#2090 & adaptec 4070
10 messages in this thread
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone using the 2090 controller with adaptec
4070 and Seagate ST277R. When I try to run the "prep" program I get a -1
error and nothing. I can run it with the 277R hooked up to the ST506
connections without the 4070 although I don't understand what the blocksper
track are in this case…Actually I don't understand what they are when using
the 4070 and SCSI interface either. From reading the adaptec manual my guess
is 25 blockspertrack but I'm not sure thats correct. In the 2090 manual it
seems to indicate that this information is not critical for the prep program
anyway..I'm not sure if the 4070 or 2090 is bad or if I'm not configuring
something correctly. There are no jumpers on the 4070. Any help would be most
appreciated….Thanks
Dave,
I too have been trying to use the 4070 with the 2090 but so far no go. I
usually get the -1 in open of HDDISK.DEVICE if I don't run binddrivers or if
my boot SYS: doesn't have an expansion dir with HDDisk in it. I think that
should help you. also you have to mount RES2: and then Prep Res2:. IF you get
all that working, you will reach thew same point I am stuck at. That is there
is no way to send the mode select command to set the drive params before the
LL format comand. The 2090 assumes iyt is hooked up to a drive that knows how
big it is, not a universal controller. Anyone want to address this?
I also have had similar problems with a Bernoulli box. Anyone have
programming info on the 2090 or know where to get it? How about a Low level
4070/4000 formatter?
Im about ready to trash the 2090 and go to C-OLtd. *I hear they are very
good about supporting unusual stuff.
Dave Weinbach
72576,16
I'm using the 2090 and the 4070. I've had no problems at all. There is a
trick, tho — the drive must be low level formated on another machine.
I know The Trick, but I don't know the magician.
Dave Weinbach
What I did was format it on a 1000 with a C LTD controller. Since the
current 2090 software doesn't support low level format, you're stuck unless
you can format it on another machine.
Steve:
Just a quick question: If you have an Adaptec 4070 and an
RLL-compatible drive, what (besides cables) else do you need to hook the
drive up for RLL operation?
Oh, another short one: I don't suppose you know of any upcoming
changes to the HD software to alleviate the C LTD controller requirement for
getting a SCSI setup up and running?
Ariel
The 4070 controller is RLL and SCSI. The cable from the 4070 plugs directly
into the SCSI port on the back of the 2090 (at least the one supplied by C
Ltd does).
Low Level SCSI format is nothing more than issuing a couple of commands to
the SCSI controller. The controller itself does the work. CBM just has to
supply a program that issues those commands to the controller.
Steve:
Thanks! Sorry to press the issue, but just for clarity's sake, let
me persist with this topic for a sec. What you're saying is that the 4070
then plugs right into the RLL compatible drive, right? If so, then the
standard ST-506 drigve (er, that's "drive") cables are necessary for this
hookup? I understand that this is separate from the hookup between the 4070
and the SCSI host adapter card. I just wanna get straight the chain of
attachments.
BTW, this is for someone else, if that explains why I'm a little more
cautious than I am usually for myself. 🙂
Ariel
Ariel,
I've never opened the drive case to see how the 4070 is physically
connected to the drive. There is a way to attach a 4070 controller to a RLL
compatible ST-506 drive. Exactly how the attachment is done, I don't know —
you'll have to look at the 4070 manual. The drive I have (C Ltd AM-50) came
with the 4070 all hooked up. All I had to do was toss the C Ltd controller,
and hook up the 25 pin SCSI cable coming from the 4070 directly to the rear
SCS port of the 2090.
Now, just another bit of info that you might or might not know about or care
about! The 4070 is a SCSI/RLL controller. The cheaper 4000 is SCSI (only).
Thanks, Steve, that is quite helpful.
Ariel