[2706] in linux-scsi channel archive
Re: Will a Diamond Fireport40 work with linux?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (highlndr@MNSi.net)
Wed Oct 29 23:26:40 1997
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 23:16:55 -0500
To: linux-scsi@vger.rutgers.edu
From: "." <highlndr@MNSi.net>
>Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 23:24:01
>To: jhm@umr.edu (Justin Miller)
>From: "." <highlndr@MNSi.net>
>Subject: Re: Will a Diamond Fireport40 work with linux?
>
>At 09:27 PM 10/29/97 -0600, you wrote:
>>I went to diamond mulitimedia's homepage and on the faq for their
>>fireport40 scsi contoller it stated the following:
>>
>>
>> Does the FirePort-40 work in Unix?
>> No
>> Does the FirePort-40 work in Novell Netware?
>> No
>> Does the FirePort-40 support Jaz and Zip drives?
>> Yes
>> Will the FirePort-40 allow bootable devices like Jaz and Zip
>>drives?
>> Sorry, not at this time we are working on developing drivers
>>for this Note: No time frame.
>> What Operating systems does the FirePort-40 support?
>> Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.
>> Does the FirePort-40 use a interrupt?
>> Yes, doing a CTRL-C on bootup allows you to view the interrupt.
>> Does the FirePort-40 work in Windows 3.1?
>> No
>>
>>
>>The fireport runs off of Symbios Logic's SYM53C875 chip, and the linux
>>has drivers for ncr8xx chips, and i was wondering if it would work with that.
>>
Justin,
Ironically I can answer your question, even tho I just a different question regarding
the NCR chips. I have read thru the entire Linux SCSI How-To as suggested by my
"post". (Hey is it called a post when you mail to a mailing list...sideline trivia)
Basically I believe that none of the Wide format or Ultra-Wide format NCR or Symbios
chips are currently supported...old (like mine) or new...like the 875 chip.
The ncr8xx/7xx driver you are refering to was initially written a couple of years ago...
Here's another quote from the Linux-SCSI How to which answers your question:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.7. Driver feature comparison
Driver feature comparison (supported chips are listed in parenthesis)
Driver Simultaneous SG > 1
Transfer mode Commands limit Boards
total/LUN
<snip>
in2000* FIFO(2k) Polled 1s 255s N
g_NCR5380 Pure Polled 16s/2s 255s Y
(NCR5380,
NCR53c80,
NCR5381,
NCR53c400)
gsi8* Slave DMA 16s/2s 255s
(NCR5380)
PAS16 Pure Polled 16s/2s 255s Y
(NCR5380) or Interlocked Polled
(fails on some systems!)
seagate Interlocked Polled 1s/1s 255s N
wd7000 Busmastering DMA 16s/1s 16 Y
t128 Interlocked Polled 16s 255s Y
(NCR5380)
qlogic Interlocked Polled 1s/1s 255s N
ultrastor Busmastering DMA 16s/2s 32 Y
53c7,8xx Busmastering DMA
(NCR53c810,
NCR53c815,
NCR53c820,
NCR53c825)
rel5 1s/1s 127s N
rel10 8s/1s 127s Y
Notes :
1. drivers flagged with an '*' are not included with the distribution
kernel, and binary boot images may be unavailable.
2. numbers suffixed with an 's' are arbitrary limits set in software
which may be changed with a compile time define.
3. hardware limits are indicated by an 'h' suffix, and may differ from
the software limits currently imposed by the Linux drivers.
4. unsuffixed numbers may indicate either hard or soft limits.
5. rel5 of the NCR53c810 driver is included in the stock 1.2.x and
1.3.x kernels; rel10 is available via anonymous FTP.
6. With the exception of the AM53C974, the busmastering DMA boards are
intelligent; with the NCR executing microcode from main memory, the
AIC7770 executing microcode from on-chip RAM, and the rest using a
mailbox-style interface.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another quote from this HOWTO says...
"Other intelligent host adapters, such as the NCR53c7/8xx family, and
Adaptec AIC-7770/7870 chips (including the 274x, 284x, and 2940
boards) use a lower level programming interface. This may prove
faster since processing can be shifted between the board's processor
and faster host CPU, allow better flexibility in implementing certain
features (ie, target mode for arbitrary devices), and these boards can
be built for less money (In some cases, this is passed on to the
consumer (ie, most NCR boards)). On the down side, drivers tend to be
more complex (read : there is more potential for bugs), and must be
modified to take advantage of the features present on newer chips. "
So this is suggesting its not easy to do this, as well as some SCSI manufacture's don't
give/share/let out their chip & com info that readily especially for newer chips as it won't
give away the Colonel's recipe...or so they think. If they follow NCR/Symbios timings and
signalling rigidly then in theory if Symbios shares the info needed it is possible to update them.
My NCR 53C720 hasn't been given support and its been around for a bit and is very similar to the
existing NCR 53C810 chip. They have to tell us what drivers are being added, but for now, you're stuck.
Generally for Linux you're safer with slightly older technology as it gives them time to write code for them.
Not many companies are openly pro Linux as it is a Free OS and everywhere the crack of MS's whip can
be felt. Buslogic is the most friendly with respect to this and will soon release and Ultra-Wide controllor
that in theory should come with full Linux driver support in the box! ...in theory tho.
See the Linux SCSI HOWTO for more info...see the header clipped below as to how to find it in the newgroups:
Question is where to find the answers NOT contained in this howto!
James
P.S. If this is too long a post for a mail message someone just say and I'll email it next time or just give the HTML add.
Thought I'd start off my joining this mailing list by helping to answer questions and not jsut ask them! :)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Drew Eckhardt
Subject: Linux SCSI HOWTO (part 1/3)
Date: 1997/10/02
Message-ID: #1/14
Sender: gregh@cc.gatech.edu
Summary: Information on SCSI driver compatibility with Linux
Organization: Linux HOWTO Project
X-Auth: PGPMoose V1.1 PGP comp.os.linux.answers
Keywords: Linux, SCSI, drive, tape, CD-ROM, HOWTO
NNTP-Posting-User: gregh
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.answers
Archive-name: linux/howto/scsi/part1
Last-modified: 25 Sep 96
SCSINewsgroups: comp.os.linux.answers
Archive-name: linux/howto/scsi/part3
Last-
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