> > > I've been using an AHA2940 for ages, and it works fine. However, there are
> > > some problems with changing SCSI adapters, e.g. a harddisk formatted with
> > > an Adaptec controller sometimes won't work with a NCR controller, and vice
> > > versa.
> >
> > b..b..b..b..But... SCSI is supposed to be interchangeable, a fundamental
> > goal of the interface design. This is alarming news. Is NCR or Adaptec
> > at fault?
>
> Neither - this is universal in my experience. Moving from one model
> of controller to another OF THE SAME MAKE can suffer from the same
> problem. Can't say I know why though.
[SNIP]
The problem is with the controller. Confirmed. But it's not a problem
with formatting. It's a problem with building a file-system. So I don't
blame Linux drivers for anything, lets say we are talking DOS and we
use the BIOS provided with the controllers.
Most expensive controller/BIOS combinations do scatter/gather to queue
reads and writes to minimize head movement. Let's say that I don't really
know the geometry of the drive so I make a guess that there are really
41 sectors to a physical track, rather than 64, 128, 256, etc., that
are used for logical sectors. Now, in the process of deferring reads
and writes, I have to do some integer math to define which ones I read
or write first. I make a scatter/gather table and, as long as each sector
is unique, disk access will work. Note that in the example "41" is not
a factor for 64, 128, or 256, etc.
Now however, If another controller/BIOS is used, that has a different
scatter/gather translation, data is not where you think it should be.
Therefore, when using scatter/gather, you have to access a file system
using the same controller upon which it was built.
This is not a SCSI problem or a Disk problem. It's a BIOS problem (or
a driver problem).
Cheers,
Dick Johnson
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Richard B. Johnson
Project Engineer
Analogic Corporation
Voice : (508) 977-3000 ext. 3754
Fax : (508) 532-6097
Modem : (508) 977-6870
Ftp : ftp@boneserver.analogic.com
Email : rjohnson@analogic.com, johnson@analogic.com
Penguin : Linux version 2.1.20 on an i586 machine (66.15 BogoMips).
Warning : It's hard to remain at the trailing edge of technology.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-