QD21 ESDI

From: Matt London <matt_at_knm.yi.org>
Date: Wed Oct 24 17:01:52 2001

Hi,
  I just got an Emulex QD21 (thanks iseldure! I've got $10 here for you
for postage) and I've been playing with it, with some Maxtor XT-4380E
drives.
  I'm managing alright to a point. I downloaded docs for the QD21, set dip
switches and I can get into the controller's firmware. The problem arises
when it comes to do things with the disks. If I tell the controller the
disk is type 2, then it picks up settings from the drive fine (and they
even co-relate with the drive), but any operations I perform on the drive
after that (even "Show known devices") times out.
  I tried selecting the format option. If I set the drive as type 2 and
let it pick up setting from the drive, it times out the operation before
reading the media defect list. If I set the drive as type 1, and punch in
the settings from the QD21 docs for the Maxtor XT-4380E, then it starts
formatting, then after a couple of minutes of activity, the drive makes
some noises (which I don't think sound healthy) then times out again.
  I only have one data cable, and if I just use the one drive (which
appears to be terminated) then nothing appears to work - things just time
out. If I hook up another drive and change drive IDs, then I can perform
the format operation as defined above.
  Needless to say, I'm a little stumped.

  The controller is in an MV3300, but I've not got VMS working on there
ATM, so I'm not sure about configuring an interupt vector for it.

  If it's any help to people, I can get listings from the console, it's
just not particularly easy as I don't have a serial cable to hook the vax
to my PC with me, only the vt420.

  I don't really know ESDI, and I'm not that familiar with QBus - only
some details, ordering of cards, etc.

  Any thoughts welcome :&)

--Matt
Received on Wed Oct 24 2001 - 17:01:52 BST