DAC960M
@8F6C.ADF
- DAC960M RAID Adapter
Mylex DAC960M
Function of
NVSRAM
Cable
Parts
HD LED Does
Not Work
Cyrix/Non-SOD
Type 1 Incompatibility?
Cache Size
Generic 30
Pin SIMMs for Cache
Slots
DAC960M Fits
More than
one DAC960M in a System?
LVD on
DAC960M
Running
RAID Without Trays 'n Bays
Passplay
Under W95 (it works!)
Mylex
DAC960M Firmware
Specifications
For FWR
ADF Sections
DAC960_W95.ZIP MYLEX
DAC960 Protected Mode Driver for W95
Mylex Stuff in Taiwan HERE
dacupgd2-exe.zip Combined
DAC960 Upgrade disk Rev D1 MAY
NOT APPLY!!!
FW2.214 2.14 firmware upgrade for
the 1/2 Channel DAC960
daccf471.exe Configuration
& Utilities for all DAC960.
Stuff that is relevant, but chaotic... (fits, doesn't
it?)
Hotswap
bays for 95A
Mylex
DAC960M
F1
SCSI channel 1 PTC Fuse
F2 SCSI
Channel 2 PTC Fuse
J1 Status LED
header
J5 Not a clue,
probably factory use
J6 Not a clue
P1 Solder pads
for external port
U5 Firmware |
U16 EEPROM
configuration
U17,18 NCR
53C720
U31,44,52,60
30 pin SIMMs
U55 i960CA-25
U57 34G1521 (Used on
Cheetah!)
X1 40.0000 MHz
osc
X2 25.0000 MHz
osc |
There is NO soldered
on external port on the DAC960M! Just the solder pads for
one.
DAC960M external port is a little odd. It doesn't use a
sidecard like the Cheetah, but instead has a cable
attached to the front port (Channel 1) that goes to an
HPDB68 port that is mounted to the slot cover.
Notes:
28 pin 8Kx8 NVSRAM is a Benchmarq,
bq4010YMA-200, Spec
sheet
Another equivalent is a Dallas DS1225Y-200, spec
sheet
i960CA is pin AND function
compatible with the i960CF. The i960CF adds a 4KB cache
(or something). People have swapped out the CA with a CF
for @ 10% increase in performance.
NOTE: The i960Hx seems cool, but lacks a
DMA controller, some pins are used for different
purposes, and though 5v tolerant, needs current limiting
on the Vcc line. No Holy Joy here, move along.
DAC960 Trivia
Jumper JP1 is a 6-pin header that provides
a connection for three status LEDs. Pin 1 is to the left
end of the board. In each case the odd-numbered pin is
the +5V source. An external series resistor is not
required for the LEDs.
Indicator _____ Meaning if ON
Pin
|
Name
|
Meaning
|
1-2 |
SCSI Activity |
One or two SCSI channels xmitting or recving
data. |
3-4
|
Write Pending
|
DAC960 xmitting / recving data to/from
host system.
|
5-6
|
|
DAC960 Cache has data more current than
on HDs.
|
DAC960 LED Error Flashes
When any DAC960 controller is powered up, the
960 CPU performs a sequence of tests on its hardware.
Failure in any of these tests is indicated by an
error-code by flashing the Write Pending LED on
the DAC960 controller. It is also accompanied by an
appropriate BIOS error message on the system. The memory
parity error (irrecoverable), during the operation
of the card, is also indicated by the same LED.
DAC960 Write Pending
|
LED post on DAC960
|
1 or 2 Channel
|
Header J2 (non-populated)
|
3 Channel
|
Pin 5-6 of 6 pin header J1
|
5 Channel
|
Pin 5-6 of 6 pin header J1
|
The LED blinks will always be repeated at regular
intervals.
# LED Pattern |
Error Indicated |
1. Constant ON/OFF at 50% duty cycle |
Parity error on DRAM. FATAL Error. Check DRAM. |
2. 2 blinks |
DRAM error. FATAL Error. Check
DRAM. DRAM support logic failure is
likely. |
3. 3 blinks |
BMIC I/F failure. FATAL Error. |
4. 4 blinks |
Firmware checksum error. Try loading the
Firmware using the DAC960FL utility. |
5. LED stays on at power-up |
Controller dead. |
NVSRAM
Function
Each NV SRAM has a self–contained lithium energy
source and control circuitry which constantly monitors VCC for an out–of–tolerance condition.
When such a condition occurs, the lithium energy source is
automatically switched on and write protection is
unconditionally enabled to prevent data corruption.
Cable
Parts
The mini C68 for the Channel edgecard
connectors is the Molex 71660i,
part# 15-92-3068, called a half pitch Centronics, or a
VESA Media Connector. Suprise! AMP makes a similar part
(mini-C68) AMP Part 1-557089-2
Any cable with a .025 pitch, 28 to 30 AWG will work with
either connector.
A Better Cable Hack?
Allen Brandt wrote:
> A small, shotty attempt to get something uploaded
concerning the PS/2. HERE
My Take on it:
I am starting to have neurons fire.
Actually, Allen provided the push. Al went and slit the
conductors for better flexibility (in pairs).
Could you slit the flat cable up towards
the controller and get the very flexible cable bundle of
the IBM original? The black sheathing is available from
Jameco for about $1 a foot. Well worth it, IMHO. (Start
the slit with an X-Acto and use the reverse of the blade
to finish parting the conductors???)
The sheathing is Techflex Cable Sleeve,
looks to be the 3/8" size. Sold in a 25' spool. Part #162157,
Product # CCPT2X per spool $14.95 Techflex is HERE
What kind of signal degredation might
occur? Each signal pair hopefully cancels it's noise
out. If the Brandt manuever can be done from the top
drive connector to theadapter, it might be a close match
to the real thing
HD
LED Doesn't Work
>Is i a fact that the HD LED does not work on a 9595A
with a PassPlay RaidAdp.?
The fixed disk light is non-functional with
both the Server 95 A "Passplay" and Streaming-RAID
"Cheetah" MCA RAID adapter. I suspect this is also
the case with other OEM'ed Mylex RAID adapters.
Cyrix/Non-SOD Incompatibility?
Tim Clarke
Hi gang,
Just thought that I'd
better warn you. After checking out the Cyrix 5x86 at 4x
clocking (in Type-1 non-SOD w/cache) my PassPlay RAID
adapter seems to have been "duffed up". I only get a
part of the BIOS v1.05 initialization/installation
message and the machine hangs (with *any* CPU) at CP:96.
Looks as though the Flash ROM has been partially
overwritten (just a guess).
Cache
Size
Go HERE
for the details
IBM or Generic SIMMs?
They are 30-pin standard industrial
("generic") SIMMs. Since the original concept allowed
4x1MB, 4x4MB and even 4 x 16MB cache SIMMs they *must*
be generic, because IBM only coded the 256K, 512K and
1MB modules. The 4MB and 16MB are not on IBM's list.
NOTE:All systems,
except the 95-466, 95-560, 95 A-466, 95 A-560 and
9585-0Kx, require that the standard SCSI adapter or system
board resident SCSI controller remain connected to the IML
and/or boot hard file.
Saving a Passplay Flashed With Cheetah
Microcode
From Peter
During an IBM technical class after the
introduction of the Server 500 the instructor told us that
you *could* accidentally flash a Passplay with the Cheetah
firmware - and make it non-functional with that.
He said: "You need a Cheetah adapter to flash
back to Passplay level. The Passplay with the
Cheetah-firmware will refuse to re-flash. Remove both -
the Flash-ROM and the EEPROM - and stuff it into a Cheetah
adapter. Then run the Passplay Flash diskette to reprogram
it to level 1.6x (Ed.: or 1.99 actually). Then re-install
the two chips on the Passplay and it will work again."
Never tried it myself however.
Slots
DAC960M will Fit
The Passplay is a Type 5 form factor card (it's
big). There are cutouts in 95 and 95A cases that will
allow the edge of the card at the bracket end to fit.
Dennis Smith turned me on to them. Slots 2-4 have these
cutouts- The 95s don't have a cushion in them, 95As do.
More Than One DAC960M?
>An interesting note is that the 9595 has three
enlarged slots to fit in three passplay adapters. Or, I
guess, to move the one passplay adapter to the desired
slot.
From Peter
The machine has slotted rear wall in the
positions 2, 3 and 4 that allows installation of the
oversized cards like Passplay. Since there are
limitations in the MCA "package dense" I would say the
positions are made to move cards around rather than
installing 3 of them. As far as I know the MCA cooling
density does not allow more than 2 cards of that size to
be installed - and even then the middle slot must stay
free to allow sufficient airflow between the cards.
But the Cheetah isn't an oversized card. It
is a standard full size 32-bit card - but it does not
exceed the average card *height* - and that's the most
sensible criteria in a 95A box regarding airflow. Not
speaking of DC-load on a single MCA slot. That's another
criteria that might forbid using too many of the "Big"
cards in a machine.
Not everything that *could* be installed is
supported - and not every amount of cards is a)
practicable, b) supported and/or c) works reliable. Even
if the 400W PSU on the 95A might appear as a bottomless
pit (current-wise) the base planar and the slots have
physical limits on what current you can draw among it.
LVD
on DAC960M
>What kind of drives does the
RAID take? Is F/W DIFFERENTIAL SCSI the right kind? Or
are LVD (low voltage differential) different and it
needs them instead? I've never dealt with RAID before.
From Peter
It it an ordinary F/W
intended for single-ended SCSI devices. It does
however take U/W LVD drives, because these are
downward-compatible to single-ended, which the old
"high-voltage differential" are *not*.
If
you get - for example - a set of U/W "Low Voltage
Differential" (LVD) IBM DDRS 4.5 or 9.1GB drives then
they will nicely run with the DAC960M. I have some of
them in "Starship" - my Server 520 attached to the
Fast/Wide RAID Adapter PCI. No problem. You can even
mix them with "ordinary" F/W or U/W drives. Same for
the Cheetah and even the older Passplay.
RAID without Bays 'n Trays
Go HERE for
Peter's experiences.
Passplay under W95
First, I am shocked.
But, live and let live...
Helmut P.
Einfalt Wrote:
Pete Rickard got me onto the right track:
You need to install IBMRAID.SYS (in DOS
directory of RAID Diskette 1) even if and when the
controller does fine under DOS. I installed it manually,
although I presume that UINSTALL.EXE would do as well,
however after all the time I spent with the machine I
wanted to have a manual go at it...
What no Readme (by IMB) tells you is
hidden in the Mylex DAC960 Readme: To work properly
under Win9x, this driver must be installed *before* any
memory manager such as HIMEM.SYS....
Did that, booted, and up came Win95
continuing the installation procedure it broke off at
the first "real" Windows start...
Transplanted the whole system (Raid cage w/3 drives,
passplay) to the 9595-ALF (= EMEA version of -0LF).
Same setup:
(1) Spock (+ the famous 1 Gig Fujitsu brick and a CDROM)
(3) Passplay (+ 3 drives RAID5)
(5) XGA-2
(6) IBM ISDN 2000
(8) some NIC.
The Fujitsu (set to SCSI 6 !!!) contains
nothing but the IML -- the rest is
formatted, no OS, nothing. The Passplay array still has
DOS 7 and Win95 (basic installation w/o knickknack for
the moment -- the installation completed on the 95A
after so many woes)...
And now comes the surprising part: Powered
up the machine -- and up came Win95 without a hitch. The
Win95 I had installed on the passplay RAID.
Here we are.
Contrary to what the first experiments showed, it *is*
possible to install the Passplay on a 9595-xLx machine
running Win95.
Prerequisites:
(1) Spock or similar with a HD of any size that contains
the IML track.
(2) The appropriate driver sequence in config.sys:
DOS=HIGH
device=c:\RAID\IBMRAID.sys (or wherever this thing is
set
Device=c:\win95\HIMEM.SYS
... etc.
Probably you could put the IBMRAID.SYS even before the
DOS=HIGH statement, but since it ain't broke I don't
want to fix it right now...
Mylex
DAC960M Firmware
The Mylex Manufacturing Part
("D040") number can be located on the back of the DAC960
controller, and uniquely identifies the model and number
of channels on the controller. It does not
identify the amount of memory installed, or the FW/BIOS
versions, since these can be updated.
When referring to this D040
number, please use the entire number, since this will
help Technical Support identify specific features.
Mfg.No.
Mylex Model
D040322
DAC960M
D040325
DBX960M
D040331
DAC960M-2
I have an older controller with version 2.xx FW, can I
update the FW to the 3.xx?
Not all boards will support the upgrade to
3.xx firmware. If the controller has a revision number
of D040347 or greater, the board will support the
upgrade. This revision label is usually found on the
back (non-component side of the board).
Specifications for FW RAID
SCSI type |
SCSI-2 Fast/Wide |
SCSI bus path / speed |
16 bit / 20 MB/sec |
I/O bus path / speed |
32 bit / 40 MB/sec streaming |
I/O features |
Streaming data transfer
Address parity and data parity |
RAID levels |
RAID 0, 1, Hybrid 1, 5
4 ind (A, B, C, D) / 8 logical arrays |
Tagged Command Queuing |
Yes |
Processor |
i960 at 25 MHz |
Size |
Type 5 (only fits Model 85 or 95) |
Channels |
Two (both internal) |
Connectors |
Two internal only |
Devices supported |
7 devices per adapter |
Cache std / max |
4 MB / 64 MB (with parity) |
Cache method |
4 sockets for 30 pin 80ns SIMMs |
Cache configurations |
4, 16, or 64 MB only |
Cache write policy |
Write-through or write-back |
AdapterID
8F6C DAC960M RAID Adapter
Interrupt Level
Interrupt level for the adapter
<"Level
E" (IRQ15)>, A (IRQ10), B (IRQ11)
BIOS Base Address
BIOS base address for adapter. Each adapter
needs a unique address range.
<"C0000-0C1FFF">,
C2000-0C3FFF, C4000-0C5FFF, C6000-0C7FFF, C8000-0C9FFF,
CA000-0CBFFF, CC000-0CDFFF, CE000-0CFFFF, D0000-0D1FFF,
D2000-0D3FFF, D4000-0D5FFF, D6000-0D7FFF, D8000-0D9FFF,
DA000-0DBFFF, DC000-0DDFFF, DE000-0DFFFF
I/O Address
I/O address for adapter. Each adapter must
have a unique address range.
<"1C00-1C1F">,
3C00-3C1F, 5C00-5C1F, 7C00-7C1F, 9C00-9C1F, BC00-BC1F,
DC00-DC1F, FC00-FC1F
DMA Arbitration Level
DMA channel used to transfer data.
<"Level
8">, 9, A, B, C, D, E, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7
Data Parity Exception Handling
Support
Enable or disable Micro Channel data parity
generation capability of this adapter (M class and up).
Does not show if system doesn't support it.
<"Enabled ">,
Disabled
Micro Channel Streaming
Enable or disable Microchannel streaming
capability of adapter
<"Enabled ">,
Disabled
INT 13 Support
This provides limited support for BIOS INT
13 function calls and is required if boot devices are
connected to RAID Adapter.
If system is Flash, then <"Enabled ">, Disabled
<"Disabled">,
Enabled
9595 Main Page
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