[ltp] 770ED and Dock SCSI vs hdparm DMA

[Ronald W. Heiby]

I keep not seeing my message come back to me, nor any replies. If this
actually has been posted multiple times to the linux-thinkpad list, my
apologies. (Could someone like the list maintainer please let me know?)

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Hello linux-thinkpad,

A couple of weeks ago, I learned on redhat-list about the hdparm
command and how one might turn on DMA for IDE HD transfers. I did
this, and have been spoiled by much faster disk access since then.

Over the weekend, I booted my 770ED under Linux on my docking station.
I had my Yamaha CD-RW connected to the dock's SCSI port and turned on.
When Linux booted, it noticed that there was a new device and asked me
whether I wanted to configure it. I said that I wanted to configure
it. There were no further unusual messages or errors that I noticed,
other than an odd line about there being no high memory (I believe)
just after a line dealing with networking. After turning off the CD-RW
drive, I did not notice that high memory message. The device added was
"Adaptec|AIC-7861".

With the system up and running, I have been unsuccessful at being able
to access the Yamaha drive, even as a normal CD-ROM drive. Further, my
system will no longer operate with DMA on my main IDE drive. With the
CD-RW drive turned off, DMA still does not work.

My first choice is to have DMA on my IDE drive and be able to use my
dock's SCSI port and devices attached to it (including the CD-RW
drive).

My second choice is to be able to choose one or the other, depending
on what I am planning to do during any particular session. If I plan
to use SCSI devices, I want to be able to . If I do not plan to use an
SCSI devices, I should be able to enjoy the higher speed IDE drive
access with DMA.

My third choice is to be able to do whatever I can get at least one of
them to work -- basically, an "I'll take what I can get" approach.

For now, I am stuck with neither CD-RW drive accessible nor IDE HD
DMA. It is quite possible that the CD-RW drive is working just fine,
but I have not found the magic incantation to access it. But, I did
read the SCSI man page and thought I had calculated the correct minor
device number.

Rebooting Linux off the Dock, it told me that "Adaptec|AIC-7861" was
no longer present and offered the opportunity to de-configure it. I
accepted the offer. My IDE drive DMA seems to be working again -- off
the docking station.

Help??? Thanks!

Ron.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP Personal Privacy 6.5.3
Comment: Digital signature verifies authorship and unaltered content.

iQA/AwUBOhlZBG8pw+2/9pUJEQJ0GACgwBV5tIyhGY1xA2e58Z2ekGxcWI4An0oA
1roKB1uYKyfrjFLMT0+y91Jl
=zXOZ
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----


----- The Linux ThinkPad mailing list -----
The linux-thinkpad mailing list home page is at:
http://www.bm-soft.com/~bm/tp_mailing.html