Adaptec Aha-2840a User manual

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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Installation Guide

AHA-2840A/2842A

High Performance Bus Master

VL-to-Fast SCSI Host Adapter

with SCSISelect™

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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Getting Started

This guide tells you how to install and configure

the AHA™-2840A/2842A SCSI host adapters. With

the exception of the AHA-2842A floppy drive con-

troller, the installation procedure is the same for

both host adapter models. (See Controlling Floppy

Drives on page 3.)

Here is an overview of host adapter installation:

1Insert the host adapter in a VL-Bus™slot in your

computer.

2Connect SCSI cables and SCSI peripherals.

3Terminate the SCSI bus.

4Adjust host adapter configuration, if necessary,

by setting switches and running the SCSISelect™

utility.

5Load software, if necessary.

The following sections explain each installation step.

Board Layout

This figure identifies the major AHA-2840A/2842A

components. The following table describes each

component.

Location Description Location Description

J1 External LED Connector S1 SwitchBlock

J2 Floppy Drive Connector* U1 Floppy Drive Controller*

J3 Internal SCSI Connector U6 VL-Bus to Adapter Interface

J4 External SCSIConnector U8 HostAdapter BIOS ROM

J5 Write-back Enable Jumper U9 AIC-7770 Bus Master Chip

*AHA-2842A only

J1 S1 J2 U1 J3

U9U8

U6J5

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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Default Settings

AHA-2840A/2842A host adapters operate correctly

with their factory default settings in the majority of PC

systems featuring VL-Bus slots. The default settings are:

See Section , Configuring the Host Adapter to learn

how to change these settings.

Installing the Host Adapter

Inserting the Board

WARNING: Turn OFF and disconnect the

power to your computer and attached

devices before you remove the chassis cover.

See your computer’s documentation for

instructions on how to do this.

1Remove the chassis cover to expose the expansion

slots and external access covers.

2Locate an unused VESA®local bus (VL-Bus)

expansion slot, as shown in the diagram below.

Parameter Default Setting

Interrupt Level IRQ 11

DataFIFO Threshold 100%

Port Address 1C00h

HostAdapter BIOS Enabled at addressD8000h

HostAdapter SCSIID 7

SCSIBus Parity Enabled

SCSIBusResetatHostAdapter Initialization Enabled

SCSI Bus Termination Enabled

Floppy Drive Controller Enabled (AHA-2842A only)

Greater than 1 GByteSupport Disabled

BIOS Support for More than 2 Drives Disabled

Removable Drive Support Support removable driveasboot

device only

VL-Bus Slots

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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3Remove the corresponding expansion board

access cover on the computer chassis.

4Align the bus connector on the bottom of the host

adapter with the VL-Bus slot and carefully press

it down into the slot. Secure the host adapter

bracket to the computer chassis with the screw

from the removed expansion slot cover.

Note: Do not replace the chassis cover or

reconnect the power yet!

Setting Switches

If you need to change switch block settings, do it

now before you replace the chassis cover and run

SCSISelect. (See Section , Switch Block Settings.) In

most cases, you will never have to change the default

switch settings. The following are some situations in

which you should change the settings:

Controlling Floppy Drives

If your floppy drives are connected to another floppy

controller (e.g., the one on the motherboard), set sw5

to On to disable the AHA-2842A floppy controller.

If you want to use the floppy controller on the

AHA-2842A you must disable other floppy control-

lers in the computer; refer to the documentation for

your computer or floppy controller.

Using Multiple Host Adapters

The AHA-2840A/2842A port address must be differ-

ent from the port addresses of other expansion

boards and host adapters. If another board is using

the default AHA-2840A/2842A port address of

1C00h, change sw1-sw4 to a different port address

(see Section , Switch Block Settings).

Each installed host adapter must also have a differ-

ent BIOS address, which is set by sw6 and sw7. Or,

you can disable the AHA-2840A/2842A BIOS by set-

ting sw8 to On. (See the next section.)

Disabling the BIOS

CD-ROM drives, tape drives, and other nondisk

devices do not use the host adapter BIOS. Therefore,

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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if no SCSI hard disk drives are connected to the host

adapter, you can reduce bootup time if you disable

the host adapter BIOS.

Matching I/O Address and Slot Number

In EISA/VL-Bus systems, we recommend that the

host adapter I/O address match the number of the

VL-Bus slot in which the host adapter is installed.

(See your PC documentation to determine the slot

numbers.) If the host adapter is installed in slot #1

leave the I/O address at the default (1C00h); if it is in

slot #2, change the I/O address to 2C00h; if it is in

slot #3, change the address to 3C00h, etc.

Jumper Block

Leave the jumper on jumper block J5 installed unless

you are experiencing problems with write-back sig-

nals. (See Section 8, Troubleshooting Checklist.)

Connecting Peripherals

Setting SCSI IDs

You must assign a different SCSI ID to each device on

the AHA-2840A/2842A SCSI bus. See your SCSI

peripheral documentation for directions on how to

determine the ID and change it.

■The default SCSI ID for AHA-2840A/2842A host

adapters is SCSI ID 7. You can change the ID with

the SCSISelect utility, if necessary. (See Section ,

Configuring the Host Adapter.)

■We recommend that you assign SCSI IDs 0 and 1

to the first two SCSI hard disk drives in your PC.

Connecting Cables

SCSI devices are cabled together in a single, con-

nected series called the SCSI bus. The SCSI bus cables

must run sequentially from one device to the next,

with no branches.

The host adapter is at the end of the SCSI bus if

either the internal or external SCSI connector is

unused. The host adapter is in the middle of the bus

if internal and external SCSI devices are installed.

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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Caution: AHA-2840A/2842A host adapters

support only single-ended SCSI devices.

Differential SCSI devices may be damaged if

connected to the host adapter. The periph-

eral documentation will tell you whether the

device is single-ended or differential.

1Lay out the cables and find the pin-1 element of

each cable and peripheral connector.

On internal cables, pin 1 is usually marked with a

contrasting color on one edge of the ribbon cable,

and a small triangle marks pin 1 on the SCSI con-

nector. External cable connectors can only be

plugged-in one way, so pin-1 orientation is

automatic.

2Attach the SCSI cable(s) to the host adapter and

the peripheral(s), using the internal and/or exter-

nal connector(s).

3Be sure to maintain correct pin-1 orientation

throughout the bus. The AHA-2840A/2842A uses

a 50-pin high-density external connector, and a

50-pin flat ribbon-type internal connector.

4If you are installing an AHA-2842A and you are

using the onboard floppy controller, connect the

34-pin ribbon cable to the onboard floppy connec-

tor. Be sure to maintain pin-1 orientation, as

described earlier.

Terminating the SCSI Bus Cable

The last physical SCSI device on either end of the

SCSI bus must have a set of resistors called termina-

tors. Terminators must be removed from, or dis-

abled on, all other devices on the SCSI bus.

The AHA-2840A/2842A and most SCSI peripherals

have built-in terminators that can be enabled or dis-

abled. Terminate only the devices at each end of the

SCSI bus.

Terminating the Host Adapter

Termination is enabled by default on AHA-2840A/

2842A host adapters. You must disable host adapter

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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termination if you attach SCSI devices to both the

internal and external SCSI connectors, since the host

adapter is then in the middle of the SCSI bus.

The table below lists the three possible SCSI device/

host adapter configurations.

Host adapter termination for the AHA-2840A/

2842A is controlled by the SCSISelect program, not

by switches. If you need to disable host adapter ter-

mination, first complete the physical installation,

then run SCSISelect and follow the directions in

Section , Configuring the Host Adapter.

Terminating Other SCSI Peripherals

1Check the manufacturer's documentation to

determine how to enable or disable SCSI bus ter-

mination on your SCSI peripheral device(s).

2Install/enable terminators on SCSI devices at the

ends of the SCSI bus (cable).

3Remove/disable terminators on all other devices

on the SCSI bus.

4Be sure the SCSI cables are connected securely.

They may have been loosened if you changed

jumpers or switch settings on the peripherals.

Reassembling and Starting the System

1Replace the computer chassis cover, following the

instructions in your computer’s documentation.

2Be sure all power switches are OFF, then reconnect

power cables to your computer.

3Turn ON the power for the computer and the

peripheral(s).

At bootup the host adapter BIOS sign-on message

appears on the screen (unless the BIOS is disabled).

The message includes a list of installed SCSI devices

and a BIOS status message.

Devices Connectedto Host Adapter Host Adapter Termination

Internal devicesonly

(hostadapter atend ofbus) Enabled

External devicesonly

(hostadapter atend ofbus) Enabled

Internal and external devices

(hostadapter in the middle) Disabled

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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In most cases your computer, host adapter, and SCSI

peripherals are now ready to use.

Configuring the Host Adapter

Your host adapter includes the built-in, menu-driven

SCSISelect configuration utility. SCSISelect lets you

change host adapter settings such as interrupt chan-

nel and host adapter termination without opening

your computer or setting switches. SCSISelect also

includes a low-level formatting utility.

Running SCSISelect

There are two ways to invoke SCSISelect:

■Press Ctrl-A when prompted at boot time.

■At the DOS prompt type debug and press Enter.

Then at the

Debug

prompt (a hyphen), type

xxxx

where

xxxx

= first 4 digits of host adapter BIOS

address in hex. (D8000h is the default address.)

Use the arrow (↑↓) and Enter keys to make selec-

tions in SCSISelect. Press Esc at any time to return to

the previous menu. You can press F6 to restore the

original default settings. To abandon changes you

made in the Configure/View Host Adapter Settings

menu, press Esc and select No when asked if you

want to save the changes.

Main Menu Options

Configure/View Host Adapter Settings

The Configuration screen displays the basic software

configurable options: IRQ, Host Adapter SCSI ID,

Parity Checking, and Host Adapter Termination.

Highlight an option and press Enter to see a list of

possible values. Some options include information to

help you determine which value to select.

If you select SCSI Device Configuration you can

view another menu and change these options for

each device on the SCSI bus: Initiate Synchronous

Negotiation, Maximum Synchronous Transfer Rate,

Enable Disconnect, Send Start Unit Command, and

Include in BIOS Scan.

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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If you select Advanced Configuration Options you

can view a menu of these advanced options: Data

FIFO Threshold, Host Adapter BIOS Enable or Dis-

able, Support Removable Disks under the BIOS as

Fixed Disks, Extended BIOS Translation, SCSI Bus

Reset at Host Adapter Initialization, and BIOS Sup-

port for More than 2 Drives.

SCSI Disk Utilities

When you select SCSI Disk Utilities from the Main

Menu, the SCSI devices installed at SCSI IDs 0

through 7 are displayed (including nondisk devices).

When you select one of the installed devices, the

Utilities menu appears.

Format Disk accesses the Adaptec SCSI low-level

format utility. Most SCSI devices are preformatted

and do not need to be formatted again.

Verify Disk Media scans the selected device's media

for defects. If bad blocks are encountered, a prompt

will ask if you want the blocks reassigned; if you

select Yes, those blocks will no longer be used.

View Configuration Tips

This option gives you access to useful information

about host adapter termination, DOS memory con-

figuration, and other topics.

I/O Operating Environment Software

DOS/Windows

Under MS®-DOS 5.0 or higher, you can connect up to

seven SCSI hard disk drives to the AHA-2840A/

2842A without additional software. (To do this you

must enable BIOS Support for More than Two

Drives, which is disabled by default.) Older versions

of DOS support up to two hard disk drives.

You can make the host adapter treat removable

media drives as hard disk drives. To do this, run

SCSISelect, choose Advanced Configuration

Options, and set the Support Removable Disks

Under BIOS as Fixed Disks option to All Disks. If

you use this setting, you may not remove the media

while your computer system power is on.

AHA-2840A/2842A Installation Guide

Part Number: 510590-00, Rev B

Print Spec Number: 492663-00

Current Date: 5/9/96 ECN Date: 6/3/96

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You need additional software, such as Adaptec’s

EZ-SCSI, if you want to

■Remove and insert magneto-optical and other

removable media while your computer is running

■Support more than two hard disk drives under

versions of DOS prior to MS-DOS 5.0

■Use devices other than hard disk drives, such as

SCSI tape drives, CD-ROM drives, scanners, etc.

Other Operating Environments

The AHA-2840A/2842A host adapters support DOS,

NovellNetWare, OS/2, Windows NT, SCO

UNIXand Novell UnixWare operating systems.

Contact Adaptec or your operating system vendor

for information on the current schedule for I/O

operating environment software support.

Troubleshooting Checklist

If you have a problem during installation, check the

following items first:

■Are all SCSI peripheral devices powered?

■Are all SCSI bus cables and power cables properly

connected?

■Do the host adapter and all devices on the SCSI

bus have unique SCSI IDs?

■Are all devices on the SCSI bus terminated prop-

erly? (See Section , Connecting Peripherals.)

■If your system has multiple host adapters, did you

assign each host adapter a unique BIOS address or

disable the BIOS on all but one host adapter?

■If your system has no write-back feature and the

host adapter does not respond, did you try

removing the jumper on jumper block J5?

■If your system has write-back, and the system

behaves erratically or does not work, did you make

sure the jumper on jumper block J5 is installed?

Computer Will Not Boot from a SCSI Disk Drive

If both SCSI and non-SCSI disk drives are installed,

then the non-SCSI disk drive is always the boot

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