Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Tony,
    	Post your DEVSETUP file so we can take a look.
    
    
    
    Roger
    

Tony,

    In  your  devsetup  file  entry  make sure you have the following
line:

	flag	NOBLOCKREAD

    The  drive  performance  will suffer, but it appears that certain
combinations of Adaptec and C-Ltd controllers  have  a  problem  with
block reads.

    Block  reads (as C-Ltd called them) are also known a blind reads.
Not all the handshaking is done that ought to  be  and  come  (rather
shaky)  timing  assumptions are made. In particular, the next byte on
the SCSI bus would *be there* when the driver next  looked.  If  not,
things  get out of synchronization. Viola! a hung up disk (waiting to
transfer that last byte or so).

    I  am  assuming  you  have  the  non-Kronos  variety   of   C-Ltd
controller.

    I have heard (and plan to check) that Adaptec has later revisions
of  their  firmware  that  runs  faster.  This  may allow you to turn
BLOCKREAD back on.

	Thanks,
		-SES

    A second vote for NOBLOCKREAD.
    
    I have a C-Ltd A2000 controller talking to an Adaptec 4010.  Got
    similar problems to what you described when using BLOCKREAD - it
    would hang whenever it did a real BLOCKREAD.  Got it to reproduce
    by running the DISKPERF program.
    
    No problems, other than slower performance, since I made that change.
    
    -Dave

The CLtd documentation was clear that BLOCKREAD would not work for the RLL 
version of the Adaptec but said it would work for the MFM version.  Just in 
case, I will certainly try changing parameters tonight.  Can anyone comment
on specific versions of CLtd software and what is fixed or changed in the 
later versions?

For reference, here is my DEVSETUP file:


/*- DevSetup generated by CLtd's MLed, by Steve Tibbett -*/
 Device CLtd.device

  Define Handler SCSI.Handler
  Load   Handler SCSI.Handler

  Define Driver HardDisk.driver
  Load   Driver HardDisk.driver


  Initialize Handler 100

    HandlerCode SCSI.Handler
    TaskName SCSI_Bus_1
    TaskPriority 15
    StackSize 250
    HostAddress 7

  ExitInit


  Initialize Unit 1000

    DriverCode HardDisk.driver
    HandlerNumber 100
    TaskName Unit_1000
    TaskPriority 12
    StackSize 250
    AutoRetries 4
    BufferSize 8
    UnitAddress 1
    Unit_LUN 0
    Flags BlockRead
    Flags AdaptiveBuffer

  ExitInit


  Initialize Unit 2000

    DriverCode HardDisk.driver
    HandlerNumber 100
    TaskName Unit_2000
    TaskPriority 12
    StackSize 250
    AutoRetries 4
    BufferSize 8
    UnitAddress 1
    Unit_LUN 1
    Flags BlockRead
    Flags AdaptiveBuffer

  ExitInit

 Exit

    I'm using 3.0 and MFM disks.  I needed to use NOBLOCKREAD with
    the Adaptec 4010.  Maybe CLtd tested with fast Adaptec 4000s?
    
    -Dave

I am using v3.3 of SCSIdos. It mostly has fixes to allow 68020 processors 
to work at all. Believe Dave Brannon and me: it *is* noblockread. This will
vary between Adaptec's and across models (4000, 4010, 4000A, 5500).
Perhaps it would be worth while contacting Adaptec about a newer version
of their firmware. I have heard older version had serious problems.

	-SES

    Since Tony brought up this subject, I was wondering...
    
    Has ANYONE been successful at putting two drives/LUNs on an OMTI 3527
    connected to the C-LTD board? I Have done everything in my power to try
    and get the second one to work but all I get is a lame error message!
    
    re:.6 v3.3 SCSIdos? They assured me just before they disconnected the
    phones that 3.0 is the latest! Can you post the byte count and date of
    some of the relevant files...like the formatter and omti-3527 and
    omti-clear junk? I'd appreciate it.
    
    			Thanks, Tom 

Tom,

>   Has ANYONE been successful at putting two drives/LUNs on an OMTI 3527
>   connected to the C-LTD board? I Have done everything in my power to try
>   and get the second one to work but all I get is a lame error message!

    I  have 2 working today, but there are problems... wierd problems
that have me preparing to use 2 Omti's - one for each drive.

    It was not easy to get the second one to format. I  had  to  edit
the FedX parameter file (and learned a lot about it in the process!),
and  play  power-cycle  games. Not pretty. I would be willing to show
you, but it is tooooo much to try to explain it here.

>   re:.6 v3.3 SCSIdos? They assured me just before they disconnected the
>   phones that 3.0 is the latest! Can you post the byte count and date of
>   some of the relevant files...like the formatter and omti-3527 and
>   omti-clear junk? I'd appreciate it.

    I got rev 3.3 from their BBS before it went off the air. This was
in  September  or  so.  I don't have the byte counts handy, but there
were only minor changes, like making 68020/30s work, at all!

    Fixed a few problems with MLed, FedX, CLtd.device,  SCSI.handler,
SCSI-Link.Library,  and  the  utilities.  Also  3.3  utilities  would
distinguish  between  a  Kronos and older C-Ltd controllers. Previous
releases were dedicated to one or the other.

    I think that covers most of the changes.

    Bring your drive and enclosure over  and  I'll  get  that  second
drive  formatted  for  you.  The Omti has problems, but features too.
Like it has a built-in bad block scan option in the formatting. Works
real well right up to the total max of 128 bad  block  (between  both
drives).

	-SES

    Where can I find a scsi to a st506 adapter?  I have check with system
    eyes and omnitech.  I recently bought a scsi controller and now I
    need to connect the st506 drives.
    
    
    thanks
    -pete

    I bought an Adaptec 4000A from Computer Surplus Supply. (Address in the
    "computer shopper".  It took them two tries to send me one that
    functioned correctly but they eventually did.
    
    I bought an Adaptec locally (Seattle) for around $90.00.  Call your
    local computer supply shops, they should be available, though they will
    probably be "refurbished".
    
    
    mark

This seems as likely a place as any for this note...

I have been using Omti controllers with my C-Ltd/HardFrame based SCSI 
Amiga Cluster. These are fast but finicky ST506/412 to SCSI adapters in
an 3.5" form factor PC board. They control up to 2 drives each and have
an 8K cache memory.

C-Ltd was the only Amiga based SCSI host adapter (I know of) with deep
format software that would format a Omti. Once they are deep formatted
they seem to work just fine on other SCSI host adapters (like HardFrames).

All is not well though. It is well known that getting the second drive on
an Omti to format took a special type of "black magic!" I have succeeded
through persistent hacking on several occasions in the past, but have been
unable to identify a reproducable sequence of events that works.... until
now!

Last night I think I hit the key. 

The proceedure to use with a C-Ltd SCSI host adapter for formatting ANY
Omti based drive with C-Ltd SCSI-DOS 3.0 or later is:

1) Make sure both drives are connected and configured.
2) Boot your Amiga.
3) CLEARSCSI the omti's address and the address + 7 (left over from old 
   C-Ltd addressing scheme with V2.6 of SCSI-DOS).
4) Run FEDX formatter and select the defaults for the drive.
5) Change the formatter file from Omti-3527.fmt (or -3520.fmt) to be
   Omti-Clear.fmt, set the address, and format the drive. NOTE: there is
   NO DEFECT LIST.
6) Once the format has completed and the verification process has begun
   Control-C the formatter (which will exit).
7) EndCLI and run FedX again.
8) This time put in all the error information and re-format the drive
   with the default formatter file (the one changed for the first pass).
9) The format should complete successfully. If you get LOTS of errors
   the drive may not be able to be RLL formatted (if using a 3527) and 
   must only be run with MFM formatting.

I get speeds out of my Omti (with my HardFrame) of around 500Kb with 
DiskPerfa.

Let me know of this works for other folks out there!

	Thanks,
		-SES

	Hello out there !

	I bought a CLTD-SCSI Controller in a second hand market.
	The Floppy I got with this was labeled with CLTD, SCSIDOS 2.01.
	Unfortunately on this disk there are not the necessary drivers
	and utilities but only the manuals.
	I wrote to CLTD two months ago that I want to buy the drivers
	but I still got no answer.
	Maybe I get the wrong address :
	C Ltd.
	723 East Skinner
	Wichita, Kansas
	67211

	Is it possible that anybody can sell me this software for a reasonable
	price or can give me the right address of CLTD.

	My ALL-IN-1 address is "Leo Plewa @ESG"
	or VAXMAIL COLES1::PLEWA (COLES1 = 49.384 = 50560)

	Thanks,
		Leo PLewa
		CS-Essen (Germany)

    
    re .12
    
    	CLTD went out of bussiness. Nobody is supporting it any more.
    I do have the software you need. If you send me mail, we can find
    a way to get you the software.
    
    		Steve Peters
    

	Hello Steve !

	Thank you very much for the quick response.
	
	I was not able to send you a mail direct to ELWOOD::PETERS.
	I get the error messsage :
	%MAIL-E-LOGLINK, error creating network link to node ELWOOD
	-SYSTEM-F-INVLOGIN,login information invalid at remote node
	So I post it here in the conference.
	
	I think the software would be worth about 30 Dollar.
	If you don't agree let me know how much you want.

	Would it be possible that you can send me the necessary Disks
	via air mail (for security reasons twice) and I will send you
	the Dollars via air mail cash or a money order ?
	Or can you upload the software so that I can take it over the
	net ?
	You get the money anyway.

	It would be great to use my SCSI-Controller with a 69MB
	Rodime-Drive and a TK50Z as soon as possible.

	Best regards

	Leo

    I don't think you'll be able to use the tape support that's been talked
    about in this notesfile.  The C-Ltd doesn't support SCSI direct as far
    as I can tell.
    
    -tl