External SCSI ??s

[frl9lk]

A4000/40, OS 3.1, Supra Word Synch controller w/ latest rom.

I just got this set-up mostly working. I have a 5-bay external SCSI case, with 2 HDs, Syquest, CDRW and Zipdrive. One HD and the Syquest aren't showing up at all -- though installing the Zip, both showed up as devices with all the right manufacturer, model, etc. information.

Supra's SupraHDtool only finds the one HD, and HDtoolbox recognizes _nothing_ external.

I don't think there are conflicts, and I believe the termination is correct.

When I was trying to use an Emplant as the controller, _all_ the devices showed up (but the set-up was flakey in other ways)

Also, if it makes a difference, there is an internal IDE HD and CD.

[Iggy_Drougge]

So, what does the chain look like?

Like this?

TERM---HD---SUPRA---CASE---TERM

Or like this?

HD---TERM---SUPRA---CASE---TERM

Or like this?

TERM---HD---TERM---SUPRA---CASE---TERM


Try to build you SCSI chain piece by piece instead of throwing everything together at once.

[Zac67]

You should note that from the above examples only

TERM---HD---SUPRA---CASE---TERM

is a valid SCSI bus, the others will be flaky or defunct. There must always be exactly two terminators at the ends of the chain.

[rkauer]

Look if your controller have a built in terminator. If it does, unset the card terminator first. Them use

 TERM-HD-CONTROLLER (with no terminator)-EXTERNAL_CASE-TERM

[frl9lk]

OK, this is really stupid (much like my dim self), but how do I terminate upstream of the Supra card itself?

[Zac67]

If the last device in the chain has no termination option, you'll have to add an external terminator.

[frl9lk]

I didn't make myself clear. There is an external terminator (which, if removed, does knock out the entire chain). It's the first one that I'm not understanding.

[Zac67]

You mean like 'how do I terminate at the 'first' device in the chain?' - well, it's the last device as well, seen from the other side. You'll have to terminate it via option jumper, plug-in resistor array or a flat ribbon inline terminator.

Plus, as rkauer wrote, deactivate the Supra's terminaton since it's in the middle of the bus (thus the rule 'deactivate controller terminator when using both internal and external connectors').

[frl9lk]

Maybe the question I should be asking is what "Write error 44" means, when trying to save changes to a drive using HDtoolbox.

That's the only thing that seems to be consistent.

The set-up is: an A4000 with internal IDE HD and CD (these show up in HDtoolbox as scsi 0 and 1 respectively.

For controllers, I've tried a Supra Write Synch (w/ updated rom)- unterminated; an Emplant which may or may not be terminated; and a Data Flyer that has no information about termination. All have the appropriate xxx.device files.

The tower I am trying to attach is:
Hitachi dps-30810 1G HD  id=2
Seagate st3123 1G HD     id=3
HP CD-RW                 id=4
Syquest 88M              id=5
Zip100                   id=6
and a big honking external terminator.

In some combinations, I can see them all (Emplant), or none (Data Flyer), and in the best case (Supra) find, format and use the first HD, CD and Zip.

The Write Error 44 shows up in every circumstance somehow, and I've found no information as to its meaning.

The boards are all from eBay, but the devices are all working pulls from old Macs of mine -- and I have had no problem using scavenged Mac stuff in my 2000.

Grateful for any thoughts.