a driver from Adaptec.
	2. Get OS2 1.3 with Laddr for SCSI drive support (that is,
	   don't call Adaptec, SCSI support is part of OS2 1.3)

Sentence # 2 has been confirmed by MicroSoft. Those of you with MS Online
support can easily verify this (search for keywords OS/2, SCSI, Adaptec).

Anyways, in summary, unless you need multiple gigabytes drives or the extended
device support of SCSI, don't use it. As far as drives go, fast and giga size
ESDI drives are hassle free (for the most part, at least you got the driver
support more or less), and if drives under 300 meg are ok, get an IDE drive.
IDE drives are very cost efective and fast (lot faster than SCSI).

Have fun
rich		

P.S. For email reply, use fiasco@infoserv.com or ...!uunet!infoserv!fiasco

feustel@netcom.COM (David Feustel) (05/11/91)

IBM is not supportingLADDR in os/2 v 2.0.

Conner has announced a 512 meg IDE drive with 256k 4-way cache for
~1300 bucks.
-- 
David Feustel, 1930 Curdes Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46805, (219) 482-9631
EMAIL: feustel@netcom.com