Very Computer

I'm planning to purchase a SCSI Adaptor and a SCSI HD,
notably an Adaptec 1542C-Kit (ISA/EISA Bus) and a
Seagate ST31200N with ~ 1050MB as a second HD, the
first being a 240MB IDE HD (non SCSI). There has been
some discussion recently, especially on the part of
the 1542.

Could anyone using the 1542C email and tell about the
pitfalls I should be aware of? I do not want to spend
1K bucks and then find myself fiddling around for
months. Others might be interested in this too. So
please tell me what you know and I promise to summarize.
It's up to you to reduce the noise level and help
the linux community. Maybe the accumulated knowledge
could then be integrated in the SCSI-Howto.

With best wishes for 1994,

        Jens
--

Communications Dept. - University Of Stuttgart, Germany

For a nice talk call 1-800-dev-null

: I'm planning to purchase a SCSI Adaptor and a SCSI HD, notably an
: Adaptec 1542C-Kit (ISA/EISA Bus) and a Seagate ST31200N with ~
: 1050MB as a second HD, the first being a 240MB IDE HD (non SCSI).
: There has been some discussion recently, especially on the part of
: the 1542.

The 1542C is a good solid controller.  I plugged it in, and installed
Linux with no problems.  The ROM based setup utility is great.  You
don't have to run DOS just to run a setup utility -- all you have to
do is hit ctrl-A during boot.

You don't need the "Kit" if you are just running Linux or have only
one other disk.  You only need the kit if:

 1. You want to do tape/CD stuff under DOS.
 2. You've got two IDE drives with DOS partions and still want to put
    a DOS partion as drive E: on the SCSI disk.
 3. You need the device drivers for other unixes (Xenix, etc).
 4. You want to put a DOS partition bigger than 1024K on the SCSI
    disk.

: Could anyone using the 1542C email and tell about the pitfalls I
: should be aware of?

If you're not running DOS, then keep the BIOS _extensions_ disabled.
You can leave the BOIS enabled, but disable the extension that remaps
disks with more than 1024 blocks.  If you _do_ put a DOS partition on
your 1.05 GB, put it in the low end of the disk (below block number
1024).  That way you don't have to enable the extension even if you
do use DOS.

--
Grant Edwards                                 |Yow!  are the STEWED PRUNES
Rosemount Inc.                                |still in the HAIR DRYER?
                                              |

Quote:>Hi folks,
>I'm planning to purchase a SCSI Adaptor and a SCSI HD,
>notably an Adaptec 1542C-Kit (ISA/EISA Bus) and a
>Seagate ST31200N with ~ 1050MB as a second HD, the
>first being a 240MB IDE HD (non SCSI). There has been
>some discussion recently, especially on the part of
>the 1542.
>Could anyone using the 1542C email and tell about the
>pitfalls I should be aware of? I do not want to spend
>1K bucks and then find myself fiddling around for
>months. Others might be interested in this too. So
>please tell me what you know and I promise to summarize.
>It's up to you to reduce the noise level and help
>the linux community. Maybe the accumulated knowledge
>could then be integrated in the SCSI-Howto.

 lihsin

Re disks larger than 1024 cylinders on scsi and Linux.
Currently I have linux installed above 1024 and it works, but
I have not tried to boot from there. (That wont work since the
proms arent right). In addition to Linux Windows NT will work
above 1024 cyls in standard mode ok. In fact since linux fdisk
seemed to be a bit confused by the ending cylinder being 1183,
I used the NT disk administrator to create the partion and then
used linux fdisk to change the partition id.
NT now just thinks the disk is raw, and I have uused the NT disk
administroator to make the disk drive Z to NT so it doesnt bother me.
So with the exception of booting, go for it and it should work.
P.S. My controller is a 1742 but the device  driver code for the
disks looks the same.