🚀 go-pugleaf

Bob Counts wrote:
> 
> We're getting ready to purchase a new piece of hardware as a linux based
> office server.  I've had problems with other SCSI controllers in the past
> and put a 1542 in a previous system.  The dual Pentium II from Dell that
> we're looking at comes with a 2940UW.  After reading the hardware help
> from linux.org (http://www.ccil.org/~esr/clone-hw-guide/diskwars.html) and
> (http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO-7.html#ss7.1), it does
> list the 2940, but the 2940UW designation concerns me.  Any
> help/suggestions are
> appreciated much!
> 
> Thanks,
> Bob
> rcount1@gmu.edu
> http://apollo.gmu.edu/~bob/

I'm running a 2940UW on my Redhat 4.2 system without any problems at
all, I'm not using any UW devices with it yet but the card installed
just fine using the 2940 settings.

Hatch McAllister
hatchm@oz.net

In comp.os.linux.hardware Bob Counts <rcount1@osf1.gmu.edu> wrote:

: We're getting ready to purchase a new piece of hardware as a linux based 
: office server.  I've had problems with other SCSI controllers in the past 
: and put a 1542 in a previous system.  The dual Pentium II from Dell that 
: we're looking at comes with a 2940UW.  After reading the hardware help 
: from linux.org (http://www.ccil.org/~esr/clone-hw-guide/diskwars.html) and 
: (http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO-7.html#ss7.1), it does 
: list the 2940, but the 2940UW designation concerns me.  Any
: help/suggestions are 
: appreciated much! 



If you're lucky, the 2940UW will work fine.  If you're not, then it's
little more than an expensive doorstop.

I have a 2940AU (which I bought before I knew better), and it wouldn't
be detected by the 2.0.18 kernel (there was a simple hack that got it to work).
The 2.0.29 and later kernels work just fine with my controller.

However, if it is true that Adaptec isn't talking to the Linux developers,
then THIS WILL BE THE LAST ADAPTEC PRODUCT THAT I WILL BUY.

Are you listening, Adaptec?

If your 2940UW doesn't work, your options are:

1. Ditch the Adaptec for a Mylex, or other fully-supported controller.
2. Wait for a new kernel release that supports it (good luck!).
3. Hack the kernel yourself to get it to work (good luck!).


-- 
Russ Price - rjpricecow@ais.net - "Doesn't 'Microsoft' mean 'small and limp?'"
(ANTI-SPAM ALERT: Remove the animal from my email address to reply to me.)

"It was chosen in our tradition of selecting names that make marketeers wince."
        -- Lucent's Plan 9 FAQ, about Plan 9's name

Help build a supercomputer! - http://www.distributed.net/rc5/

In dc.org.linux-users Russ Price <rjcowprice@ais.net> wrote:
: In comp.os.linux.hardware Bob Counts <rcount1@osf1.gmu.edu> wrote:

: : We're getting ready to purchase a new piece of hardware as a linux based 
: : office server.  I've had problems with other SCSI controllers in the past 
: : and put a 1542 in a previous system.  The dual Pentium II from Dell that 
: : we're looking at comes with a 2940UW.  After reading the hardware help 
: : from linux.org (http://www.ccil.org/~esr/clone-hw-guide/diskwars.html) and 
: : (http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO-7.html#ss7.1), it does 
: : list the 2940, but the 2940UW designation concerns me.  Any
: : help/suggestions are 
: : appreciated much! 

: If you're lucky, the 2940UW will work fine.  If you're not, then it's
: little more than an expensive doorstop.

  I am running AHA-2940UW's on several machines and they work great.
There is support for them in the menuconfig and xconfig setup. I'm
running kernel 2.0.29 and 2.0.32.  I have been using them for some time now, 
(more than 6 months) and have NEVER had a problem with them.

  All machines uses both SCSI channels, wide and narrow, without problems.
4.3 Gig Fast Wide Drives and plenty of narrow CD-ROM drives, Jaz disk and
an HP SCSI scanner, etc.  All work flawlessly.

  If I ever need another, I won't hesitate to buy another Adaptec 2940UW.

-- 
  Michael McNeil  |  Visit the Finder Home Page at
     Finder       |  http://www.lightspeedpress.com
 Lightspeed Press |  - Microsoft must be stopped. -

Michael Mc Neil <kludge@clark.net> writes:


>: If you're lucky, the 2940UW will work fine.  If you're not, then it's
>: little more than an expensive doorstop.

>  I am running AHA-2940UW's on several machines and they work great.

Which one? ISTM the problem is Adaptac changes designs every phase of
the moon, but model numbers only yearly......

-- 
A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

Michael Mc Neil wrote: 
 >   I am running AHA-2940UW's on several machines and they work great.
 > There is support for them in the menuconfig and xconfig setup. I'm
 > running kernel 2.0.29 and 2.0.32.  I have been using them for some
time now,
 > (more than 6 months) and have NEVER had a problem with them.
  
 >   All machines uses both SCSI channels, wide and narrow, without
problems.
 > 4.3 Gig Fast Wide Drives and plenty of narrow CD-ROM drives, Jaz disk
and
 > an HP SCSI scanner, etc.  All work flawlessly.
 
 >   If I ever need another, I won't hesitate to buy another Adaptec
2940UW.

It's great to hear all these glowing reports about 2940UW cards working,
but you are all missing the point here! These are older 2940UW cards,
not the latest versions that are slightly different somewhere in the
firmware. The difference is enough to cause problems in 2.0.30 and older
kernels, with cards bombing out, or cards not being detected at all. The
jury is still out on 2.0.31+. Does anybody have a new 2940UW that
wouldn't work in 2.0.30-, but does in 2.0.31+?

Adaptec is being quite petty about Linux. They originally were providing
documentation, now they either require an NDA or don't provide
documentation at all. If they change something in a current product, or
produce a new product, Linux support cannot be modified/created. 

Please think again about supporting Adaptec.

I emailed the following directly to the original poster.  I also CC'd
Adaptec tech support.  Their reply also is included below:

================= my original email =====================

I have an older Dell Dimension with the Adaptec 2940UW (version 1.23)
if I remember correctly).  It works well for me. The problem is, that
I have heard that Adaptec has made design changes in their newer
versions of the card which break the Linux driver, and which they
refuse to document without a non-disclosure agreement.

So, folks on the net have been suggesting the Buslogic/Mylex board,
since Mylex actively supports Linux, while Adaptec refuses to. If you
could get a guarantee from the vendor that you could return the
machine if it was not compatible, you might take a chance on Adaptec.
But the best thing would be to avoid them completely.

If my Adaptec board ever gives me trouble, it will go in the garbage,
to be replaced by a Mylex.

======================= the reply ========================

Subject: Re: Adaptec SCSI (XYZZY )

Steven,
      Currently Adaptec does not support the LINUX OS. I have no idea
where you are getting your information from about this driver being
broken and about non-disclosure stuff ( not interested either since
we do not support the OS ). The BOX the Adaptec scsi products are
sold in does CLEARLY STATE the Operating Systems the products are
supported in.
   If you CHOOSE to throw  YOUR the card in the  garbage then that
is up to you.

Surinder Janda - Adaptec Technical Support
 
We receive large volumes of email each day so please quote ALL
previous messages when sending replies; it helps us to provide
better service.

...................////...............//////...............................
Email: support@adaptec.com            / BBS:         (408)-945-7727
FTP:   ftp.adaptec.com                / Sales Phone: (800)-442-7274
WEB:   http://www.adaptec.com         / Sales Phone  (408)-957-7274
Tech Support US: (408)-934-7274       / Interactive :
                                      /   Fax-Back  :(303)-684-3400
Europe: country code(32)-2-352-3470   /
FAX Europe:         (32)-2-352-3400   / Tech Support FAX:408-957-6776
................/////..............///////.................................

--
Steve Falco
 
If you are sending email to me from the outside world, put XYZZY
anywhere on the subject line of your email to get past my SPAM filter.

Whilst the tone of Adaptec support's response is inexcusable, a couple
of points need to be made:

1) You shouldn't post private e-mail to Usenet without the consent
   of the sender

2) It isn't really an issue for Adaptec's support department.

To a support droid, all that matters is that it says on the box that
it isn't supported.  Company policy is not to support it, therefore it
isn't supported.  It's the marketing department that need to be
persuaded that this is a bad business decision, and the way to do it
is not by giving their support department a hard time - that just gives
them more excuses to distance themselves from Linux users.

So - if anyone feels like trying to persuade Adaptec of their folly,
please write *politely* to their marketing people, pointing out that
they're losing sales.  Don't bother the support bods - the decision
isn't theirs and it'll just annoy them.

John
-- 
John Winters.  Wallingford, Oxon, England.

Want to buy Linux CDs cheaply in the UK?  Join the Linux Buyers' Consortium.
See <http://www.polo.demon.co.uk/lbc.html>

In article <34915656.3A9B@wycol.com>,
Matt Kirsch <kirschm@wycol.com> wrote:
> Please think again about supporting Adaptec.

This is pretty much the bottom line.  Buslogic or NCR-based cards are
no more expensive, and they will be better for Linux *because the
drivers are better*, because Adaptec is not friendly to Linux
developers.
-- 
Shields, CrossLink.

"Steven A. Falco" <sfalco@lucent.com> writes:

>Steven,
>      Currently Adaptec does not support the LINUX OS. I have no idea
>where you are getting your information from about this driver being
>broken and about non-disclosure stuff ( not interested either since
>we do not support the OS ). The BOX the Adaptec scsi products are
>sold in does CLEARLY STATE the Operating Systems the products are
>supported in.

So what you heard is confirmed. 
-- 
A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

On Fri, 12 Dec 1997 12:11:30 -0500, Steven A. Falco <sfalco@lucent.com> wrote:
>I emailed the following directly to the original poster.  I also CC'd
>Adaptec tech support.  Their reply also is included below:
>
>================= my original email =====================
>
[...]
>If my Adaptec board ever gives me trouble, it will go in the garbage,
>to be replaced by a Mylex.
>
>======================= the reply ========================
>
>Subject: Re: Adaptec SCSI (XYZZY )
>
>Steven,
>      Currently Adaptec does not support the LINUX OS. I have no idea
>where you are getting your information from about this driver being
>broken and about non-disclosure stuff ( not interested either since
>we do not support the OS ). The BOX the Adaptec scsi products are
>sold in does CLEARLY STATE the Operating Systems the products are
>supported in.
>   If you CHOOSE to throw  YOUR the card in the  garbage then that
>is up to you.
>
>Surinder Janda - Adaptec Technical Support

	Well, this kind of message made up my mind.  No Adaptec for any of
my systems.  Period.

---
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for you are crunchy and taste
good with ketchup."

Matt Kirsch wrote:
> 
> It's great to hear all these glowing reports about 2940UW cards working,
> but you are all missing the point here! These are older 2940UW cards,
> not the latest versions that are slightly different somewhere in the
> firmware. The difference is enough to cause problems in 2.0.30 and older
> kernels, with cards bombing out, or cards not being detected at all. The
> jury is still out on 2.0.31+. Does anybody have a new 2940UW that
> wouldn't work in 2.0.30-, but does in 2.0.31+?

I actually have just the opposite problem (kinda surprising).

I have an older Adaptec 2940UW (purchased with my Dell in Oct. 1996).  I
was having no major problems (although I never got UW settings working
quite right) communicating with internal HD and Zip drives and an
external DAT drive.  This was using kernels 2.0.0 through 2.0.23. 
Recently I decided it was time to upgrade to 2.0.31, and now many errors
occur during the boot when it tries to establish communication with the
DAT drive (the internal devices are just fine).  After boot it cannot
recognize the DAT.

I posted a detailed message (complete with all the errors) a while back
to here and/or comp.os.linux.setup with out any responses.

So any time I need to use the DAT drive I have to boot into an older
kernel.

Regards,
scott

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