FlashPoint Family BusLogic Inc. Final Release README.TXT March 14, 1996 This README file contains important information concerning certain anomalies that have been experienced during BusLogic's testing of the FlashPoint PCI SCSI host adapters. If you encounter a problem using your FlashPoint Kit, please consult the following list to see if your problem is already identified. Final Release Information: Host Adapter Information: ------------------------- FlashPoint LT, HW Rev A, BIOS Rev 1.31m, AutoSCSI Rev 2.31 FlashPoint DL, HW Rev A, BIOS Rev 1.31m, AutoSCSI Rev 2.31 FlashPoint LW, HW Rev A, BIOS Rev 1.31m, AutoSCSI Rev 2.31 SW-200 Version 2.01 Driver Information: --------------------------------------- Description File Name Version File Size File Date File Time Install program INSTALL.EXE 1.60 103042 08/14/95 02:40p DOS ASPI Manager FLASHPT.SYS 2.00g 54846 02/27/96 05:19p Extended disk driver BTMDISK.SYS 4.60a 19160 10/26/95 10:11a CDROM driver BTCDROM.SYS 4.30g 21966 01/23/96 11:52a Extended Fdisk utility BTFDISK.EXE 3.60a 86287 10/26/95 12:19p Windows ASPI driver WINASPI.DLL ----- 5184 12/14/95 03:38p Windows virtual driver VASPID.386 ----- 9640 03/10/95 11:48a Win 95 Miniport driver FLASHPT.MPD ----- 67584 02/27/96 03:19p Win NT driver for x86 FLASHPNT.SYS ----- 47872 02/27/96 03:39p Win NT driver for alpha FLASHPNT.SYS ----- 71584 02/27/96 05:01p OS/2 2.1X/Warp driver FLASHPT.ADD 1.48 52389 03/05/96 02:01p NetWare 3.1x driver FLASHP3X.DSK 1.23 73915 02/27/96 04:37p NetWare 4.x driver FLASHP4X.DSK 1.23 74792 02/27/96 04:37p NetWare 4.x DDI FLASHP4X.DDI ----- 27128 02/06/96 01:00p NetWare ASPI Layer ASPITRAN.DSK 3.00 1026 09/28/95 12:52p This README file contains three (3) sections. The first deals with open SCSI devices issues, the second with other open hardware issues, and the third with open software issues (OS, Install). Please consult the appropriate section to see if your problem has already been reported. I. SCSI Peripheral Test Notes ============================== The following is a list of SCSI devices which have been tested and found to have incompatibilities with the FlashPoint PCI host adapters. Where possible, a method of working around the problem is provided. A. Quantum 1080S 'Empire Series' hard drive. - Problem: Incorrect data transfers in 10MB/s Synchronous and Asynchronous modes. - Solution: Setup the drive to operate in 5MB/s Synchronous mode using AutoSCSI. B. Quantum 1080S 'Empire Series' hard drive. - Problem: If the firmware used on the drive is 11xx or previous then the drive does not get recognized by the adapter BIOS during boot. - Solution: This is a problem with drive's firmware that does not support SCAM protocal. The problem can be fixed by either upgrade the drive firmware to 12xx and later, or enter the adapter AutoSCSI and set SCAM to OFF for drive firmware versions 11xx or previous. C. Quantum LPS 540 hard drive. - Problem: Incorrect data transfers in Asynchronous mode. - Solution: Setup the drive to operate in 5MB/s Synchronous mode using AutoSCSI. D. Arcada ANCDA 2750 tape drive. - Problem: Drive incorrectly negotiates to Synchronous 20MB/s or 10MB/s data transfer rate when it cannot support these transfer rates. - Solution: Setup the drive to operate in Asynchronous or 5MB/s Synchronous mode using AutoSCSI. E. Toshiba 3301 CD-ROM drive. - Problem: Incorrect data transfers. - Solution: To avoid these data compare issues, try a longer cable. F. SCSI-1 Pass Through terminator (Brand name not marked). - Problem: This terminator is not SCSI compliant and does not pass through the signal on pin 26. This does not allow FlashPoint's SmartTERM logic to detect the drive and disable the on-board terminator. - Solution: Do not use non-compliant SCSI Pass Through terminators. In AutoSCSI v2.29 and later, you also have an option to disable on-board terminators in this type of situtation. This option is not supported on FlashPoint LT Rev A boards. G. IOmega ZIP drive. - Problem: The external connector used on this device is Apple compatible connector and not a standard SCSI-II connector. The pin 26 on this connector is not grounded as per SCSI specs. This does not allow FlashPoint's SmartTERM logic to detect the drive and disable the on-board terminator. - Solution: In AutoSCSI v2.29 and later, you now have an option to disable on-board terminators in this type of situation. This option is not supported on FlashPoint LT Rev A boards. For these boards, attach another externally terminated device after the ZIP drive to provide termination. The ZIP drive need not be terminated. H. Certain External NEC CD-ROM drive. - Problem: The terminator used is not SCSI compliant and does not pass through the signal on pin 26. This does not allow FlashPoint's SmartTERM logic to detect the drive and disable the on-board terminator. - Solution: In AutoSCSI v2.29 and later, you have an option to disable on-board terminators in this type of situtation. This option is not supported on FlashPoint LT Rev A boards. For these boards, use a separate SCSI-2 Active termination or attach another externally terminated device after the CD-ROM drive to provide termination. I. Teac CD-56 CD-ROM drive. - Problem: When SCAM is set to ON, drive does not get recognized by the DOS Manager FLASHPT.SYS during boot. - Solution: Enter the host adapter AutoSCSI and set the SCAM option to OFF. J. Teac CD-56 CD-ROM drive. - Problem: When used with FlashPoint LW, if Wide negotiation is set to ON for the device then the drive does not get recognized by the driver during boot. - Solution: Enter the host adapter AutoSCSi and set the Wide Negotiation to OFF. K. HP JetStore 5000 DAT drive. - Problem: When used with FlashPoint LW, if Wide negotiation is set to ON for the device then the drive does not get recognized by the driver during boot. - Solution: Enter the host adapter AutoSCSi and set the Wide Negotiation to OFF. II. System Test Notes ===================== The following conditions have also been noted in BusLogic's testing of the FlashPoint PCI SCSI host adapters. Where appropriate, a workaround is noted. A. BIOS diagnostic fails at address 6080h in UMC motherboard (G1-PCI # 5228200080). - Problem: This motherboard contains the UMC Chipset 8881F and was installed with Weitek PCI video card (Vendor ID # 100Eh and Device ID # 9001h). The BIOS on the motherboard is Award BIOS (version-4.50G, date code-10/04/94). The motherboard assigns the FlashPoint LT and the Weitek board the same I/O space at 00006001h. - Solution: This problem goes away if you use an AT video card, or update sytem BIOS to assign I/O to the PCI card correctly. B. BIOS diagnostic fails at address 60A8 in a motherboard with a VIA 486 and Pentium chipset. - Problem: The older version of VIA chipset decodes the access to register XXA8h on the motherboard and does not let the access go to the PCI bus. - Solution: VIA has fixed this problem in their new reviosion of chipsets, model number CG or later. C. Micronics motherboard using SIS 550x series chipset and ECS motherboard using SIS 551x series chipset. - Problem: FlashPoint DL hangs after displaying the host adapter BIOS banner during boot. The problem is caused by the SIS 550x and 551x chipsets on the motherboard, that do not observe the PCI bus arbitration rules. This problem only affects the FlashPoint DL board. All other FlashPoint family boards work fine. - Solution: No workaround available. D. Zeos Pantera/Wildcat system using VLSI chipset. - Problem: In some motherboards, system may hang when booting from FlashPoint DL when plugged in the right-most slot. - Solution: Move FlashPoint DL to left-most slot. III. Software Test Notes ======================== The following are open issues which have been discovered through BusLogic's internal testing. A. BIOS - Problem: When booting, Compaq system BIOS shows "Press key for System Partition Utilities" in Compaq Prosignia 300 and 500 systems. - Solution: Ingnore the warning and continue to boot. - Problem: When Syquest EZ135 removable drive is set to BIOS handle as Fixed disk, then DOS high level FORMAT fails. Host adapter hangs with LED on. - Solution: Enter the host adapter AutoSCSI and "Disable" BIOS handle as Fixed Disk option. **************************************************************************** BusLogic FlashPoint PCI SCSI Host Adapter Installation Utility For DOS/Windows 3.x Version 1.60 Introduction ============ BusLogic's FlashPoint software installation utility installs the device drivers for DOS and Windows 3.1x environments. Where necessary, the CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT and SYSTEM.INI files will be changed accordingly. Installation ============ To install the FlashPoint software, place the installtion diskette into the floppy drive where the diskette resides and type "install". For example, A:> install or B:> install.