[86] in linux-net channel archive
Interesting problem with NE2k clone
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jeremy Fitzhardinge)
Mon Feb 13 00:57:22 1995
From: jeremy@sour.sw.oz.au (Jeremy Fitzhardinge)
To: linux-net@vger.rutgers.edu
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 1995 15:52:39 +1100 (EST)
I installed a new NE2k clone ("SuperLAN") in my PCI machine the
other day, and found it has an interesting interaction with my NCR
53c810 SCSI controller. It uses a Mylex/UMC chipset.
Its a jumperless (or "jempless", according to the manual) card,
and if you use the program which comes with it to set things up,
all appears well. However, if I boot linux afterwards, the NCR
driver works well enough to detect the SCSI controller and get
partition information. However, when it tries to mount "/" it
prints all kinds of dire warnings about FIFOs not being drained
etc.
On rebooting, the partition table and the first chunk of the first
partition (DOS, fortunately) is scribbled on.
It turns out that the card needs a power cycle (not just a cold
boot) to get into a sane state. From then it will work fine, and
is quite reliable.
Also, the disk which comes with it has a boot block which appears
to reset the card back to default values. I rebooted after installing
a driver off it, forgetting to take it out. Same process again,
but I had memorized the partition table info.
Be warned.
J
