Adding new SCSI HD to my A2000

[pneron]

Dear Colleagues

I am in process of adding new SCSI drives to my A2000. I was told I could use 4 GIGS SSD drives, but right now I have 2 new SCSI drives that I would like to use.  I don't remember what to do and I was hoping you could walk me through the format and LUN option giving the size limitation of OS3.9.
I assume I can use these drives if I prep and format them correctly.?

Appreciate the advice and newbie instructions

Thanks


Drive Specs:
=========
Seagate Cheetah 300 GB Internal HDD  3.5"; 10K.7.
http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/manuals/scsi/cheetah_10k7_scsi_pm.pdf

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

You're trying to put 300GB drives in your Amiga?  

3.9 has fewer limitations than previous versions, but even if you use the latest HDToolbox and PFS or SFS file system, you're probably still going to have some issues creating partitions out beyond 128GB.  That's assuming your controller supports them and you have the right adapters to physically plug them in.

IMHO unless you have a pressing need for that much storage you might be better off starting a little smaller until you've acquired more experience?  But what the heck, you only live once, right?  Go for it.  

[QuikSanz]

First partition, the boot partition, 500MB is enough for all you need. Make sure to set all parameters perfectly, including the right file system. No going back.
Next install 3.1 and CDfile system.
Next install 3.9
Now use the new toolbox, it should show all of the drive.
Partition the rest as you like with a good fast file system.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Personally I would skip 3.1 and just go straight to the 3.9 install. Less likely to have old, legacy files floating around that way.

Would also suggest reading through some of the other threads on the forum for potential obstacles. LoadWB's thread (also on the home screen) might have some useful tips for you.

[pneron]

my current system has 4 drives:

1Gig = OS
2Gig = APPS
3& 4 = 2 x 17 Gigs - partitioned at 1.4G

Most of 3&4 drive was for Music Files (this was my Old DAW - digital audio workstation system - back in the day) I need the space for these AIFF files and wanted to transfer all of this data to these drives for now before they die. These drives are ~ 20 years if you can believe it.

make sense?

[pneron]

right now, I am running OS3.9....so to be clear, I need to boot with 3.1 and begin the configuration?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

right now, I am running OS3.9....so to be clear, I need to boot with 3.1 and begin the configuration?

Oh god no.

[QuikSanz]

Personally I would skip 3.1 and just go straight to the 3.9 install. Less likely to have old, legacy files floating around that way.

Would also suggest reading through some of the other threads on the forum for potential obstacles. LoadWB's thread (also on the home screen) might have some useful tips for you.

Exactly how do you boot form a CD with no CDFS?

[Pat the Cat]

right now, I am running OS3.9....so to be clear, I need to boot with 3.1 and begin the configuration?

No, you don't HAVE to.

What you could do is, set the SCSI ID of one drive to an unused number. Putting the Logical Unit Number to the same value should avoid conflicts with your existing drive.

Then, plug connect it to your existing setup, and see if HDToolbox will let you access the drive.

Probably not, because it is already formatted (being an older drive).

Technically SCSI supports hot plug, but not hot unplug (you can add a drive to a live system, but not remove it without crashing the system).

Or you can err on the safe side, and power off before connecting the drive.

Either your Amiga will not boot, or it will. After that, it's a question if HDToolbox can make sense of the existing partition information.

I understand there is a hard coded limit of 65K maximum surfaces, so it will almost definitely overshoot that.

BUT, if you don't take a shot, you can never hit.

One issue can be, with a 10K drive, you have to reboot anyway. Because the drive takes longer to spin up to working speed. Should not be a problem with the Cheetahs, they are quite new, in comparison to older 10K drives.

This is why there is some sense to spinning up the drive, then attaching it.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Exactly how do you boot form a CD with no CDFS?

Um, with the 3.9 ERD boot floppy. There's instructions and a tool for making one right on the disk. Contains HDtoolbox and everything else you need for setting up a new Amiga hard drive + 3.9 install.

[pneron]

Then, plug connect it to your existing setup, and see if HDToolbox will let you access the drive.

Probably not, because it is already formatted (being an older drive).


these are new drives, never been used?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Since you already have a running 3.9 system that's going to make this a *lot* easier. Just make sure you're running at least BB2 (BB4 is better), plug it in, and use HDtoolbox to prep with the file system of your choice (PFS or SFS are recommended) and partition/format.  Check the box to make one of the partitions bootable (typically the first partition, <500 MB) if you intend to install an OS and make it a boot drive.

Read the docs for those file systems, I still think you're going to have issues out beyond 128GB, but don't know, never tried.

[QuikSanz]

@pneron,

Misundertsood, your already on 3.9, easy from there. Although there is wasted space on boot partition you should be able to part it out well. When you get all your normal partitions done you should see more space. Never got to 300GB though. Give it a shot.

[pneron]

Just hooked it up to a free SCSI address:

https://youtu.be/oFmNzh-j7Fw

OK, now how do I partition this?

Thanks guys

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Blurry on my phone. Damn YouTube video compression. What does it say? Try a screenshot.

In any case, I recognize the Install screen. Assuming it detected the properties correctly you just need to hit "Install", then go on to partitioning it.

Edit: nevermind. Looks like you'll need to manually enter those values.