Asus PCI-SC896 User manual

R
PCI-SC896
2Ch. Ultra2 PCI SCSI Card
USER’S MANUAL

2ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
Product Name: ASUS PCI-SC896
Manual Revision: 1.00 E438
Release Date: September 1999
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Copyright © 1999 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.
User’s Notice

ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 3
ASUS Contact Information
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4ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
FederalCommunications Commission Statement
This device complies with FCC Rules Part 15. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
• This device may not cause harmful interference, and
• This device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installa-
tion. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interfer-
ence by one or more of the following measures:
• Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING! Any changes or modifications to this product not expressly ap-
proved by the manufacturer could void any assurances of safety or performance
and could result in violation of Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Reprinted from the Code of Federal Regulations #47, part 15.193, 1993. Washing-
ton DC: Office of the Federal Register, NationalArchives and Records Administra-
tion, U.S. Government Printing Office.
CanadianDepartment of CommunicationsStatement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions
from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian
Department of Communications.
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
CetappareilnumériquedelaclasseBestconformeàlanormeNMB-003duCanada.
FCC & DOC Compliance

ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 5
Contents
User’s Notice................................................................................ 2
ASUS Contact Information ........................................................... 3
FCC & DOC Compliance ............................................................. 4
Preface......................................................................................... 7
Organization............................................................................ 7
Conventions Used in This Manual ............................................... 8
Notation Example Meaning and Use ...................................... 8
How to Get Updates................................................................ 8
1. Introduction .............................................................................. 9
1.1 General Description ............................................................... 9
1.2 Features ............................................................................... 10
1.2.1 PCI Interface ................................................................ 10
1.2.2 SCSI Interface.............................................................. 10
1.2.3 Board Characteristics................................................... 10
1.3 Interface Descriptions .......................................................... 11
1.3.1 The PCI Interface......................................................... 11
1.3.2 The SCSI Interface ...................................................... 11
1.3.4 Wide Ultra2 SCSI......................................................... 12
2. Installing the PCI-SC896 Host Adapter .................................. 13
2.1 Quick Installation Procedure ................................................ 13
2.2 Detailed Installation Procedure ............................................ 15
2.2.1 Before You Start........................................................... 15
2.2.2 Inserting Your Host Adapter ......................................... 16
2.2.3 Connecting Your SCSI Peripherals .............................. 17
2.2.4 Making Internal SCSI Bus Connections....................... 17
2.2.5 Making External SCSI Bus Connections...................... 18

6ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
2.3 SCSI Bus Termination .......................................................... 18
2.3.1 Internal SCSI Connections........................................... 19
2.3.2 External SCSI Connections ......................................... 19
2.3.3 Internal and External SCSI Connections ..................... 19
2.3.4 Setting SCSI IDs .......................................................... 20
2.4 Setting Interrupts.................................................................. 20
3. Configuring the Host Adapter ................................................. 21
3.1 When to Configure the PCI-SC896 ...................................... 21
3.2 Starting the SCSI BIOS Utility .............................................. 22
3.3 Exiting the SCSI BIOS Utility................................................ 28
4. Glossary of Terms andAbbreviations..................................... 29
Contents

ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 7
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
Preface
This is the primary reference and User’s Manual for the ASUS PCI-SC896
Dual Channel PCI to Ultra2 SCSI Host Adapter. It contains a complete func-
tional description for the PCI-SC896 and includes complete physical and elec-
trical specifications for the PCI-SC896.
Organization
This document has the following chapters and appendixes:
• Chapter 1, Using the PCI-SC896 Host Adapter, defines the interfaces
and characteristics of the SYM22910 Dual Channel PCI to Ultra2 SCSI
Host Adapter Board.
• Chapter2,InstallingthePCI-SC896 HostAdapter, providesboth quick
and detailed installation instructions.
• Chapter3,ConfiguringthePCI-SC896HostAdapter, describestheSCSI
BIOS Configuration Utility to configure adapter and device settings.
• Appendix, Glossary of Terms andAbbreviations, provides definitions
of various terminology that is referenced throughout this user’s guide.

8ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
Conventions Used in This Manual
The following is a list of notational conventions used throughout this manual:
Notation Example Meaning and Use
How to Get Updates
Software changes as products improve. The latest documentation and drivers
are available for downloading fromASUS web site as listed in theASUS Con-
tact Information in the front of this manual.
Namesofcommands,files,signals,symbols,
pins, parts, directories, modules, and
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In a command line, keywords are shown in
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ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 9
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
This chapter describes how the ASUS PCI-SC896 Host Adapter interfaces to
PCI computer systems and includes these topics:
• Section 1.1, “General Description”
• Section 1.2, “Features”
• Section 1.3, “Interface Descriptions”
1.1 General Description
ASUS PCI-SC896 Dual Channel PCI to Ultra2 SCSI host adapter board pro-
vides two SCSI-3, Ultra2 SCSI interfaces to PCI computer systems that re-
quire BIOS support on the add-in SCSI adapter. Installing this adapter in your
PCI system allows connection of SCSI devices over a SCSI bus. The dual
channel PCI-SC896 board provides 16-bit Low Voltage Differential (LVD)
and Single-Ended (SE) SCSI solutions for your computer, using only one PCI
slot. This board supports legacy Fast SCSI devices, Ultra SCSI devices, and
the newest Ultra2 SCSI devices. ASUS SCSI Device Management System
(SDMS™) software operates the board, but the design of the board does not
prevent other software to be used with it. BIOS support for this host adapter is
incorporated on the board in a 128K Flash device. This guide and the PCI
SCSI Device Management System SDMS 4.0 User’s Guide contain product
information and installation instructions to help you gain the full benefits of
your PCI-SC896 Dual Channel PCI to Ultra2 SCSI host adapter for your com-
puter system.
Channel B 68-pin Internal High
Density SCSI Interface (J4)
ChannelA68-pin Internal High
Density SCSI Interface (J5) ChannelA50-pin Internal Low
Density SCSI Interface
ChannelA68-pin
Internal High Density
SCSI Interface (J2)
PCI-SC896 to PCI Bus
Connection on Card (J1)

10 ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
1.2 Features
This section provides a high level overview of the PCI Interface, the SCSI
Interface, and Board Characteristics for the PCI-SC896 Host Adapter board.
1.2.1 PCI Interface
•Full 32-bit or 64-bit (33 MHz) DMA bus master
•Zero wait-state bus master data bursts
•PCI Universal 3.3 V/5 V bus support
1.2.2 SCSI Interface
•Two separate SCSI channels
•16-bit SE/LVD
•Automatically enabled termination
•One 68-pin high-density for channel A
•One 68-pin high-density for each internal channel A & B
•One 50-pin fast-SCSI connector for channel B
•Fast, Ultra, and Ultra2 data transfer capability
•SCSI TERMPWR source with autoresetting circuit breaker and
TERMPWR shorted LED for each channel
•SCSI Plug and Play
•SCAM (SCSI Configured AutoMatically). See Chapter 3, Configuring
the Host Adapter for further details about SCAM capability.
•Flash EEPROM for BIOS storage
•Serial NVRAM (Non Volatile Random Access Memory) on each chan-
nel for user configuration utility and SCAM information storage
•SCSI activity LED for each channel
1.2.3 Board Characteristics
•PCI board dimensions Approximately 9.5 x 4.0 inches
•Universal 32-bit PCI card edge connector
•ISA/EISAbracket

ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 11
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
1.3 Interface Descriptions
This section provides a more detailed explanation about the PCI Interface, the
SCSI Interface, the SCSI Activity LED Interface, and Wide Ultra2 SCSI.
1.3.1 The PCI Interface
PCI is a high-speed standard local bus for interfacing a number of I/O compo-
nents to a PC processor and memory subsystem. The PCI functionality for the
PCI-SC896 is contained within theASUS PCI-SC896 PCI-SCSI I/O Processor
chip. The PCI-SC896 connects directly to the PCI bus and generates timing
protocol in compliance with the PCI specification.The PCI interface operates as
a 32-bit DMA bus master. The connection is made through the edge connector
J1. The signal definitions and pin numbers conform to the PCI Local Bus Speci-
fication Revision 2.1 standard. The PCI-SC896 conforms to the PCI universal
signaling environment for a 5 V or 3.3 V PCI bus.
1.3.2 The SCSI Interface
The SCSI functionality for the PCI-SC896 is contained within theASUS PCI-
SC896 PCI-SCSI I/O Processor chip. The PCI-SC896 connects directly to the
two SCSI buses for SE or LVD SCSI applications and generates timing and
protocol in compliance with the SCSI standard. Each SCSI interface operates
at a burst transfer rate of up to 40 Mbyte per second for wide single-ended
transfers, and up to 80 Mbyte per second for wide LVD SCSI transfers.
The SCSI interfaces on the PCI-SC896 operates as two 16-bit, synchronous or
asynchronous, single-ended or LVD, and supports Ultra2 SCSI protocols and
16-bit arbitration.The PCI-SC896 board provides autosensing, dual mode SE/
LVDSCSItermination.Terminationis normallyenabled.When aSCSIdevice
is sensed to be connected to both internal and external connectors, termination
for that channel is automatically disabled. The PCI-SC896 supplies SCSI bus
TERMPWR (termination power) through a blocking diode and self-resetting
1.5 A short circuit protection device. An on-board LED lights up when
TERMPWR is shorted and turns off. A 40 MHz oscillator is installed on the
PCI-SC896 board to provide the clock frequency to the PCI-SC896 that is
necessary to support Wide Ultra2 SCSI transfers of up to 80 Mbytes/s.

12 ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
1.3.4 Wide Ultra2 SCSI
The PCI-SC896 has full support for Wide Ultra2 SCSI. This interface is an
extension of the SCSI-3 family of standards that expands the bandwidth of the
SCSI bus to allow faster synchronous data transfers, up to 80 Mbytes/s. Wide
Ultra2 SCSI provides a doubling of the data rate over the Ultra2 SCSI inter-
face, while it increases cable lengths and allows a larger number of devices on
the cable than Ultra2 SCSI interfaces. Special SCSI cables are specified for
operationwithWideUltra andUltra2 SCSIdevices, andyou mustconsider the
total number of devices and the length of your SCSI bus when setting up your
system. See Chapter 2, Installing the PCI-SC896 Host Adapter for a detailed
explanation of SCSI bus connections.
Whenyou purchasedthe PCI-SC896host adapterkit, thecable providedin the
kit is matched for a Fast/Ultra/Ultra2 SE or LVD operation. This cable also has
built-in LVD termination since most Ultra2 hard disk drives are not made with
onboard LVD termination.
Standard Cables
Maximum Bus Length (1)
STATerm Single-Ended LVD Maximum Devices
Wide Ultra SCSI 1.5M (3) 8
Wide Ultra SCSI 3.0M (3) 4
Wide Ultra2 SCSI (2) 12 16
(1)This parameter may be exceeded in point to point and engineered appli-
cations.
(2)Single-ended andhigh-power differentialarenot definedatUltra2 speeds.
(3)LVD was not defined in the original SCSI standards for this speed. If all
devices on the bus support LVD, then 12-meter operation is possible at
this speed. However, if any device on the bus is single-ended only, then
the entire bus switches to single-ended mode, and the distances in the
single-ended column apply.

ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 13
2. Installation
2. Installation
2. Installing the PCI-SC896 Host Adapter
ThischapterprovidesinstructionsonhowtoinstallthePCI-SC896HostAdapter
and includes these topics:
•Section 2.1, “Quick Installation Procedure”
•Section 2.2, “Detailed Installation Procedure”
•Section 2.3, “SCSI Bus Termination”
•Section 2.4, “Setting Interrupts”
•Section 2.5, “Completing Your Installation”
2.1 Quick Installation Procedure
This section provides quick setup instructions for the experienced computer
user with prior host adapter installation and SCSI bus setup experience. If you
prefer more detailed guidance in installing the PCI-SC896 host adapter, please
followthe instructionsin thesection: Section2.2, “DetailedInstallationProce-
dure”. For safe and proper installation, check the user’s manual that was sup-
plied with your computer and perform the following steps.
1. Ground yourself before removing this host adapter board. Remove the
PCI-SC896 Dual Channel PCI to Ultra2 SCSI HostAdapter board from
the packing and check that it is not damaged.
2. Remove the cabinet cover on your computer to access the PCI slots.
Refer to the user’s manual for your computer.
CAUTION: Ground yourself by touching a metal surface before han-
dling boards. Static charges on your body can damage electronic com-
ponents. Handle plug-in boards by the edge; do not touch board com-
ponents or gold connector contacts. The use of a static ground strap is
recommended.
3. Locate the slots for PCI plug-in board installation. Refer to the user’s
manual for your computer to confirm the location of the PCI slots. The
PCI-SC896 requires a PCI slot that allows bus master operation.
4. Remove the blank panel on the back of the computer aligned with the
PCI slot that you intend to use. Save the bracket screw.

14 ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
2. Installation
2. Installation
5. Carefully insert the edge connector J1 of the host adapter into the PCI
slot. Make sure the edge connector is properly engaged before pressing
the board into place.
NOTE: You may notice that the components on a PCI host adapter face
the opposite way from those on othernon-PCI plug-in boards you have in
your system. This is correct, and the board is keyed to go in only one way.
6. The bracket around the connector J2 should fit where the blank panel
was removed. Secure it with the bracket screw before making the inter-
nal and external SCSI bus connections.
7. If you are connecting any internal SCSI devices, plug a 68-pin connector
on the end of the internal SCSI ribbon cable into the connector J4 or J5.
Make certain to match pin-1 on both connectors. Chain your internal
devices on this cable.
8. Connect your computer’s LED cable if desired. This LED cable drives
the front panel LED found on most PC cabinets to indicate activity on
the SCSI bus.
9. Replace the cabinet cover as described in the user’s manual for your
computer.
10.Make all external SCSI bus connections.
REMEMBER: The SCSI bus requires proper termination and no du-
plicate SCSI IDs.
11.Finally, refer to the PCI SCSI Device Management System SDMS 4.0
User’s Guide (or the guide for the software that you will use) to load the
driver software for your particular operating system.

ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 15
2. Installation
2. Installation
2.2 Detailed Installation Procedure
This section provides step-by-step instructions for installing your PCI-SC896
hostadapter andconnecting itto yourSCSI peripherals.Ifyouareexperienced
in these tasks, you may prefer to use the preceding Section 2.1, “Quick Instal-
lation Procedure.”If you are not confident that you can perform the tasks as
described here,ASUS suggests getting assistance.
2.2.1 Before You Start
Before you start, look through the task list below to get an overall idea of the
steps to perform.
•Open your PC cabinet and select an open PCI slot
•Insert your host adapter
•Connect your SCSI peripherals
- Internal
- External
•Terminate the SCSI bus
•Set the peripheral SCSI IDs
•Make any configuration changes
•Close your PC cabinet
•Install your software
The SCSI host adapter acts on your computer’s behalf as the host to your suite
of SCSI peripherals. Each chain of SCSI peripheral devices and their host
adapter work together, and they are referred to as a SCSI bus. Each channel on
your SCSI host adapter can act as host for up to 15 peripheral devices (depend-
ing on the SCSI bus speed), not including the adapter itself.

16 ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
2. Installation
2. Installation
2.2.2 Inserting Your Host Adapter
For safe and proper installation, check the user’s manual supplied with your
computer and perform the following steps:
1. Ground yourself before removing this host adapter board. Remove the
PCI-SC896 Dual Channel PCI to Ultra2 SCSI Host Adapter board from
the packing and check that it is not damaged.
2. Switch off and unplug power cords for all components in your system.
3. Remove the cabinet cover on your computer to access the PCI slots. Refer
to the user’s manual for your computer to find out how this is done.
CAUTION: Ground yourself by touching a metal surface before re-
movingthecabinet cover. Static chargesonyourbodycan damage elec-
tronic components. Handle plug-in boards by the edge; do not touch
boardcomponentsorgold connectorcontacts.Theuse ofastatic ground
strap is recommended.
4. Locate the slots for PCI plug-in board installation. Refer to the user’s
manual for your computer to confirm the location of the PCI slots. The
PCI-SC896 requires a PCI slot that allows bus master operation.
5. Remove the blank panel on the back of the computer aligned with the
PCI slot that you intend to use. Save the bracket screw.
6. Carefully insert the edge connection J1 of the host adapter into the PCI
slot. Make sure the edge connector is properly engaged before pressing
the board into place.
NOTE: You may notice that the components on a PCI host adapter face
the opposite way from those on othernon-PCI adapter boards you have in
your system. This is correct, and the board is keyed to go in only one way.
7. The bracket around the connector J2 should fit where you removed the
blank panel. Secure it with the bracket screw before making the internal
and external SCSI bus connections.

ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 17
2. Installation
2. Installation
2.2.3 Connecting Your SCSI Peripherals
All internal SCSI bus connections to the PCI-SC896 host adapter are made
withanunshielded, 68-conductorribbon cable.One sideofthiscable ismarked
with a color to indicate the pin-1 side. The connectors on this cable are keyed
to ensure proper pin-1 connection. Use Ultra/Ultra2 rated cables for these bus
speeds.
All external SCSI bus connections to the PCI-SC896 host adapter are made
with shielded, 68-conductor cables. The connectors on this cable are always
keyed to ensure proper pin-1 connection. Some internal cables come with a
SE/LVD on one end. This end should be furthest from the host adapter.
2.2.4 Making Internal SCSI Bus Connections
This section provides step-by-step instructions about making internal SCSI
bus connections:
1. To connect an internal SCSI device, plug the 68-pin connector on one
end of a wide internal SCSI ribbon cable into the connection J4 or J5.
2. Plug the 68-pin connector on the other end of the internal SCSI ribbon
cable into the SCSI connector on the internal SCSI device. Pin-1 must
match on all connections.
3. To plug in additional internal SCSI devices, use an internal SCSI ribbon
cable with the required number of connectors attached along its length.
Make sure to match pin-1 on all connections.
4. Most PC cabinets are designed with a front panel LED, which may al-
ready be connected to an existing IDE controller. You may connect this
LED cable to your SCSI host adapter. This connection causes the front
panel LED to indicate activity on the SCSI bus.
An LED is also on the PCI-SC896 host adapter, which indicates activity on the
SCSI bus. The Busy LED connector J6 is not keyed. The J6 connector is a 4-
pin one row right angle header for both channel Aand channel B. Some LED
cables have only two wires. In this case, place the connector on one end of J6.
If the LED does not light during SCSI bus activity from this host adapter, you
may have to rotate the LED cable 180°on J6.

18 ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
2. Installation
2. Installation
2.2.5 Making External SCSI Bus Connections
This section provides step-by-step instructions about making external SCSI
bus connections:
1. If you need to connect external SCSI devices to the PCI-SC896 host
adapter, plug the 68-pin high-density connector on one end of a shielded
external high density cable into the host adapter connector J2.
2. Plug the 68-pin connector on the other end of the shielded external SCSI
cable into the SCSI connector on your external SCSI device.
3. If you need to connect more than one external SCSI device to your host
adapter, chain them together with shielded external SCSI cables.
2.3 SCSI Bus Termination
The devices that make up the SCSI bus are connected serially (chained together)
withSCSI cables.The firstandlast physicalSCSIdevices connectedonthe ends
of the SCSI bus must have a set of resistors called terminators. All other SCSI
devices on the bus must have their terminators removed or disabled.
REMEMBER: The PCI-SC896 host adapter is also on the SCSI bus,
and its termination is automatically enabled when it is connected to the
end of the bus.
Low-voltage differential peripheral devices are normally terminated with ex-
ternal terminators, but are sometimes set with jumpers or with a switch on the
peripheral.Refer totheperipheral manufacturer’sinstructionsand totheuser’s
manual for your computer for information on how to identify the terminator
setting of each device and how to change it.
CAUTION: The auto-enable/disable sensing feature on the PCI-SC896
may enable termination erroneously if it is directly cabled to another
SCSI device or host adapter using the same sensing method. The PCI-
SC896 senses SCSI devices by detecting the ground signal on conduc-
tor 50 of a 68-conductor SCSI cable.
When connecting another host adapter to a connector, termination must be
disabled on the board that is not at the end of the bus through software control.

ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual 19
2. Installation
2. Installation
The PCI-SC896 automatically controls SCSI bus termination for three differ-
ent bus configurations, depending on the use of connectors.The three bus con-
figurations are:
•Only for internal SCSI connections,
•Only for external SCSI connections, and
•Connections to both internal and external SCSI connectors.
2.3.1 Internal SCSI Connections
Ifonly internalSCSIdevice connectionson yourhostadapter havebeen made,
then terminate the last internal device on the SCSI bus. You must disable the
termination on all other devices. Termination on the PCI-SC896 host adapter
is automatically enabled in this case.
2.3.2 External SCSI Connections
Ifonly externalSCSIdevice connectionsto yourhost adapterhave beenmade,
then terminate the last external device on the SCSI bus. You must disable the
termination on all other devices.Termination on your host adapter is automati-
cally enabled in this case.
2.3.3 Internal and External SCSI Connections
If internal and external SCSI devices are connected to your host adapter, then
terminate the last internal and external devices on the SCSI bus. You must
disable the termination on all other devices. Termination on your host adapter
is automatically disabled in this case.
NOTE: If an internal connection to another PCI-SC896 host adapter
has been made, or any connection to a device that uses the same sensing
method for automatic termination as your PCI-SC896, you must over-
ride the termination for that channel through software control.

20 ASUS PCI-SC896 User’s Manual
2. Installation
2. Installation
2.3.4 Setting SCSI IDs
You must set each SCSI device and the host adapter to a separate SCSI ID, 0
through 15 for a 16-bit SCSI. SCSI ID 7 is the preset host adapter setting, giving
it the highest priority on the SCSI bus. If you plan to boot your computer from a
hard disk drive on the SCSI bus, that drive should have SCSI ID 0, or the lowest
SCSIIDonthebus.Chapter3, ConfiguringtheHostAdapterexplainshowto set
yourhost adapterIDusing theASUS SCSIConfigurationUtility.The peripheral
device SCSI IDs are usually set with jumpers or with a switch on the peripheral.
Refer to the peripheral manufacturer’s instructions and to the user’s manual for
your computer to determine the ID of each device and how to change it. You
must have no duplication of SCSI IDs on a SCSI bus.
NOTE: As SCAM support is OFF by default for the PCI-SC896, you
may choose to turn this ON to assist in assigning SCSI IDs.
Determinethe SCSIID ofeach deviceon theSCSI bus.Note anyduplications.
Make any necessary changes to the SCSI IDs and record the IDs for future
reference. The following table is provided as a place to keep this record.
SCSI ID Record
SCSI ID SCSI Device ChannelA SCSI Device Channel B
15
14
13
12
11
10
09
08
07
06
05
04
03
02
01
00
2.4 Setting Interrupts
Normally, you do not change the default interrupt routing for the PCI-SC896,
since performance is usually increased by having two separate interrupts.