*******************************************************************
NT.TXT
*******************************************************************
INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR THE SDMS DRIVER SYMC8XX.SYS V2.03.00
This file describes the features and use of the Symbios Logic SDMS device
driver for the Windows NT 3.5x/4.x operating system environment. It is divided
into the following sections:
Introduction for Windows NT 3.5x/4.x
Features
Description
Installing Your SYMC8XX.SYS Driver
Preparing a Symbios Driver Diskette
New System Installation
Existing System Installation
Troubleshooting
Important Additional Information
Enabling/Disabling Support Options
*******************************************************************
***************** Introduction for Window NT 3.5x/4.x *******************
Windows NT 3.5x/4.x is an operating system designed to run on processors
using current technology. It provides a graphical user interface
environment incorporating many high-level features
(refer to the Microsoft Windows NT 3.5x/4.x documentation for details).
I/O requests in Windows NT 3.5x/4.x are handled by an I/O manager. To
address a SCSI peripheral, the I/O manager goes through the
appropriate drivers. Class drivers for hard disk, floptical, CD-ROM,
printer, and scanner peripherals are provided in Windows NT 3.5x/4.x. You
may add other class drivers, provided by peripheral manufacturers, to
support new devices. Tape device support is built into the operating
system itself and does not require a class driver. Symbios Logic/Microsoft
provides a miniport driver, called SYMC8XX.SYS, to complete the path
to a Symbios Logic controller or processor with an optional SDMS SCSI BIOS.
The following sections describe this driver and its installation.
* Features *
Synchronous negotiation (including Fast/Ultra SCSI)
Wide negotiation
Tagged command queuing
Supports multiple host adapters
Supports multiple Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs)
Disconnect/Reselect
Scatter-gather
Differential support
Supports SCSI pass-through functionality
BUS device reset
Scan order change (scans the bus from SCSI ID 0 to MAX SCSI ID [7 or 15])
User selectable host adapter SCSI ID via configuiration utility in SDMS 4.X BIOS
Supports disk array configurations with no LUN 0
Supports disk array configurations with non-contiguous LUNs
Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) support (20 MB/s narrow, 40 MB/s wide)
* Description *
SYMC8XX.SYS is designed to Microsoft's specification for miniport
drivers. This driver allows connection of SCSI devices including
disk drives, CD-ROMs, and tape drives for PCI-based machines.
To support a new SCSI device the Windows NT 3.5x/4.x architecture requires
that a class driver for that type device is present (usually
supplied by Microsoft, or possibly by the peripheral manufacturer).
No changes to SYMC8XX.SYS are required. This driver is only supported
under Windows NT 3.5 and later versions (including NT 4.0). It does not run
under earlier versions of NT.
SCSI commands are passed directly from a Windows application to the
SCSI devices by using the SCSI pass-through facility (refer to the
Microsoft Windows NT 3.5x/4.x documentation for details). This facility
allows applications to directly control and access SCSI devices by
filling in a data structure and calling in to the port driver.
The SYMC8XX.SYS driver supports Ultra SCSI protocol, providing twice the
raw data transfer rate of Fast SCSI for disk drives and Symbios Logic
host adapters that support Ultra SCSI. However, Ultra SCSI requires more
stringent SCSI bus cabling setups than Fast SCSI.
************** Installing Your SYMC8XX.SYS Driver ****************
* Preparing a Symbios Driver Diskette *
Copy the files listed below to the root directory of a clean floppy diskette
(the installation fails if these files reside under a subdirectory), and use
this Symbios Driver diskette during installation.
SYMC8XX.SYS
SYMC8XX.TAG
OEMSETUP.INF
TXTSETUP.OEM
* New System Installation *
This procedure installs the SYMC8XX.SYS driver onto a Windows NT
system. Use this procedure when installing NT onto an unused
SCSI drive. NT automatically adds the driver to the registry and
copies the driver to the appropriate directories.
1. Start the NT installation by booting off the Microsoft Setup floppy disk.
2. Press Enter when the Welcome to Setup screen appears.
3. On the Setup Method screen, choose Custom Setup by pressing C.
(If Express Setup is chosen, the installation program loads the bundled
driver, which may not support all Symbios Logic SYM53C8XX controllers.)
4. Press S to skip mass storage device detection. (If Enter is pressed, the
installation program loads the bundled driver, which may not support all
Symbios Logic SYM53C8XX controllers.)
5. When a screen displays the SCSI adapters found, choose S to configure
additional SCSI adapters.
6. Move the highlight bar to Other and press Enter.
7. When prompted for Manufacturer-supplied hardware support disk,
insert your pre-prepared Symbios Driver diskette and press Enter.
8. The Symbios Logic PCI (53C8XX) Miniport driver,
Symbios Logic PCI <53c8XX>, is shown highlighted.
Press Enter to proceed.
9. NT should now recognize the Miniport driver and the SCSI hardware.
Press Enter to continue.
At this point, simply follow the Microsoft Windows NT installation
procedure.
NOTE: For a new system installation, the Symbios Logic PCI (53C8XX)
Miniport driver defaults to Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) support, PCI Cache Line
support, and Prefetch support turned OFF. To enable these options, see
Enabling/Disabling Support Options below.
* Existing System Installation *
This procedure installs the SYMC8XX.SYS driver onto an existing
Windows NT system.
NOTE: Windows NT 4.x uses the Windows 95 user interface, resulting in minor
changes to the procedure for updating SCSI drivers. Procedures for both
NT 3.5x and NT 4.x are listed.
Windows NT 3.5x
1. Boot NT and log on as Administrator.
2. Open the Main window in the Program Manager.
3. Double-click on Windows NT Setup.
4. Choose Options, then choose Add/Remove SCSI Adapters....
If NCRSDMS.SYS, NCRC810.SYS, NCRC8XX.SYS, or SYMC8XX.SYS drivers
are listed, select the driver(s) and choose Remove before adding the
new driver. Select OK when the Setup Message prompts, "Are you sure
you want to remove the selected SCSI Adapter?" Another message may display
saying "The SCSI Adapter has been marked as a boot device...". Click OK.
5. Then choose Add, and select OK when the Setup Message prompts, "Are you
sure you want to add a SCSI Adapter?"
6. On the SCSI Adapter list, go to the bottom and choose Other.
7. When prompted, insert your Symbios Driver diskette. For the path to the
files, leave A:\ and select OK.
8. On the Select OEM Option menu, the Miniport driver,
Symbios Logic PCI (53c8XX), is shown highlighted.
If it is not highlighted, select it. Choose OK.
9. On the Select SCSI Adapter Option menu, choose Install with the
Symbios Logic PCI (53c8XX) driver highlighted.
At this point, the following message may occur:
"The driver(s) for this SCSI Adapter are already on the system. Do you
want to use the currently installed driver(s) or install new one(s)?"
Selecting Current uses the driver already on the system, and
selecting New uses the driver on the floppy disk. Unless you want to
keep the older version already on the system, choose New. If you chose
Current, go to step 11.
10. For the path to the OEM SCSI Adapter files, leave A:\ and select
Continue.
11. A series of Setup Messages are displayed giving you the option
of enabling the Ultra SCSI (Fast 20), the PCI Cache Line, and the
Prefetch support options. To enable any of these options, choose OK
in the particular Setup Message window. To leave a particular one
disabled, choose Cancel.
12. On the SCSI Adapter Setup menu, check that the Miniport driver
Symbios Logic PCI (53c8XX) is listed, and choose Close.
13. Rebooting loads your new Miniport driver.
Windows NT 4.x
1. Boot NT and log on as Administrator.
2. Click the Start button, move to Settings, then to Control Panel, and click.
3. Double-click on SCSI Adapters.
4. Click the Drivers tab.
If NCRSDMS.SYS, NCRC810.SYS, NCRC8XX.SYS, or SYMC8XX.SYS drivers
are listed, select the driver(s) and choose Remove before adding the
new driver. Select OK when the Remove Driver message prompts, "Are you sure
you want to remove this driver?". Another message may display saying
"The SCSI Adapter has been marked as a boot device ...". Click OK.
5. Click Add. A list of installed adapters is displayed.
6. Click the Have Disk button.
7. When prompted, insert your Symbios Driver diskette. For the path to the
files, leave A:\ and select OK.
8. On the Select Manufacturer Driver menu, the Miniport driver,
Symbios Logic PCI (53c8XX), is shown highlighted.
If it is not highlighted, select it. Choose OK.
At this point, the following message may occur:
"The driver(s) for this SCSI Adapter are already on the system. Do you
want to use the currently installed driver(s) or install new one(s)?"
Selecting Current uses the driver already on the system, and
selecting New uses the driver on the floppy disk. Unless you want to
keep the older version already on the system, choose New. If you chose
Current, go to step 11.
9. For the path to the OEM SCSI Adapter files, leave A:\ and select
Continue.
10. A series of Setup Messages are displayed giving you the option of
enabling the Ultra SCSI (Fast 20), the PCI Cache Line, and the Prefetch
support options. To enable any of these options, choose OK in the
particular Setup Message window. To leave a particular one disabled,
choose Cancel.
11. A System Settings Change message displays "You must restart your
computer before the new settings take effect. Do you want to restart
your computer now?" Choose OK to restart and reboot NT. If you choose
Cancel, remember that you must restart before the new driver is loaded.
12. Rebooting loads your new Miniport driver.
* Troubleshooting *
DURING INSTALLATION, NO SCSI DEVICES ARE FOUND.
a. Insure that the custom setup is chosen on the Setup Method screen.
b. Insure that all devices are powered on and terminated correctly.
c. Check that no devices have duplicate SCSI IDs.
d. Make sure INT A is assigned for the PCI slot(s) where your
SCSI host adapter(s) are installed.
SYSTEM CRASHES DURING INSTALLATION WITH A MESSAGE
INDICATING INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE.
a. This error is usually associated with an IRQ, DMA channel, I/O (chip)
address, or BIOS address conflict. Set the SCSI host adapter
to use a different interrupt if possible.
b. This error is sometimes caused by a virus infecting the Master Boot
Record of the boot device. Use a write-protected DOS bootable flex
containing virus scanning and cleaning software to check for
any viruses on the boot device, and remove if any are found.
A DISK DRIVE IS RECOGNIZED AS SEVEN DIFFERENT DEVICES
WHEN ONLY ONE IS PHYSICALLY CONNECTED TO THE SCSI BUS.
a. This error is usually caused by older SCSI devices incorrectly
indicating to NT that they support multiple LUNs. Contact the device
manufacturer for a firmware upgrade.
PROBLEMS WITH ULTRA SCSI (FAST 20) DEVICES USING ULTRA SCSI PROTOCOL
a. If the system is configured with a Symbios Logic host adapter that
supports Ultra SCSI, an Ultra SCSI device is on the SCSI bus, and
Ultra SCSI support by the SYMC8XX.SYS driver is enabled, intermittent
problems and possible system crashes can occur if the SCSI bus cable
and terminators do not conform to the Ultra SCSI specification.
b. If the system is bootable, disable Ultra SCSI support using the procedure
described above or below.
c. If the system is not bootable, use the Emergency Repair Disk to restore
the system to a previously working configuration (with Ultra SCSI disabled).
d. If the system operates properly without Ultra SCSI enabled, it is highly
likely that the SCSI bus cable and terminators are not configured
correctly for Ultra SCSI. See the Symbios Logic host adapter User's
Guide for information on Ultra SCSI cabling requirements.
*************** Important Additional Information ********************
* Enabling/Disabling Support Options*
The Symbios Logic Miniport driver defaults to Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) support,
PCI Cache Line support, and Prefetch support turned OFF. Once the
SYMC8XX.SYS driver is installed, support for these features is enabled or
disabled using the Registry Editor. Note that enabling these options only
applies to Symbios Logic SYM53C8XX chips or boards which support them.
CAUTION: Incorrect modifications to the registry can disable the system .
Before making any changes to the registry, insure that you
have an Emergency Repair Disk available. An Emergency Repair Disk is
created either during Windows NT installation, or by running the RDISK
program.
Use this procedure for enabling/disabling all support options:
1. Run the REGEDT32.EXE program (using either File, Run or through File
Manager).
2. Select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE window.
3. Open the following folder tree: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services.
4. From this tree, open the Symc8XX folder, then the Device folder.
5. In the right-hand window, double-click on the Driver Parameter entry.
6. In the String Editor dialog box, do not change anything but the number
just to the right of the equal sign(s). The entry(s) should appear as
follows:
FAST20_Support=1 for Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) enabled
FAST20_Support=0 for Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) disabled
Cache_Line_Support=1 for PCI Cache Line support enabled
Cache_Line_Support=0 for PCI Cache Line support disabled
Prefetch_Support=1 for Scripts Prefetch Option enabled
Prefetch_Support=0 for Scripts Prefetch Option disabled
NOTE: Enabled options only apply when the installed adapter
can support them.
7. Click OK.
8. Exit the Registry Editor program. Any change in this registry entry
does not take effect until the system is rebooted.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.