Adaptec AVA-2906 Product information sheet

USER’S
REFERENCE
SCSI CARD 2906

Adaptec, Inc.
691 South Milpitas Boulevard
Milpitas, CA 95035
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© 1998 Adaptec, Inc.
All rights reserved. Adaptec, and the Adaptec logo
are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc. which may be regis-
tered in some jurisdictions.
Printed in Singapore
STOCK NO.: 512170-00 Rev. A MPO 11/98

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▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ AVA-2906
SCSI Card 2906
User’s Reference

iii
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Contents
Understanding SCSI 1
SCSI IDs 2
SCAM Protocol 2
Terminating the SCSI Bus 3
Troubleshooting 4
Troubleshooting Hardware Checklist 4
Troubleshooting Questions and Answers 5
Common Error Messages 12
Using the SCSI Card 2906 and SCSI Devices 13
Using SCSI Devices 13
Hard Disk Drives 13
Scanners 13
Installing Multiple SCSI Cards 14
Using SCSI and IDE (or EIDE) Devices 14
Replacing a Non-Adaptec SCSI Card with an Adaptec SCSI
Card 14
Configuring the SCSI Card 2906 with
SCSI
Select
15
Starting SCSISelect 16
Exiting SCSISelect 16
Using SCSISelect Settings 17
SCSI Bus Interface Definitions 17
SCSI Device Configuration 18
Advanced Configuration Options 18
Using SCSI Disk Utilities 19

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
Obtaining SCSI Cables 20
External Cables 20
External Connector Diagrams 20
Internal Cable 21
Internal Connector Diagrams 21
Maximum Cable Lengths 21
Contacting Adaptec 23
Electronic Support 23
Technical and Product Support 24
Sales and Ordering Information 24

1
Understanding SCSI
SCSI (pronounced “scuzzy”) stands for Small Computer System
Interface. SCSI is an industry standard computer interface for
connecting SCSI devices (such as a hard disk drive, CD-ROM drive,
or scanner) to a common SCSI bus.
A SCSI bus is an electrical pathway that consists of a SCSI card (such
as the SCSI Card 2906) installed in a computer and one or more SCSI
devices. SCSI cables are used to connect the devices to the SCSI card.
For the SCSI bus to function properly, you must assign unique SCSI
IDs to each SCSI device, and you must correctly terminate the SCSI
bus. For information on terminating the SCSI bus, refer to
Terminating the SCSI Bus on page 3.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
SCSI IDs
You must assign a unique SCSI ID number from 0 to 7 to the SCSI
Card 2906 and to each SCSI device attached to the SCSI Card 2906. A
SCSI ID uniquely identifies each device on the SCSI bus and deter-
mines priority when two or more devices are trying to use the SCSI
bus at the same time.
Refer to the device’s documentation to set the SCSI ID. Here are
some general guidelines for SCSI IDs:
■For internal SCSI devices, you generally set the SCSI ID by con-
figuring a jumper on the SCSI device.
■For external SCSI devices, you generally set the SCSI ID with a
switch on the back of the device.
■SCSI ID 7 has the highest priority on the SCSI bus. The priority
of the remaining IDs, in descending order, is 6 to 0.
■Adaptec presets the SCSI Card 2906 to SCSI ID 7, giving it the
highest priority on the SCSI bus. You should not change this
setting.
■Use SCSI ID 0 for the first SCSI hard disk drive. Most internal
SCSI hard disk drives come from the factory set to SCSI ID 0.
■In Windows®95/98, you can use the Device Manager to view
the SCSI ID (and other details) assigned to each SCSI device
installed, as well as the SCSI card.
SCAM Protocol
The SCSI Card 2906 supports the SCSI Configured AutoMatically
(SCAM) protocol. This protocol assigns SCSI IDs dynamically and
resolves SCSI ID conflicts automatically when you start the com-
puter. If your computer includes SCSI disk drives or other SCSI
devices that support SCAM, you do not need to assign SCSI IDs
manually to these devices. To enable SCAM support, see Configuring
the SCSI Card 2906 with SCSISelect on page 15.
Note:
To determine if your SCSI device supports the SCAM
protocol, check the SCSI device’s documentation.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
Terminating the SCSI Bus
To ensure reliable communication on the SCSI bus, you must termi-
nate both ends of the SCSI bus. If the SCSI Card 2906 is connected at
one end of the SCSI bus, you must still terminate the device at the
other end. Termination prevents the signal from bouncing off the
end of the cable and interfering with the original signal.
If the SCSI Card 2906 is connected in the middle of the SCSI bus, it
will not terminate itself and you must terminate the SCSI devices
connected at both ends of the SCSI bus.
The method for terminating a SCSI device varies widely. Refer to the
SCSI device’s documentation for instructions on how to enable or
disable termination. Here are some general guidelines for
termination.
■Termination on internal SCSI devices usually is controlled by
manually setting a jumper or a switch on the device, or by
physically removing or installing a terminator module on the
device. The internal SCSI device at the end of the cable must be
terminated.
■Termination on external SCSI devices usually is controlled by
installing or removing a SCSI terminator. On some external
devices, termination is controlled by setting a switch on the
back of the device. The external SCSI device at the end of the
cable must be terminated.
■By default, termination on the SCSI Card 2906 is set to
Automatic (the preferred method). To manually set termination
on the SCSI Card 2906, see Configuring the SCSI Card 2906 with
SCSISelect on page 15.
■Most SCSI devices come from the factory with termination
enabled. Some SCSI devices include a terminator block or
pass-through terminator. See your SCSI device documentation
for information on enabling and disabling termination.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Hardware Checklist
Most problems with the SCSI Card 2906 result from errors in prepar-
ing and connecting devices on the SCSI bus. If you have problems,
check these items first:
■Are all SCSI devices turned on?
■Are all SCSI cables and power cables properly connected?
■Is the SCSI Card 2906 firmly seated and secured in the PCI
expansion slot? Turn OFF the power to the computer before
checking the card.
■Is each SCSI device and the SCSI Card 2906 assigned a unique
SCSI ID? (See Step 1 in either Connecting Internal SCSI Devices
or Connecting External SCSI Devices in the SCSI Card 2906 Instal-
lation Guide.)
■Are all SCSI devices terminated properly? (See Step 2 in Con-
necting Internal SCSI Devices or Step 3 in Connecting External
SCSI Devices in the SCSI Card 2906 Installation Guide.)
■When your computer allows you to set up configuration
options when the computer first boots up (through CMOS
setup), are the following options set up as specified?
– If there is an Interrupt Type or Interrupt Line option in the
Setup program, select Int-A or Interrupt Type = A (you also
may be required to change a motherboard jumper setting).
– If there is a Triggering Interrupt option, select Level.
– If there is an option to enable or disable bus mastering for
the PCI slots, select Enabled. Bus mastering must be
enabled. Check your computer documentation for more
information on bus mastering.
– If there is an option to enable or disable individual PCI slots,
be sure the slot in which you install the SCSI Card 2906 is
Enabled.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
– If your computer has a combination of ISA or EISA boards
and PCI boards, you may need to mark the IRQs used by
ISA/EISA boards as Used so the computer BIOS will not try
to assign these IRQs to other PCI boards. Never use an IRQ
below IRQ9 for a SCSI card.
Some configuration options apply to a specific PCI bus slot, so if you
change any option, be sure you are applying the change to the cor-
rect slot. Check your computer documentation to determine the cor-
rect PCI bus slot identification and configuration.
If you still experience problems, try installing the SCSI Card 2906 in
another PCI slot, starting with the first PCI slot.
Troubleshooting Questions and Answers
When I start Windows 95/98, the system locks up when the Windows
logo is displayed. How can I get the system to start so that I can verify
that the SCSI card is functioning normally?
1
Start or restart your computer. View the messages that appear
onscreen.
2
When the message Starting Windows 95/98 appears, press and
release the F8 key while the text is on your screen.
3
From the menu displayed, select Safe Mode. (It may take extra
time for Windows 95/98 to load.)
4
Verify that the SCSI Card 2906 software driver is loading prop-
erly (see the information in the next question).
How can I tell if the SCSI Card 2906 software driver is loading
properly?
1
Click the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control
Panel.
2
Double-click the System icon.
3
Click the Device Manager tab.
4
Double-click the SCSI Controller icon. The driver for the SCSI
Card 2906 is listed as Adaptec AIC-7850 PCI SCSI Controller.
■If the driver is listed without any extra 95/98 symbols or
marks, the SCSI Card 2906 driver is loading properly.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
■If the driver is listed but has an exclamation mark inside a
yellow circle, the software driver may be in conflict with
other hardware using the same resources. Double-click the
icon to see the device status and possible solutions.
■If the driver is listed but has an “X” inside a red circle, the
SCSI Card 2906 software driver is disabled and isn’t load-
ing (see below).
■If the SCSI Controller icon or the SCSI Card 2906 driver is
not listed, reinstall the driver.
Note:
Software upgrades (including downloadable drivers)
for Adaptec products are available on the Adaptec Web Site
at
http://www.adaptec.com
.
Why does an “X” inside a red circle appear by the SCSI Card 2906
software driver in Device Manager?
The SCSI Card 2906 software driver is disabled and isn’t loading. To
enable the driver:
1
Double-click the SCSI card software driver in Device Man-
ager.
2
Open the General tab and check the Original Configuration
(current) box.
Note:
In most caes, this is the result of an IRQ conflict. Refer
to the information In Windows 95/98, where do I check for con-
flicting or unavailable resources? on page 8.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
In Windows 95/98, why is there a yellow ! beside my driver(s) in Device
Manager?
The yellow ! may appear for many reasons. Use Table 1 to trouble-
shoot this problem. Some of the reasons are listed by level of diffi-
culty, the first being the easiest to solve.
Table 1. Troubleshooting Table.
In Windows 95/98, how do I check for faulty cables, termination, or
damaged device ?
1
Turn OFF your computer and disconnect the cables from the
SCSI card.
2
Turn ON your computer, restart Windows, and verify that the
yellow ! disappeared in Device Manager.
If the yellow ! disappeared, the cabling, termination, or device is
faulty, or there may be an IRQ conflict in your system.
In Windows 95/98 where do I check to see if the Master Boot Record
was modified?
1
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control
Panel.
2
Double-click System.
3
In the System Properties window, open the Performance tab.
One of the following messages may appear:
a
The Master Boot Record has been modified.
b
Your system is configured for optimal performance.
c
<Drive letter> using MS-DOS compatibility mode file
system.
Reason See Page
Faulty cables, termination, or
device 7
Master Boot Record was mod-
ified 7
Conflicting or unavailable
resources 8

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
If the first message (a) appears, click the Details button in the Per-
formance tab for more information. If needed, contact your
computer manufacturer for additional help.
If the second message (b) appears, you must update or install the
driver. For information on downloadable drivers, refer to the
Adaptec Web Site
http://www.adaptec.com/support/index.html.
Click
on the Drivers section for more information on how to download
the correct driver.
If the third message (c) appears, remove the DOS driver from
config.sys and autoexec.bat.
1
Click the Start button, and then click Run.
2
In the Run window, type sysedit and then click OK
.
3
Go to the Autoexec.bat window. If there are lines containing
files with *.exe, *.com, or *.bat extensions, type rem xx at the
beginning of those lines.
4
Go to the Config.sys window. If there are lines that start with
Device or Device High, type rem xx at the beginning of those
lines.
5
Save the changes and reboot your computer.
In Windows 95/98, where do I check for conflicting or unavailable
resources?
1
Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control
Panel.
2
Double-click System.
3
In the System Properties window, open Device Manager.
4
In Device Manager, double-click Computer at the top of the
list.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
5
In the Computer Properties window, click Interrupt request
(IRQ), as shown in the following sample screen.
The Settings column lists the IRQs in use. IRQ settings range
between 0 and 15. If an IRQ setting is not listed under Settings,
this means it is available. In the screen above, setting 10 is not
listed and, therefore, is an available IRQ.
Note:
Do not use an IRQ below IRQ 9 for a SCSI Card 2906.
Do not allow the SCSI Card 2906 and another card to share
the same IRQ.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
In Windows NT 4.0, where canI check which resources are available on
my computer?
Note:
You must log in as an Administrator to complete the
following steps.
1
Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Administra-
tive Tools, select Windows NT Diagnostics and then click
Resources Tab.
2
Select the resource from the Used Resources list, for example
IRQ, DMA, etc.
3
In the SCSI Adapters window, click the Properties button to
find which resources are in use.
What if there is no SCSI Controller icon under Device Manager, or the
software driver for the SCSI Card 2906 does not appear under Device
Manager?
Generally, when the SCSI Card 2906 software driver is not listed in
the Device Manager, the system BIOS is not giving the SCSI Card
2906 any resources. Check for available resources (see the previous
question). If resources are available, install the SCSI Card 2906 in
another PCI slot.
Note:
The SCSI Card 2906 software driver may also be listed
as “PCI SCSI Bus Controller” under the Other Devices icon
in Device Manager. If it is listed there, reinstall the driver as
explained on the next page.
If the SCSI Controllers icon or the software driver do not appear:
1
Double-click the Add New Hardware icon in Control Panel.
2
Select Yes on the second screen of the Add New Hardware
Wizard to have Windows search for the SCSI Card 2906.
3
Follow the onscreen instructions.
If Windows 95/98 does not detect the SCSI card, run the Add New
Hardware wizard again:
1
In the Control Panel, double-click the Add New Hardware
icon.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
2
In the second screen of the wizard, click No.
3
Select SCSI controllers on the next screen.
4
Select the model of your Adaptec SCSI Card.
If SCSI Card 2906 is not on the list, you may be able to install a SCSI
card driver from the Windows 95/98 CD-ROM (or from the Adaptec
EZ-SCSI Setup Diskette). Follow these steps:
1
Place the Windows 95/98 CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive (or
insert the Adaptec EZ-SCSI Setup Diskette in the floppy disk
drive) and run the Add New Hardware wizard.
2
Select No on the second screen of the wizard.
3
Select SCSI controllers on the next screen.
4
Click the Have Disk button, then click the Browse button.
5
Look in the
\drivers\storage
directory of the CD-ROM and
select the model of your SCSI card or go to a:\win95\98 on the
Adaptec EZ-SCSI Setup Diskette.
How can I check the status of a resource (for example, IRQ,
Memory, I/O)?
1
Click the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control
Panel.
2
Double-click the System icon.
3
Click the Device Manager tab.
4
Click Computer, and then click Properties.
5
Open the View Resources tab, click the option button for the
type of resource you want to check.
6
The setting and the hardware using the setting displays.
■If a specific resource is not listed, the resource is not used
by a device.
■If a resource is listed more than once, the resource is used
by more than one device.
■If a resource is used by an unknown device, the resource is
used but the device using the resource cannot be detected.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
How do I use the Hardware Conflict Troubleshooter in Windows 95/98?
1
Click the Start button, then click Help.
2
From the Contents tab, double-click Troubleshooting.
3
Double-click If you have a hardware conflict.
4
Follow the step-by-step instructions in the Windows Help
window.
Common Error Messages
“Device connected, but not ready”
The SCSI card received no answer when it requested data from an
installed SCSI device.
■Make sure the drive is set to spin up when the power is
switched on. (See the documentation for the device.) If you still
have problems, you may have a bad drive. If you can still
access your computer, follow these steps:
a
Click the Start button, point to Programs, Accessories, Sys-
tem Tools, and then click ScanDisk.
b
Click Start and then wait a few moments for results.
“Time-out failure during...”
An unexpected time-out occurred.
■Verify that the SCSI bus is properly terminated.
■Verify that all cables are properly connected.
■Disconnect the SCSI cables from the SCSI card and then start
the computer. If the computer successfully restarts, one of the
SCSI devices, cable, or terminator may be defective.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
Using the SCSI Card 2906
and SCSI Devices
This section provides useful information on using the SCSI Card
2906 and your SCSI devices. For specific information, refer to the
documentation that came with your SCSI device.
Using SCSI Devices
Hard Disk Drives
■You cannot boot your computer from a drive connected to the
SCSI Card 2906. To boot your system, a bootable hard disk
drive must already be installed on a different SCSI card or IDE
card.
■If both SCSI and non-SCSI (for example, IDE) disk drives are
installed and the SCSI Card 2906 is the only SCSI card in your
system, then the non-SCSI disk drive is usually the boot drive.
Scanners
■You must install the scanner manufacturer’s proprietary soft-
ware drivers. See your scanner’s documentation for details. If
the Adaptec driver loads successfully and you have problems
with your system, contact your scanner manufacturer for
support.
■You may need to make the following two system changes to
help your scanner work well in your system. Run 2906
cfg.exe
to begin SCSISelect. Select Configure/View Host Adapter Set-
tings. Then select the SCSI Device Configuration option and
find the device ID for your scanner (0 through 6).
– Change Initiate Sync Negotiation to No.
– Change Sync Transfer Rate to 5.0.

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SCSI Card 2906 User’s Reference
Installing Multiple SCSI Cards
■You can install multiple SCSI cards in your computer; you are
limited only by the available system resources (for example,
IRQ settings, I/O port addresses, etc.) not used by other cards
installed in your computer.
■Each SCSI card you install forms a separate SCSI bus with a dif-
ferent set of SCSI devices. SCSI IDs can be reused as long as the
ID is assigned to a device on a different SCSI card (for example,
each SCSI card can have a device with SCSI ID 2).
Using SCSI and IDE (or EIDE) Devices
■All Adaptec SCSI cards can coexist with another controller
(IDE, EIDE, RLL, etc.) installed in the computer.
■If you have both an IDE hard disk drive and a SCSI hard disk
drive, the IDE drive will be the boot drive.
■You cannot connect an IDE device to a SCSI card, or a SCSI
device to an IDE card (controller).
Replacing a Non-Adaptec SCSI Card with an
Adaptec SCSI Card
To use a hard disk drive previously connected to a non-Adaptec
SCSI card, you must low-level format the drive after connecting it to
the Adaptec SCSI card. (See Using SCSI Disk Utilities on page 19.)
Caution:
A low-level format destroys all data on the drive.
Be sure to back up your data before performing a low-level
format.