Very Computer

Greetings, folks.  Any input you might have is much appreciated.
Here's my situation:

 486DX266 w/VLB, 16M memory, 250MB IDE drive, Genoa SVGA (on the VLB),
 and a Pro Audio Spectrum 16 soundcard (with a SCSI controller built-in).

 I just ordered Solaris2.1, and will need to purchase a CD-ROM drive
 to install it.  I looked through the current HW compatibility list,
 and Sun says they've only tested ISA SCSI controllers. Since I've got
 a slot free on my Vesa local bus, I'd prefer to pick up a VLB SCSI
 controller.  Another alternative would be to try to load the OS
 via the (untested) SCSI controller on my soundcard...

 So, my questions are:

 Does anyone know if Solaris will support a VLB SCSI controller?
 If so, which ones?

 Does anyone know if I can use the SCSI controller on my soundcard
 to (at least) load the software from the Solaris CDs?

 Got any other ideas?

   Thanks, -Walendo

--

    "They're taking all the fun out of *." - Carl Hiaasen

Quote:

>Greetings, folks.  Any input you might have is much appreciated.
>Here's my situation:

> 486DX266 w/VLB, 16M memory, 250MB IDE drive, Genoa SVGA (on the VLB),
> and a Pro Audio Spectrum 16 soundcard (with a SCSI controller built-in).

> I just ordered Solaris2.1, and will need to purchase a CD-ROM drive
> to install it.  I looked through the current HW compatibility list,
> and Sun says they've only tested ISA SCSI controllers. Since I've got
> a slot free on my Vesa local bus, I'd prefer to pick up a VLB SCSI
> controller.  Another alternative would be to try to load the OS
> via the (untested) SCSI controller on my soundcard...

> So, my questions are:

> Does anyone know if Solaris will support a VLB SCSI controller?
> If so, which ones?

> Does anyone know if I can use the SCSI controller on my soundcard
> to (at least) load the software from the Solaris CDs?

> Got any other ideas?

>   Thanks, -Walendo

Your sound card is not supported--only the Creative Labs SoundBlaster
Pro is.

SunSoft only support 2 brands of host adapters at this point Adaptec and
DPT, but both ISA and EISA are supported. We've been thru this in other
newgroups, but the fact is VLB SCSI host adapters are a waste of time;
anyway neither DPT or Adaptec have one. I hope your machine is an
EISA machine.

Both your SCSI controller and your sound card are useless for Solaris
x86.

Since you need a SCSI CD-ROM to load the OS, and since IDE is a poorer
interface than SCSI for a multitasking OS, you might as well have
SCSI drives as well.
--

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