Newsgroups: bit.listserv.novell
Date:         Wed, 4 Nov 1992 13:16:49 CST
Reply-To:     Novell LAN Interest Group <NOVELL@SUVM.BITNET>
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Comments:     Resent-From: Ron Neely <SURGRON@MIZZOU1>
Comments:     Originally-From: Michael Brundridge <mikeb@PANDORA.DELL.COM>
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was NOVELERR@SUVM.SYR.EDU
From:         Ron Neely <SURGRON@MIZZOU1.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Caution when buying Adaptec...

>kspeicht@kilcom1.ucis.dal.ca (Kevin F. Speichts) writes:


>>       FYI

>>       I would like to caution any one who plans on buying and adaptec 1740
>>EISA SCSI controller.  Apparently there is a bug in their firmware, they
>>tried to tell me that it was the intel controller chip (it may well be), but
>>a firmware bug it is (they finally told me this).  This card will work fine
>>under a DOS enviroment, but try to install netware 3.11 on it and you'll
>>have lots of fun (volumes will not re-mount).

>>       Apparently there are lots of cards out there with this.
>>I have installed one before on a different machine and had no troubles
>>what-so-ever.  If you have one thats working then your lucky!

>>       I'm dissapointed that this happened because I believed that Adaptec
>>put out a good product.  Unfortunately I can't wait for them to come up with
>>a firmware patch .. I've got to find another solution .. FAST!

>>       Could anyone recommend a good EISA bus mastering SCSI controller to
>>me?  Thanks in advance.


>Adaptec is correct in that it is an Intel BMIC problem.  They are able
>to fix it by updating their FIRMWARE and changing channels to the
>other channel on the BMIC chip.

>Other manufactures of Bus Master cards that use the INTEL BMIC might
>have to use other methods to get around the problem.  Some might be
>able to switch channels using FIRMWARE, some might have to make
>another PAL, some might have to make another GAL, some might have to
>lift a pin on the BMIC to make it switch channels.  There are
>different ways, and the method needed to make a certain board work is
>determined by how the card was designed.

>The problem is that data is corrupted within the chip on channel 0.
>The problem is resolved by changing from channel 0 to channel 1.  No
>matter what method that I mentioned above is used to do that it
>always fixes the problem.  So like I said, it depends on how the
>vendor designed his card, and only they know what they have to do to
>fix it.

>To determine if you have the B1 step BMIC, look at the INTEL chip with
>the number 82355 on it.  Look right below the 82355 and you should see
>a SZ with a number following.  If it has a SZ570 you might have the
>problem.  Check with the vendor that made the card to be sure, or
>contact the vendor that sold you the card to see if they know if it
>has the problem, or has a fix in place to resolve it.

>So what I am telling you is that Adaptec is not lonely in this
>problem, everyone that uses the INTEL BMIC has the problem, or the
>potential to have the problem.

>THIS IS NOT A DELL STATEMENT, THIS IS MY OWN, SO YELL AT ME!
>--
>Michael Brundridge         |      Dell Computer Corp         |   STANDARD
>mikeb@pandora.dell.com     |      1807 W. Braker Ln          |   DISCLAIMER
>Associate Engineer         |      Building C                 |   APPLIES
>Novell CNE                 |      Austin, Tx 78758           |

I just got off the phone with a tech support person named Michael Arreano at
Adaptec.  He informed me that Adaptec has just developed a firmware patch to
address this problem.  Apparently, LOTS of people have been beating up on
Adaptec over this.  He promised to FedEx me the PROM's today.  If anyone else
wants to pursue this, Adaptec's tech support number is (800) 959-7274 or
(408) 945-8600.  As soon as I get the new chips installed I'll post preliminary
observations to the list.

Ron Neely
University of Missouri Columbia
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU