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    AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1209                 6-6-95

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    DACADM.NLM AND DACMON.NLM FOR NETWARE V4.1

    PROBLEM

    The Mylex DAC960 NetWare Loadable Modules (DACADM.NLM, DACMON.NLM) cause
    Netware v.4.1 to either hang or abend when viewing disk drive information in
    DACADM.NLM.

    CAUSE

    The existing DACADMN.NLM and DACMON.NLM files do not support Netware 4.1.

    SYSTEMS AFFECTED
    AST PART NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION

    501133-002          FIVE CHANNEL EISA SCSI DISK ARRAY CTLR
    520082-002          FIVE CHANNEL EISA SCSI DISK ARRAY CTLR
    221134-001          FRU FIVE CHANNEL EISA SCSI DISK ARRAY CTLR

    SOLUTION

    Update the BIOS and firmware on the DAC960 to BIOS v1.19, firmware v2.14, and
    NetWare disk drivers.  With the new BIOS, firmware, and drivers, the system
    will be able to use the new DACADM.NLM and DACMON.NLM.

    This procedure requires the "DACCFNEW" diskette contained in file name
    DACCFNEW.EXE.  This file is located on AST’s BBS (817) 230-6850, in the "Systems"
    file area.  AST's BBS supports modem speeds up to 28.8k bps.
    The above file will also be posted on:

    CompuServe
    Go ASTSUPPORT

    AST Worldwide Web Site
    http://www.ast.com

    PREREQUISITES

    Although, if performed correctly, the firmware update should not disturb any
    data on the drives, AST highly recommends a backup of all the data before
    performing this firmware update.

    CAUTION

    Use an ESD ground strap when handling hard drives or circuit boards.

    Instructions for upgrading the DAC960 CTLR to BIOS 1.19 and firmware
    v2.14.

    WARNING

    THIS UPGRADE SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED ON SYSTEMS
    THAT WILL BE RUNNING NETWARE V4.1.  THE UPGRADE MAY
    CAUSE THE FOLLOWING LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY:

    DRIVE SIZING IS NOT SUPPORTED WITH THIS BIOS AND
    FIRMWARE VERSION.  IF A DRIVE FAILS, IT MUST BE REPLACED
    WITH A LITERALLY IDENTICAL DRIVE.

    IF YOU HAVE ANY SYSTEM-DRIVE WHICH IS SPANNED ACROSS
    PHYSICAL-PACKS (> 1 SPAN), YOU MUST BACKUP THE DATA ON
    THE SYSTEM DRIVE BEFORE LOADING THE NEW FIRMWARE,
    AND RESTORE AFTERWARDS !

    THE UPGRADE WILL INVOLVE LOSS OF DATA IF A STRIPE SIZE
    OTHER THAN 8K IS TO BE USED.  EVEN IF THE STRIPE SIZE IS
    LEFT AS 8K, THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE IS TO BE STRICTLY
    FOLLOWED, IF DATA LOSS IS TO BE AVERTED.

    CONTENTS

    PART   I: Procedure to upgrade the DAC960's Firmware and BIOS.
    PART  II: Procedure for installing NetWare v4.1 with the DAC960.
    PART III: Procedure for updating the DAC960's drivers on an existing
    		NetWare v4.1 Server

    PART I
    UPGRADING THE DAC960 BIOS AND FIRMWARE

    The new firmware download utility, version 3.00, should be run from a floppy
    disk drive.  If it is run from a boot hard drive connected to a DAC960
    controller, once the controller has been flushed, it is reset and the program
    will not continue.  This can be overcome by flashing this controller last.
    It is advisable to run the utility from a floppy disk drive.

    1.  After downloading file DACCFNEW.EXE from AST’s BBS, install the
    "DACCFNEW" diskette and reboot the system.

    2.  If you do not wish to save the existing data on your drives, or you are
    performing an initial installation, continue with step 4.

    3.  If you wish to save all the data on the drives, and your existing
    configuration meets the criteria in the above Warnings and Notes, then
    you must save the existing controller configuration to a floppy diskette
    by using the TOOLS/BACKUP CONFIG options of DAC960CF.BAT.

    		A> DAC960CF.BAT
    		Select Option 7 "Tools".
    		Select Option 6 "Backup/Restore conf".
    		Select "Backup Configuration".
    		Type in a name for the backup file.
    		After saving the configuration, press  several times to exit.

    4.  Upgrade the firmware using the firmware flash utility.

    	    A> NEWFIRM.BAT

    (NOTE: THE DAC960 MAY REPORT THE FOLLOWING ERROR
    "ERROR STATUS FROM DAC = 104H" IGNORE THIS ERROR)

    Press any key to continue.

    Answer "Y" to the Download Verification Prompt.

    The system will need to be rebooted after completing the update.
    (Press the  key.)

    (NOTE: The DAC960 will report errors after Reset.  Press any key to continue)

    5.  Boot the system as in step 1 and upgrade the BIOS using the BIOS flash
    utility.

    		  A> NEWBIOS.BAT

    The system will need to be rebooted after completing the update.
    (Press any key to reboot.)

    6.  Boot the system as in step 1 and restore the configuration, or
    reconfigure the controller using the DAC960 Configuration Utility.

    		  A> DAC960CF.BAT

    If the system prompts to press "S",  press  to save the default
    configuration and reboot the system again.  Run DAC960CF.BAT after rebooting.

    For new configurations, go to Step 7.

    Select Option 7 "Tools".
    Select Option 6 "Backup/Restore conf".
    Select "Restore Configuration".
    Type in the name of the backup file from Step 3.
    After restoring the configuration, press  several times to exit.
    Reboot the system.
    Go To PART III

    7.  The new DAC960 Configuration Menu is slightly different from the old
    one.  For example, in the new utility, controller channels are represented
    horizontally and drive IDs are represented vertically. The functions are
    basically the same.

    A) Create a new pack from the "New Configuration" menu item.
    B) Add drives to the pack.
    C) Define the system drive(s).
    D) Select RAID level.
    E) Initialize System Drive.
    F) Save configuration and exit.

    PART II
    INSTALLING NETWARE V4.1 WITH THE DAC960 CONTROLLER

    NOTE: Part I must be completed before continuing with Part II.

    To install NetWare v4.1 from CD-ROM, you must be able to access the
    CD-ROM through DOS.

    1.  Create and format a DOS partition according to the Novell documentation.

    2.  Copy the DOS CD-ROM Drivers for the DAC960 from the "DACCFNEW" diskette.

    		 A> DOSCDROM.BAT

    Note: This batch file will copy all the necessary files including a
    CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT file to the hard drive.

    Remove the "DACCFNEW" diskette and reboot the system.

    3.  Proceed with the installation of NetWare v4.1.  When prompted to select a
    disk driver,

    Insert the "DACCFNEW" diskette and press the  key followed by
    .

    Type

    A:\NW41

    Select DACNET4.DSK and press

    When prompted "Do you want to select an additional Disk Driver?"

    Answer "YES"

    Select ASPIDAC4.DSK and press .

    When prompted to "Save Existing file?"

    Answer "NO"

    When prompted "Do you want to select an additional Disk Driver?"

    Answer "NO".

    Complete the NetWare v4.1 installation.

    4.  Copy the "DAC960 Monitor" and "DAC960 Administrator" NetWare
    Loadable Modules, from a Workstation which is logged-on to the server,
    with ADMIN rights.

    Insert the "DACCFNEW" diskette into the Workstations floppy drive and
    type:

    	  A> NLMCOPY.BAT

    5.  Load the "DAC960 Monitor" and "DAC960 Administrator" NetWare
    Loadable Modules.

    From the server, type

    	  LOAD DACMON

    and press

    Use  +  to switch back to the system console.  Type

    	  LOAD DACADM

    and press

    Use  +  to switch back to the system console.

    This concludes the instructions for installing NetWare v4.1 with the DAC960
    drivers.

    PART III

    UPDATING THE DAC960 DRIVERS ON AN EXISTING NETWARE 4.1
    SERVER

    NOTE: Part II must be completed before continuing with Part III.

    1.  Copy the DAC960 Disk Drivers to the C:\NWSERVER directory on the
    DOS partition.

    	    A> DSKCOPY.BAT

    2.  Start SERVER.EXE from the C:\NWSERVER directory.

    	    SERVER -NSA

    (This will bypass the STARTUP.NCF and AUTOEXEC.NCF files.)

    Enter any name for SERVER NAME and any number for INTERNAL
    NETWORK NUMBER.

    		LOAD C:\NWSERVER\INSTALL

    Choose "NCF files Options" from the menu.

    Choose "Edit STARTUP.NCF" from the menu.

    Change

    LOAD C:\NWSERVER\DAC960.DSK

    To

    LOAD C:\NWSERVER\DACNET4.DSK

    And optionally add

    LOAD C:\NWSERVER\ASPIDAC4.DSK

    Press  to save changes and exit.  Down the server and reboot the system
    as you normally would.

    3.  Copy the DAC960 Netware Loadable Modules to the server.
    (Follow Steps 4 and 5 in PART II to copy NLMs.)

    This concludes the instructions for updating the DAC960 drivers on an
    existing NetWare v4.1 Server.