SCSI CF Card Reader

[k4lmp]

I have one of the Mechware SCSI CF card readers that I use for my primary HD.  I don't use the PCMCIA adapter, but instead, plug the CF card straight into the CF slot.  What I'm wondering, is if I can use the PCMCIA adapter, with a CF card inserted in the adapter, as another drive.  Say, boot up without it installed as usual, then, if it is hot-swappable, insert it into the PCMCIA slot, and use it as just a drive to move files back and forth from my PC.  If not hot-swappable, if I insert it at bootup, I am hoping the A2000 will see it as a not-bootable device, and go ahead and boot from the normal CF slot as usual.  Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Jeff

[k4lmp]

OK, so I finally got around to testing this.  Here are the scenarios.  With the OS CF plugged into the CF slot, and a non-bootable CF plugged into pcmcia slot with adapter, tries to boot from non-bootable, and stops and I get the insert bootable disk screen.  With OS CF in pcmcia, and non-bootable CF in CF slot.  Boots immediately from pcmcia OS CF, and never sees the non-bootable.  Booting with OS CF in CF slot, and non-bootable not plugged in, then plugging non-bootable into pcmcia slot with adapter after bootup:  I go into "mounter" and mount the non-bootable, it mounts successfully, and mounter shows it up as DH3, which is correct.  Never shows up on desktop, and if I go into shell and try to change to DH3:, it says insert disk into volume DH3:.  The non-bootable is formatted, and contains files.  Any suggestions.

Thanks,
Jeff

[k4lmp]

Amiga formatted with SFS

[k4lmp]

It uses LUNS.  I got it to recognize the CF card, by booting, inserting the CF card/pcmcia adapter in the reader, and mounting twice with "mounter".  Don't know why I had to mount it twice, the first time, it showed up as DH3, which is correct, I then highlighted it again, and hit the mount button, and it showed up.

Jeff

[k4lmp]

Well, if you use the CF slot instead of the adapter, it takes it about 30 seconds to a minute to boot up.  It has to scan all SCSI devices, including LUNs.  I use a 2091 with rev. 7.0 roms, and an upgraded controller chip from Mechware, and mine works fine this way.  If  it is going to work, it could take up to a minute or so.  My HD activity light flashes, as it checks each device/LUN.  Try giving it a bit more time before giving up on it and turning the computer off.  Also, make sure that you have LUNs enabled on your controller or it will not work in the cf slot.  With LUNs disabled, it will only work in the PCMCIA slot with the adapter.  Hope this helps.

Jeff

[k4lmp]

I have two of these, one in my 3000T and one in my A2000. Haven't used the A3000 in a while but in the A2000 it is definitely not 30sec to start booting with just the CF card, I would say more like 10 sec, if that

It is connected to a GVP 030

Well, I don't have the GVP, (I wish I did)  I have the A2091.  If I use the CF card alone, in the PCMCIA adapter, prolly 10 seconds or so to boot.  BUT, if you use the CF card in the CF card slot, on my reader, with LUNs enabled, it takes about 30 seconds.  I don't know anything about the GVP, other than it is a better card than my A2091.