#HQ5
9 messages in this thread
Hi Tom –
Wanted to jump in and find out how the Warp's SCSI was working with the
Flyer's? I seemed to remember that you had a problem at one time. Can I have an
update?
Hank
Videology, Inc Where you always get P.O.M.P. and
Service under all circumstances
Hank,
I am not having any problem using the WarpEngine's SCSI with the Flyer. The
solution to the failure to boot problem (i.e. turning on the A4000 simply
resulted in a steadily burning LED on the internal IDE drive unless the
external Micropolis SCSI drive attached to the WarpEngine's SCSI port was
disconnected) turned out to have a very simple solution. I simply now power up
all SCSI devices simultaneously with the A4000 from a single master switch.
The system nearly always boots up fine now. When it doesn't, I simply do a
second cold reboot and it always boots up the second time.
Tom
Tom,
Thought you had missed this message with my previous reply. Thanks for the
input. Still haven't figured out why the CD keeps this A4000 from booting.
BTW, what kind of cabling do you have for the Warp's external SCSI? I've tried
the Centronics 50-pin provided and can't get the cable to plug in all the way.
Hank
Videology, Inc Where you always get P.O.M.P. and
Service under all circumstances
Hank,
I was using the flat ribbon connector with a Centronics connector on the end,
but when HT Electronics installed my Flyer I asked them to punch out the plate
on the back of the A4000 and mount the Centronics connector in the cutout which
they did. All my external SCSI devices attached to the WarpEngine's SCSI use
Centronics connectors.
Tom
Tom,
Did they install a 25-pin Din, or the 50-pin Centronics. The 50-pin is much
larger and usually won't fit the A4000 punchout plate. Eliminating the
external flat SCSI ribbon cable, should result in cleaner data transmissions
for sure.
Hank
Videology, Inc Where you always get P.O.M.P. and
Service under all circumstances
Thomas,
Your symptoms sound classic of termination problems. You might want to get a
Granite diogital active SCSI terminator for the MIcropolis. (Turn off
termination on the drive itself – I think on the Microp it is sw/jumper
selectable, and use the Granite terminator on the outside of the box. IT also
has the advantage of LEDs for eterm power, ack, req and sel lines so if
somethinh hangs the bus you have an idea who the culprit is.)
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne,
Thanks for the advice. Where does one purchase a Granite digital active SCSI
terminator for the Micropolis? At present, termination on the Micropolis is
apparently passive since I terminate the drive by simply plugging in the two
resistors provided. I don't know how to turn off the Micropolis drive
termination any other way. You mentioned that the Micropolis has sw/jumper
selectable termination, but how do you identify which jumper or how do you
access the drive software? Sorry for all the questions, but the area of SCSI
termination is pretty much a "black box" to me.
Incidentally, the problem is not insurmountable. If the system does not boot
the first time from a cold start (which happens about every 5-6 times I boot),
then I just turn off the master power switch, wait 20-30 seconds, and flip the
switch again. It has never failed to boot on the second attempt.
I truly appreciate the help in this area where I am quite ignorant.
Tom
Look in the back of Byte or PC mag for their ads or go to Fye;s electronics (if
you are in LA) or call them direct at 510-471-6442. Regarding Micropolis, call
them at 818-718-5360 for info on how to get the jumper assingment docs for your
drive model. They are also in PCVEND section 5 here on CIS.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Wayne,
Thanks very much for the information. I'll check it to this if the problem
becomes more serious than having to ocassionally cold boot a second time.
I hope your recent Flyer successes are continuing. I think all of us have
suffered vicariously with and for you. If I were in this as a business, I
would probably be much less forgiving of the relatively few problems that I
have encountered with my Flyer system.
Tom