Cyberstorm MKII 's firmware(s) and Cyberscsi module

[Jose]

This thread is to clarify the MKII's problems with it's scsi module running at higher clocks than 50Mhz.

There's been a few reports here and there (found some old posts here) that there are / were some systems that runned at least at 66Mhz with the Cybersscsi module. Reportedly those were the versions with Qlogic FAS216 chips on their CyberSCSI modules, other versions have Symbios chips.
I also found some reports (XRay etc.) in older posts in here that their systems couldn't even get to 60Mhz with the scsi module attached.  So I remembered that the MKII's manual I have, which seems to have been made when there were still no 060's available that run at 66Mhz, mentions the possibility of an upgrade kit that was to be available that included a firmware upgrade. Later there were also MKII's sold running at 66Mhz, so maybe there's a chance those later versions did work with the Cyberscsi module.

I think it would be a good idea to search MKII's firmware revisions. Maybe the latest firware allows higher clocks, or maybe the MKII's sold running at 66Mhz had a modified firmware...
So, can you guys post your card's original speed, current speed (if you overclocked it by exchanging the crystal oscillator), firmware revision. If you have the Cyberscsi module please include if it has Qlogic FAS216 or Symbios chips and at what frequency does it run.

Thanks a lot
This will of course be usefull to all MKII users

José

[Jose]

Another info found on Lex's site

"Flash ROM
contains the updatable CyberStorm firmware
needs update for the 66 MHz design
needs update for installing the SCSI module
"
Another info there:
"notes
CyberStorm 040 SN# B400506 - B400569 and CyberStorm 060 SN# B002827 - B003065 are affected by several DMA related problems due to a slight difference in the electrical specifications of certain parts caused by supplier change
symptoms:
SCSI units connected to the internal SCSI bus of the A3000(T) are not recognized while having RAM installed to the CyberStorm
does not work in the A4000T with RAM installed on the CyberStorm
in an A4000 with a Fastlane or a A4091 SCSI controller installed, peripherals connected to the SCSI bus are not recognized
boards with these serial numbers had to be sent back to Phase5 for rework
"

Various install disks in there, gonna have a look later on...

[whiteb]

Another info found on Lex's site

"Flash ROM
contains the updatable CyberStorm firmware
needs update for the 66 MHz design
needs update for installing the SCSI module
"
Another info there:
"notes
CyberStorm 040 SN# B400506 - B400569 and CyberStorm 060 SN# B002827 - B003065 are affected by several DMA related problems due to a slight difference in the electrical specifications of certain parts caused by supplier change
symptoms:
"

Various install disks in there, gonna have a look later on...

Useless information for those that care which cards went where.  B002692 sitting here, in Australia.  Symbios Scsi.

What is Lex's site again ?

[Jose]

Lex site:
http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/cyberstorm2

BTW at what frequency is your 060 ?

Regs
José

[X-ray]

Mine is a Glogic version and it cannot be used with a MKII main board that is overclocked, even to 60mHz.
 
Edit: my serial number is B000465

[whiteb]

Lex site:
http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/cyberstorm2

BTW at what frequency is your 060 ?

Regs
José

Hmmm, off the top of my head, 060 @ 50Mhz, 128MB Ram.

[Jose]

The only way I could find to show the Cyberscsi module version was to run the update program found here:http://phase5.a1k.org/
It's the "Last release for Cyberstorm MK2 ...".

It requests for Y/N before continuing the displays module version.
HOWEVER, I don't know if the version displayed is the one that is going to be installed or the one on the firmware...

You could allways update it anyway and then see if there is any difference, just beware that if anything goes wrong I'm not the one to blame...

José

[Jose]

Just to clarify, I wanted to mean the Cyberscsi module driver version on MKII's firmware...

[whiteb]

I have not tried, but can someone do a "version cyberscsi.device" ?

[Jose]

@whiteb

That would get the version of the Cyberscsi.device, the part of the MKII's firmware that corresponds to the Cyberscsi which might have other things than the Cyberscsi.device.
But maybe we can get usefull info with that, just try it, that one won't hurt:)

[Jose]

EDIT
I wanted to mean:
"That would get the version of the Cyberscsi.device, the part of the MKII's firmware that corresponds to the Cyberscsi.device might have other things than the Cyberscsi.device."

[da9000]

@all:

Speaking of MKII's firmware: does anyone have the binary files for MKIIs firmware? And a flasher? I'm looking for those.

@Jose:

Which update file were you referring to? I saw 2-3 but they're for the PPC/MKIII cards, right?

[Jose]

@da9000

The one whose date is 19.08.1996. Seems to be only the part of the firmware (module as they call it) for the Cyberscsi hardware though. Couldn't find the complete firmware either...
They should've released this stuff for us but P5 never cared, still remember how they handled the boards that were sent for repair in their last years...

[Damion]

I also have a SCSI kit with the QLogic chip, and decided to give this a try the other day. Surprirse, the SCSI breaks after an overclock of 56MHz, and after looking at the 53C94/FAS216 datasheet I wouldn't trust it overclocked at all.

Essentially, the input clock which controls various SCSI timings appears to be set for either 40MHz '040 or 50MHz '060 operation only. Particularly with an '060 installed, anything beyond 50MHz breaks the spec. In order for it to work reliably with an overclocked '060, you'd have to:

1. Change the SCSI input clock frequency to something other than 1/2 CPU oscillator frequency (maybe can be done in firmware, or one of the numerous jumpers on the board, maybe not)

2. Modify the FAS216 "Clock Factor Register" (maybe can be done in firmware, maybe not)

3. Possibly tweak other settings

Please keep in mind this is a very simplistic analysis from someone that doesn't design hardware, and I would certainly welcome correction or further explanation.

Also, changing the 40MHz oscillator on the SCSI card (as some have tried unsuccessfully in the past) would have no effect whatsoever getting this to work, glad I didn't waste time trying. Digging further through the old usent archive, Ralph Schmidt said something to the effect of "forget it". Seems this was honest advice. Time to put the A4K back together and enjoy a cold one.

:drink: