Novell Netware Information for Adaptec SCSI host adapters and hard disk controllers DATE: June, 1993 SCSI Host Adapters: This file will list some of the most common problems, and give some helpful hints on how to solve them. General Information: 1) How to identify the Adaptec hardware product that you have. Adaptec hardware products, such as SCSI host adapters and hard disk controllers can be identified by a white sticker on a chip on the board. The silkscreening on the board, including stickers on the FAB, should NOT be used to identify the board. The white sticker with the information on it has three lines. Here is an example: AHA-1542C :Product name 533800 A :Product number and revision 9302 :Date code e.g. 2nd week of 1993 Some controllers/host adapters have both a BIOS EPROM and a Microcode EPROM on it, some have only a BIOS EPROM. These look similar to: ADAPTEC INC ADAPTEC INC 534001-00 D or 534201-00 D MCODE A3C2 BIOS 144C @1993 @1993 2) How to identify the Adaptec software product that you have. The device driver being used should be identified by the ASW software package that it came with. This would either be on the original floppy diskette, or on the cardboard software package. Some examples are: ASW-1440 v3.3 Novell drivers for bus masters ASW-1240 v1.3 Novell drivers for non bus masters ASW-1440: Novell NetWare drivers for Adaptec SCSI host adapters: These drivers are value added drivers that are fully Novell certified and NetWare ready. Consequently, they are not free, but must be purchased from any Adaptec reseller or distributor. However, if the SCSI host adapter is purchased in a kit form (e.g. The SCSI Master, kit for the AHA-1542C), the ASW-1440 Novell driver is included. Many times people here that a newer ASW-1440 software package is avail- able and want it, thinking that the previous driver must have had a bug. This is not the case. The ASW-1440 driver is revised to add support for newer versions of NetWare and add support for new Adaptec SCSI host adapters. The newer ASW-1440 versions include the previously released drivers, along with the additions. NOTES: - 1540 refers to the AHA-1540/1540A/1542A/1540B/1542B/1540C/1542C - If a is listed under description, that means that this version of the ASW-1440 includes the driver that was listed by the . - 286 refers to Novell NetWare 286 v2.15 (SFT and Advanced) revs a, b, and c, and v2.2. - 386 refers to Novell NetWare 386 - Adaptec SCSI host adapters are not supported with ELS versions of NetWare - All of the drivers listed below are Novell certified, except if marked with a *. - If the 'verbose=y' command line switch is used with NetWare 386 v3.11, the following text may appear: !!! NO SCSI DEVICES FOUND TO REGISTER !!! Do not be concerned that SCSI devices are attached and are not being found by the driver. The reason that this message occurs is because NetWare 386 v3.11 does not allow the host adapter to scan the SCSI bus to search for and display devices. 386 v3.1 did allow this. Simply ignore this, and proceed by loading the INSTALL.NLM, which is used to partition and add volumes to disk drives. INSTALL will see all attached SCSI drives. The ASW-1440 revision history is shown below: Software Package: Description: 1) ASW-1140 v3.1 Driver for the 1540/1640 for 286 2) ASW-1140 v3.2* Driver for the 1540/1640 for 286 3) ASW-1440 v1.0 Driver for the 1540/1640 for 386 v3.0 4) ASW-1440 v2.0 Driver for the 1540/1640 for 286/386 v3.0/ 386 v3.1. Includes 1), 2), and 3). (This version will support 386 v3.11 if patched with DSKPATCH.EXE) 5) ASW-1440 v3.0 Driver for the 1540/1640/1740 for 286 /386 v3.0/386 v3.1. Includes 4). (This version will support 386 v3.11 if patched with DSKPATCH.EXE) 6) ASW-1440 v3.1 Exactly the same as 5), except the drivers are provided already patched by DSKPATCH.EXE for use with 386 v3.11. 7) ASW-1440 v3.2 Never released. These drivers are replaced with ASW-1440 ver 3.3. 8) ASW-1440 v3.3 The 'verbose=y' command line switch no longer displays the message: !!! NO SCSI DEVICES FOUND TO REGISTER !!! with 386 v3.11. AHA-1540B/AHA-1542B (AT to SCSI bus master host adapter): 1) Bus master data transfer support problems The most common issue dealing with this host adapter is using it in a computer system that does not support bus master DMA data transfers at the speed selected on the host adapter. The speed of the DMA transfer is set with either jumpers on the host adapter or command line switches on the Novell driver. The first step in troubleshooting an AHA-1540 series host adapter problem is to remove any jumpers at J5, positions 12 and 13 (by default, a jumper is installed at J12). When these jumpers are removed, the DMA speed is set to 5 MBytes/sec. To make sure that this speed is compatible with your computer, run the BUS MASTER DMA TEST in the host adapter BIOS. The test is invoked using DOS DEBUG. Type DEBUG, and at the prompt, type -g=dc00:9 (assuming the host adapter BIOS is jumpered to the default BIOS address of DC000). The DMA test will be displayed on the screen. Press any key to run the test. The test should be run with no device drivers or TSRs (terminate and stay resident program). If the test displays funny characters on the screen, or the displays "READ/ WRITE FIFO ERROR", or just simply hangs, then the AHA-1540 series host adapter (or any bus master I/O cards) is not compatible in that system. The AHA-1540C/1542C has the on-board utility to test the DMA. You can press CTRL A when you turn the system on and select Host Adpater Diagnostic. The Adaptec AHA-1520/1522 host adapter does not use bus master transfers and can be used instead, if desired. 2) Using Adaptec device drivers. Use the following command line switches on Adaptec ASPI device drivers to make the host adapter as compatible as possible: For the Novell NetWare 386 operating system: :load AHA1540 speed=ff bus_on=4 bus_off=12 NOTE: ASPITRAN.DSK must be in the same path. This sets the DMA transfer speed to 3.3 MBytes/sec, the bus on time to 4 microseconds, and the bus off time to 12 microseconds. In addition, if your file server has more than 16 Megs of RAM, add the following command line switch: :load AHA1540 above16=y (NOTE: This is only supported with version AHA1540.DSK ver 2.24; ASW-1440 ver 3.3 contains AHA1540.DSK ver 2.22. ) You need to have AHA1540.DSK ver 2.24 to access more than 16 MBytes. Please download UPGRAD11.ZIP and NETWARE.ENC from this BBS to upgrade your older drivers. If you are using NetWare 386 v3.1 or v3.0, or have a version of the ASW-1440 older than v3.3, then the system is limited to 16 Megs of RAM or less. If more than 16 Megs of RAM are in the system, use AHA1540.DSK ver 2.24 and add the following line to your STARTUP.NCF: :set Auto Register Memory Above 16 Megabytes = OFF Use the following STARTUP.NCF and AUTOEXEC.NCF files when more than 16 Megabytes are in the system: STARTUP.NCF: :set Auto Register Memory Above 16 Megabytes = OFF :load AHA1540 above16=y AUTOEXEC.NCF: :register memory 1000000 400000 (This is an example) The 'register memory' command is documented by Novell. The first number is the starting address of the memory above 16 meg, and second number is the amount of extended memory. Both numbers are in Hex. The example above is for 4 Megs above 16 Meg. If you encounter a problem loading the driver with that switch, you may have to increase the reserved buffers below 16 meg with the following SET command: SET Reserved Buffers Below 16 Meg = 32 3) EISA configuration file An EISA configuration file is available to aid in the installation of the AHA-1540B/42B into an EISA system (note that the AHA-1740 EISA to SCSI host adapter is available as well). The file is called !ADP0100.CFG and is available on the Adaptec BBS. Keep in mind that the host adapter must be jumpered to however the EISA software is set. 4) Multiple host adapter support Up to four AHA-1540/42B host adapters can be put into each system. Only one host adapter can have its BIOS enabled (and must be at port 330H), and all the other host adapters must have the BIOS disabled (remove the jumper at J6, position 1). The host adapters must be jumpered to unique DMA channels, port addresses, and Interrupt channels (the manuals and jumper settings are on this BBS). AHA-1640 (microchannel to SCSI bus master host adapter) 1) Systems supported: The IBM models 50, 60, 70, and 80 have been certified on the AHA-1640. Microchannel systems other than these have not been tested and may or may not work properly. 2) There are no bus mastering support issues with microchannel systems. 3) Using Adaptec device drivers. Use the following command line switches on Adaptec ASPI device drivers to make the host adapter as compatible as possible: For the Novell NetWare 386 operating system: :load AHA1640 bus_on=4 bus_off=12 NOTE: ASPITRAN.DSK must be in the same path. This sets the bus on time to 4 microseconds, and the bus off time to 12 microseconds. In addition, if your file server has more than 16 Megs of RAM, add the following command line switch: :load AHA1640 above16=y (NOTE: This is only supported with version AHA1640.DSK ver 2.24 from the UPGRAD11.ZIP and NETWARE.ENC. ASW-1440 ver 3.3 contains AHA1640.dsk ver 2.22. ) If you are using NetWare 386 v3.1 or v3.0, or have a version of the ASW-1440 older than v3.3, than the system is limited to 16 Megs of RAM or less. If more than 16 Megs of RAM are in the system, use AHA1640.DSK ver 2.24 add the following line to your STARTUP.NCF: :set Auto Register Memory Above 16 Megabytes = OFF 4) Multiple host adapter support Up to six AHA-1640 host adapters can be put into each system. Only one host adapter can have its BIOS enabled (and must be at port 330H), and all the other host adapters must have the BIOS disabled (use the reference diskette software). The host adapters must be set to unique arbitration levels, port addresses, and Interrupt levels (done with the reference diskette software). AHA-1740 (EISA to SCSI bus master host adapter) This includes the AHA-1740A/1742A/1744. General Information: 1) Systems supported: The AHA-1740 is designed to work in standard EISA bus systems. The key issue is whether or not the motherboard BIOS used in that system supports a parameter known as "FREE FORM DATA". Some versions of Award, Phoenix, and AMI BIOS do support Free Form Data, and other versions do not. The symptom of non Free Form Data support shows up when the SCSI Device Configuration options during the EISA configuration setup. For example, options may be changed such as "BIOS search for device" or "Send Start Unit" (and others). If Free Form Data is not supported by the motherboard BIOS, then these options will change from what was just set to the defaults. Even if Free Form Data is not supported, the AHA-1740 can still be used, but the default values for SCSI Device Configuration will have to suffice. (Note: if multiple AHA-1740s are in the system, then all the 1740 BIOS should be enabled if any options are changed from the SCSI Device Configuration menu). 2) Bus mastering issues: Some EISA systems have slots that do not support bus mastering. If this is the case, then during software installation you will be formed that the slot does not support bus mastering, and that it should be moved to another slot. 3) Operating Modes: The AHA-1740 has two operating modes: standard mode and enhanced mode. Both modes support high performance DMA data transfers and 32 bit host transfers. The main difference between the two modes is the internal mailbox structure used by the AHA-1740. The enhanced mode features a new enhanced mailbox interface, thus allowing access to up to 4 gig. of host RAM. Some of the other differences are listed below: Standard Mode: Enhanced Mode: Fast SCSI disk support up Fast SCSI disk support up to 5 MB/sec. to 10 MB/sec. Up to 16 Meg memory Up to 4 Gig memory on motherboard on the motherboard*. Uses DMA, IRQ, and port Does not use DMA/IRQ/Ports addresses Uses AHA1540.DSK Uses AHA1740.DSK Does not support Tagged Queuing is supported Tagged Queuing *Can be overcome with NetWare v3.11 and AHA1540.DSK ver 2.24. 4) Using Adaptec device drivers. Standard Mode: For the Novell NetWare 386 operating system: :load AHA1540 NOTE: ASPITRAN.DSK must be in the same path. In addition, if your file server has more than 16 Megs of RAM, add the following command line switch: :load AHA1540 above16=y (NOTE: This is only supported with version AHA1540 ver 2.24) Use the following STARTUP.NCF and AUTOEXEC.NCF files when more than 16 Megabytes are in the system: STARTUP.NCF: :set Auto Register Memory Above 16 Megabytes = OFF :load AHA1540 above16=y AUTOEXEC.NCF: :register memory 1000000 400000 (This is an example) The 'register memory' command is documented by Novell. The first number is the starting address of the memory above 16 meg, and second number is the amount of extended memory. Both numbers are in Hex. The example above is for 4 Megs above 16 Meg. If you encounter a problem loading the driver with that switch, you may have to increase the reserved buffers below 16 meg with the following SET command: SET Reserved Buffers Below 16 Meg = 32 If you are using NetWare 386 v3.1 or v3.0, or have a version of the ASW-1440 older than v3.3, than the system is limited to 16 Megs of RAM or less. If more than 16 Megs of RAM are in the system, add the following line to your STARTUP.NCF: :set Auto Register Memory Above 16 Megabytes = OFF Enhanced Mode: For the Novell NetWare 386 operating system: :load AHA1740 slot=2 ( if the 1740 is on slot #2 ) NOTE: ASPITRAN.DSK must be in the same path. To disable Tagged Queuing on those disk drives that support it, add the following switch: :load AHA1740 max_tags=1 5) Multiple host adapter support Up to four AHA-1740s (standard mode) can be put into each system. All of the host adapters should have their BIOS enabled, The host adapters must be set to unique arbitration levels, port addresses, and Interrupt levels (done with the system EISA config software). Up to twelve AHA-1740s (enhanced mode) can be put into each system. All the host adapter BIOS should be enabled. IRQ, DMA, and port addresses are not used. The AHA-1740 in enhanced mode still uses IRQ 11, so this interrupt should be changed any AHA-1540/1520/1510 host adapters in the same system, to avoid a hardware conflict. All AHA-1740s in enhanced mode can share IRQ 11 with other AHA-1740s, however. AHA-1520/1522: AT to SCSI non bus master host adapter 1) Description and Systems supported: The AHA-1520 and AHA-1522 use Programmed Input/Output as the method of host data transfer. This type of data transfer is very compatible with the vast majority of AT class compatible systems. Thus, virtually every AT compatible on the market will work with the AHA-1520/1522 host adapters. There are no limitations on the amount of host memory that can be in the system. The AHA-1520/1522 supports up to 4 gigabytes of motherboard memory installed in the system. 2) Using Adaptec device drivers. The software package that supports the AHA-1520 family of host adapters is the ASW-1240. The revision history is shown below. The AHA-1520 family of host adapters includes the AHA-1520, the AHA-1522, AHA-1510, and AIC-6260. NOTES: - 1520 refers to the AHA-1520/1522 - If a is listed under description, that means that this version of the ASW-1240 includes the driver that was listed by the . - 286 refers to Novell NetWare 286 v2.15 (SFT and Advanced) revs a, b, and c, and v2.2. - 386 refers to Novell NetWare 386 - Adaptec SCSI host adapters are not supported with ELS versions of NetWare - All of the drivers listed below are Novell certified, except if marked with a *. - If the 'verbose=y' command line switch is used with NetWare 386 v3.11, the following text may appear: !!! NO SCSI DEVICES FOUND TO REGISTER !!! Do not be concerned that SCSI devices are attached and are not being found by the driver. The reason that this message occurs is because NetWare 386 v3.11 does not allow the host adapter to scan the SCSI bus to search for and display devices. 386 v3.1 did allow this. Simply ignore this, and proceed by loading the INSTALL.NLM, which is used to partition and add volumes to disk drives. INSTALL will see all attached SCSI drives. Software Package: Description: 1) ASW-1240 v1.0 Support for AHA-1520/1522 for NetWare 286 v2.15 and NetWare 386 v3.1. It also works with NetWare 286 v2.2, NetWare 386 v3.11 if patched with DSKPATCH.EXE. 2) ASW-1240 v1.1 Same as 1) above, except supported is added for the AHA-1510 and AIC-6260. 3) ASW-1240 v1.2 Same as 2) above, except the driver for NetWare 286 v2.2 is now certified and the driver for NetWare 386 v3.11 does not need to be patched. These versions are obsolete and are replaced with ASW-1240 ver 1.3. 4) ASW-1240 v1.3 Supports NetWare v 2.15 SFT and Advanced, v 2.2, v 3.0, v 3.1, and v3.11. Use the following command line switches on Adaptec ASPI device drivers: For the Novell NetWare 386 operating system: :load AHA1520 NOTE: ASPITRAN.DSK must be in the same path. 3) Multiple host adapter support Up to two AHA-1520/1522 host adapters can be put into each system. Only one host adapter can have its BIOS enabled (and must be at port 340H), and the other host adapter must have the BIOS disabled (remove the jumper labeled BE at jumper block J9). The host adapters must be set to port addresses and Interrupt channels. Only the PIO method of data transfer can be used, and must be used for each host adapter.