[1525] in linux-scsi channel archive
Re: Please, SYMBIOS version question (ncr53c815)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dragon Slayer)
Fri Mar 7 08:36:58 1997
To: mlist-linux-scsi@nntp-server.caltech.edu
From: huny@ugcs.caltech.edu (Dragon Slayer)
Date: 6 Mar 1997 17:56:06 GMT
In article <linux.scsi.Pine.LNX.3.91.970305223849.147A-100000@localhost.somewhere>,
Gerard Roudier <groudier@club-internet.fr> wrote:
>
>On Wed, 5 Mar 1997, Francisco J. Montilla wrote:
>
>> I have the NCR Fast SCSI II 53c815 controller, with SYMBIOS Bios
>> version 3.0.x ; I've seen there's a new version (4.0.x), and have read on
>> its documentation not to use it with OS/2.
>>
>> Will the Gerard Roudier driver benefit from upgrading to this
>> BIOS?
>
>Boot programs do not make difference among actual disk adapter
>used, so they need a OS/independant driver to be present somewhere
>in the memory of the machine. This driver is a BIOS.
>
>You need the SDMS BIOS if you want to boot a system from the
>SETUP program of your mother board or from most boot managers.
>LILO for example needs SDMS BIOS in order to be able to boot from disks
>driven by NCR53C8XX based scsi controllers (except Tekram boards which
>use a proprietary BIOS).
>
>Once Linux is booted, the SDMS BIOS becomes useless. The ncr driver
>performs all necessary initialisations and then drives directly the scsi
>controller.
Unless my setup is misconfigured, the BIOS is also needed to perform one other
function. Namely, to activate the board. I have a 53C810 that works fine in
a 486 board with built in SDMS bios, but does not work on a 586 board. It
doesn't even show up in /proc/pci (All versions up to 2.0.27.)
Maybe there is some switch or setting in the regular bios (Award) to tell
it to enable the ports, memory, etc on the 53C810? Otherwise, some kind
of BIOS support is needed. If someone know the magic to getting the board
enabled, I would very much like to know.
-- Hunyue Yau
--
Dragon's Lair, USA -- Dragon Slayer -- +1.818.395.1012
<a href="http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~huny/">huny@ugcs.caltech.edu</a>
