[2707] in linux-scsi channel archive
Re: Will a Diamond Fireport40 work with linux?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mr. James W. Laferriere Network En)
Thu Oct 30 00:51:18 1997
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 22:53:10 -0800 (PST)
From: "Mr. James W. Laferriere Network Engineer" <babydr@nwrain.net>
Reply-To: "Mr. James W. Laferriere Network Engineer" <babydr@nwrain.net>
To: "." <highlndr@MNSi.net>
cc: linux-scsi@vger.rutgers.edu
In-Reply-To: <199710300416.XAA10332@backup.MNSi.Net>
Hello all, The SCSI-FAQ you quote below is -very- out of date
for NCR stuff goto ftp://linux.wauug.org/pub/people/gerard-roudier
and there is a slackware-bootdisk and a redhat-bootdisk here also.
Justin, the 2.0.31 kernel has Gerard's 2.4a which covers upto the
ncr53c895 chips .
On Wed, 29 Oct 1997, . wrote:
> >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:
...snip...
> >>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-
Hth, JimL
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