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NWPA.TXT
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INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR THE SDMS DRIVERS: SYM8XXNW.HAM V4.06.00
SYMHINW.HAM V4.06.00
This file describes the features and use of the Symbios SDMS NWPA device
drivers for the Novell NetWare v4.11 operating system environment. It
is divided into the following sections:
Introduction
Features
Description
ASPI Support
Installing Your NWPA NetWare Driver
Preparing Your System for NWPA Drivers
For NetWare 4.11 New Installations
For NetWare 4.11 SFT-III Installations
For An Existing Installation Of NetWare 3.12
Reconfiguring Driver Options
Command Line Options
Information Options
Using the Help Mode Option
NetWare NWPA Driver Customizable Options
Using the Tagged Queuing Option
Using the Synchronous SCSI Option
Using the Wide SCSI Option
Using the Elevator Threshold Option
Important Additional Information
For Information Pertaining to a Specific Driver
DOS Access Dependencies
Supported DOS Configurations
If Using the SDMS 3.XX BIOS
When Using the SDMS 4.XX BIOS
When Using ASPI8XX.SYS
Supported DOS Drivers
ASPI8XX,SYS (Version 4.05)
SYMCD.SYS
MSCDEX.EXE
SYMDISK.SYS
When Using No SDMS BIOS
************************* Symbios NWPA Driver *************************
The Symbios NWPA driver for the Novell NetWare operating system allows
you to utilize a Symbios SCSI controller or processor, which is controlled
by the Symbios SCSI BIOS version 4.11, with NetWare. This driver along with
a Symbios SCSI controller or processor and an appropriate Custom Device
Module (CDM), provide a SCSI solution within the NetWare environment.
A single driver is provided for the Novell NetWare versions 3.12 and
4.11 environments and for version 5.0 once it has been released. This
document explains how to install and use the Symbios NWPA SCSI Host
Adapter Module (HAM) driver for NetWare.
* * * * * * * * * * * Features * * * * * * * * * * *
o Synchronous negotiation (including Fast/Ultra SCSI/Ultra2 SCSI)
o Supports multiple host adapters
o Supports multiple logical unit numbers (LUNS)
o Large LUN support (larger than 7.844 gigabytes)
o Supports Disconnect/Reselect
o Supports tagged command queuing
o Supports simple and ordered queue tags
o Supports Scatter/Gather
o Supports shared interrupts
o Supports Wide SCSI (single-ended and differential)
o Supports NetWare 4.11 SFT-III
o Supports SDMS 4.XX BIOS (with ASPI8XX.SYS version 4.05 or greater)
o Supports SDMS 4.11 BIOS (without ASPI8XX.SYS)
o Supports SDMS 4.XX DOS drivers
o Handles target initiated negotiation (wide and synchronous)
o Support for SCSI Magneto Optical devices via NetWare's SCSI MO.CDM
In conjunction with Novell software:
o Supports the ASPI interface via NetWare's NWASPI.NLM
o Support for SCSI CD-ROM devices via NetWare's SCSICD.CDM
o Support for SCSI-2 Tape devices via NetWare's SCSI2TP.CDM
In addition to the Release Definitions, the following restrictions apply:
o Symmetric Multi-processing (SMP) under NetWare 4.11 requires the following
files: SCSIHD.DDI, SCSIHD.COM, and NWPA.NLM 2.32f.
o The SCSIHD.COM and SCSIHD.DDI files should be dated 5MAR1998 and version 1.34
or newer for all environments.
o NWPA.NLM must be dated 9FEB1998 and version 2.32f or newer in SMP
environments.
1. To upgrade to SMP after NetWare has been installed and while you are in
the server prompt, type:
load install
A menu appears.
2. Select the Multiprocessor selection.
Then, another menu appears.
3. Select the default:
MPS14
4. Follow the remaining prompts and then exit load install.
5. Down the server, and reboot the system.
Note: Other third party CDMs may also support these devices.
Important Note: Netware may fail to install and operate on systems that
have 53C8XX devices on the motherboard that are not directly supported
by Serial EEPROM. For these drivers to operate under these conditions,
"disconnects" must be disabled in the BIOS. Once this issue is resolved
and new drivers are released, the user may access the LSI Logic web site
and download the new drivers.
* * * * * * * * * * Symbios Devices Supported * * * * * * * * *
The SYM8XXNW.HAM supports the following devices and associated Symbios host
adapters:
o SYM53C810, SYM53C810A, SYM53C810AE (SYM8100S, SYM8100ASP)
o SYM53C815 (SYM815XS, SYM8150SP)
o SYM53C825, SYM53C825A (SYM8250S, SYM8251S, SYM8251D, SYM8250ASP, SYM8251ASP,
SYM8251AD)
o SYM53C860, SYM53C860AE (SYM8600SP)
o SYM53C875, SYM53C875E (SYM8750SP, SYM8751SP, SYM8751D)
o SYM53C876 (SYM22801, SYM22802)
o SYM53C885
o SYM53C895 (SYM8951U)
The SYMHINW.HAM supports the following device and associated Symbios host adapter:
o SYM53C896 (SYM22910)
* * * * * * * * * * * Description * * * * * * * * * *
The Symbios NWPA solution consists of the device drivers, SYM8XXNW.HAM and
SYMHINW.HAM and the NetWare 4.xx installation files SYM8XXNW.DDI and SYMHINW.DDI.
The SYMHINW.HAM is a Symbios PCI High Performance Driver.
SYM8XXNW.HAM and SYMHINW.HAM are NWPA Host Adapter Modules (HAM). In order to
support SCSI devices, you must load the HAM module in conjunction with a SCSI
Custom Device Module (CDM). Novell has developed generic CDMs to support SCSI-2
Hard Drives, SCSI CD-ROM devices, SCSI Magneto Optical devices, SCSI tape
devices, and SCSI changer devices. In addition, third party vendors are
developing CDMs to support their specific devices.
* * * * * * * * * * * ASPI Support * * * * * * * * * *
NWPA ASPI support is provided via NetWare's NWASPI driver. NetWare, or third
party applications, may use this interface to communicate with a SCSI device
attached to a Symbios controller, including SCSI-2 tape devices.
******************** Installing Your NWPA NetWare Drivers *******************
Install NetWare as described in the Novell NetWare Installation Manual. The
following information is provided to assist in the installation.
The Symbios NWPA NetWare driver must be loaded once for each Symbios controller
SCSI channel present in the system.
* * * * * * * Preparing Your System for NWPA Drivers * * * * * *
The Symbios NWPA drivers, SYM8XXNW.HAM and SYMHINW.HAM support the following DOS
drivers:
o ASPI8XX.SYS (Version 4.05 or greater)
o SYMCD.SYS
o SYMDISK.SYS
These drivers do not support the older Symbios 3.XX DOS drivers (DOSCAM.SYS,
MINICAM.SYS, CDROM.SYS, and SCSIDISK.SYS).
The BIOS version 4.11 is the minimum SDMS BIOS required for NetWare when
not used with ASPI8XX.SYS. ASPI8XX.SYS (version 4.05 or greater) is required
for any earlier BIOS versions.
Please see the section titled "When using the 4.XX BIOS" regarding 8XX_32.ROM
with SCAM enabled before upgrading the BIOS.
To Upgrade the BIOS (BOOTROM) from 3.XX,4.XX to 4.11:
1. Load FLASH8X5.EXE
2. Select the appropriate BIOS file (that is, 8XX_64.ROM). You must
use BIOS version 4.11.
To Check the Status of DOS drivers:
1. Edit the CONFIG.SYS file.
2. If any of the following lines appear, you may remove or delete these lines.
Use the REM command to comment them out in case these lines are needed later.
DEVICE=<path>\DOSCAM.SYS
DEVICE=<path>\MINICAM.SYS
DEVICE=<path>\CDROM.SYS /d:<name>
DEVICE=<path>\SCSIDISK.SYS
DEVICE=<path>\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=<path>\EMM386.SYS
3. If CD-ROM support is required, then add the following:
DEVICE=<path>\ASPI8XX.SYS
DEVICE=<path>\SYMCD.SYS /d:<name>
4. Add the following line to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
DEVICE=<path>\mscdex /d:<name>
* * * * * * * * For NetWare 4.11 New Installations * * * * * *
1. Begin the file server installation according to the instructions in the
file server installation chapter in the Novell NetWare Installation
Manual.
2. When the NetWare installation procedure prompts you for a Disk Driver,
insert the Symbios device drivers diskette into drive A: or B:. Then
use the INS key to select an unlisted driver. A dialog box appears. If
the driver diskette is in the A: drive, press Enter to continue. If
the driver diskette is in the B: drive, press F3 (to specify the
path to search for the driver), and enter the drive letter:
B:
and press Enter.
The SYM8XXNW.HAM or the SYMHINW.HAM driver will appear as a selection.
Note: If the INS key option does not appear during the installation, choose
Server Drivers to go to the Summary page. Highlight Disk and CD-ROM
Drivers (e.g., IDEATA). Press Enter and load an additional driver.
Then press the INS key. The system always defaults to the A: path.
Highlight the Symbios NWPA driver and press Enter. Select Yes to save
and move the driver into the operating system. Press Enter for the
system to copy the files.
3. Next the system prompts the user with the available command line options to
load the driver. A description of each option appears in the box at the
bottom of the installation screen. A more detailed description is also given
later in this document, in the section titled Command Line Options. Modify any
option values as needed for this installation.
4. Load a separate instance of the driver for every Symbios controller SCSI
channel or host adapter present in the system.
5. When prompted for a slot number, accept the slot numbers displayed. Make
sure to write these slot numbers down for use at a later point.
6. When asked to edit the STARTUP.NCF file, make sure the SYM8XXNW.HAM (or
SYMHINW.HAM) is loaded once per Symbios controller SCSI channel present
in the system. Add the statement SLOT=<slot number> to each load line in
the STARTUP.NCF, specifying the slot numbers written down in step 5 above,
with only one slot number per load instance. The HAM driver(s) are loaded
for each Symbios controller SCSI channel from the first LOAD statement to the
last LOAD statement.
* * * * * * * For NetWare 4.11 SFT-III Installations * * * * * *
1. Install your primary server following procedures for the native 4.11
installation.
2. Begin the SFT-III installation as instructed by NetWare installation
procedures.
3. While installing the secondary server, you have the option of copying the
SYM8XXNW.HAM driver from the primary server. Press F10 to accept.
* * * For An Existing Installation Of NetWare 3.12 * * *
If the Symbios SDMS (DDFS) NetWare drivers (SDMSNETx.DSK and optionally
NETASPIx.NLM) are currently installed on your system, then these files
must be replaced with SYM8XXNW.HAM driver. Follow the instructions below
to update the system.
1. From the website at:
http://developer.novell.com/devres/sas/certinfo.htm
Download NWPA_312.EXE from the "Download Upgrade Package for
NetWare v3.12".
2. Install DOS and the CD-ROM driver on the target server machine.
3. Create the directory C:\SERVER.312 if it does not already exist and then
change to that directory.
4. Copy NWPA_312.EXE to C:\SERVER.312.
5. Execute NWPA_312.EXE in the C:\SERVER.312 directory.
6. Execute 312PTB.EXE in the same directory.
7. Create the directory C:\SERVER.312\CDSAVE.
8. Copy CDROM.NLM to C:\SERVER.312\CDSAVE.
9. Change directory to the D:\NETWARE.312\ENGLISH directory on the CD-ROM
drive, if its drive letter is D:.
10.Enter install at the DOS command line. Proceed through the installation of
NetWare v3.12 as usual, until the installation program ends with the cursor at
the server console command line.
11.At the server console enter the following commands:
load native\start\npapatch
load mmattrfx
load nbi31x
12.Load the .HAM driver. (load a:\sym8xxnw.ham)
13.Continue installation by loading INSTALL, creating and mirroring NetWare
partitions, creating SYS: and VOL1: volumes, and installing the operating
system under the copy system and public files of System Options.
14.Edit the STARTUP.NCF file, adding the slot number for each card.
15.Edit the AUTOEXEC.NCF file, add the following lines after lines already
present but before the mount all line, then save the file:
load after311
load c:\server.312\mmattrfx
load c:\server.312\nwpaload
search add 1 c:\server.312\cdsave
load cdrom
16.At the server console enter the following command:
load c:\server.312\patch312
17.DOWN and EXIT the server.
18.Copy the .HAM driver to the C:\SERVER.312 directory.
19.Remove the NetWare CD-ROM.
20.Reboot the server.
* * * * * * * * * Reconfiguring Driver Options * * * * * * *
To reconfigure driver options, you must follow these steps:
1. To unload all instances of the driver, type:
unload SYM8XXNW.HAM
-or-
unload SYMHINW.HAM
2. To reload each instance of the driver with the desired option settings, type:
load SYM8XXNW.HAM slot=<slot number> <options>
-or-
load SYMHINW.HAM slot=<slot number> <options>
3. If the changes made to the load options of one or more load instance are
permanent, and the driver is loaded automatically at server boot time, you
must specify these options in the STARTUP.NCF or AUTOEXEC.NCF file.
*************************** Command Line Options ****************************
The SYM8XXNW.HAM and SYMHINW.HAM drivers have many tuning parameters. A
list of tuning options is available below that include the default option along
with a list of valid options. Each option has a description of when to use it,
the syntax used, and any impact its use may have on the system.
If an option is specified but the assignment is not valid, then the default
value is used.
The options described below are used by placing the specified characters on
the load command line for the NWPA driver. For example, if the Wide SCSI Option
on the command line is desired, the load command line should look like this:
load SYM8XXNW.HAM wide=off
-or-
load SYMHINW.HAM wide=off
Note: No spaces are allowed in a single command line option, but spaces
are required between different command line options.
* * * * * * * * * * Information Option * * * * * * * * *
The information option described below is: Using the Help Mode Option.
* * * Using the Help Mode Option * * *
Command line option: ? or h
Function: Display the options available in the driver.
Possible Impact: The driver will not load with ? or h specified.
This option is specified on the command line for a brief description of
each of the options available in the driver, as well as valid values for
each option. If the ? or h option is specified along with other
options, the help screen is invoked, the other options are ignored, and
the driver is not loaded.
* * * * * * NetWare NWPA Driver Customizable Options * * * * * *
* * * Using the Slot Option * * *
Command line option: slot=<option>
Default value: None
Valid options: 0-10099
Function: Specify the slot instance number of the Symbios
controller the load instance applies to.
Possible Impact: This information may not be known to the user at
load/install time.
The slot option specifies which Symbios controller SCSI channel (embedded
chip or host adapter) the current load pertains to. This information is
required to load the driver. If this information is not specified on the
load line, the driver prompts for the slot number.
* * * Using the Tagged Queuing Option * * *
Command line option: qtags=<option>
Default value: on
Valid options: on, off
Function: Enable/disable tagged queuing for the devices.
Possible Impact: Tagged queuing may result in improved I/O throughput in
devices that support such an option.
Enabling this option results in the driver issuing tagged I/O requests
to the devices that support tagged queuing. Devices that do not support
tagged queuing are not issued tagged requests. Depending on the drive
controller, throughput of the device is increased by the use of queue
tags. However, the optimal number of queue tags is based on the specific
device type.
* * * Using the Synchronous SCSI Option * * *
Command line option: sync=<option>
Default value: 40 (maximum)
Valid options: 0, 5, 10, 20, or 40
Function: Enable/Disable support of synchronous SCSI.
Possible Impact: Could cause a device to operate slower than
its maximum speed.
This synchronous SCSI option allows the user to enable/disable support of
Fast, Ultra, and Ultra2 SCSI synchronous data transfers when using a Fast,
Ultra, or Ultra2 SCSI controller. Synchronous data transfers increase the
I/O performance of a system, but there are a few non-SCSI compliant devices
that may cause problems on a system. If this option is disabled, and sync
is enabled, the controller performs up to 10 megabytes/second with any
device capable of synchronous negotiations.
The valid options are referred to as megabytes per second. Megabytes per
second equals mega transfers per second when using an 8-bit SCSI bus.
Whereas on a 16-bit (wide) SCSI bus, megabytes per second = 2 times mega
transfers per second.
* * * Using the Wide SCSI Option * * *
Command line option: wide=<option>
Default value: on
Valid options: on, off
Function: Enable/Disable support of wide SCSI.
Possible Impact: No wide SCSI support available.
This Wide SCSI option allows the user to disable support of wide SCSI when
using a wide SCSI controller. Set this option to "off" to disable a wide
SCSI device that is present on the system, but an 8-bit SCSI cable is
connected somewhere on the bus between the wide SCSI host adapter and the
wide device, thus prohibiting the transfer of wide data. If this option is
set to "off", the wide device still works, but all data transferred to or
from the device is narrow (8 bit). The driver does not initiate a wide SCSI
transfer request negotiation.
* * * Using the Elevator Threshold Option * * *
Command line option: elev=<option>
Default value: 4
Valid options: 0-250 (0=disable)
Function: Specify the maximum number of I/Os the HAM should queue before
allowing NWPA to filter and organize requests.
Possible Impact: Varying the elevator threshold value may affect
performance.
Elevator queues are used by NWPA to determine how many I/Os are queued
to the HAM before organizing requests and generating scatter-gather
lists. If this number is set too low, then adapter I/O starvation may result.
If the number is too high, then sorting of I/Os and/or generation of
scatter gather lists may not occur.
* * * Using the No Negotiation Option * * *
Command line option: noneg=<option>
Default value: none
Function: Specify the target ID of the device that does not accept the
sync or wide negotiation.
Possible Impact: Device will always operate in asynchronous and narrow mode.
Initially during the scanning phase, the driver begins by negotiating
asynchronous and narrow mode settings with each device found. Once target
communication is established, the desired synchronous and wide settings are
renegotiated. However, some devices have a problem with the initial negotiation
such as the new Saf-Te chip, and older or non-standard, non-INT13h devices.
********************* Important Additional Information **********************
* * * * * For Information Pertaining to a Specific Driver * * * * *
This document addresses options available on the Symbios NWPA NetWare
driver, versions 4.02.00 or later. For information pertaining to a specific
driver, please do one of the following:
1. For NetWare version 4.11, consult the SYM8XXNW.DDI or SYMHINW.DDI file for
options available for SYM8XXNW.HAM or SYMHINW.HAM. Refer to the NetWare
installation utility to access these files.
-OR-
2. Load the driver specifying the ? option on the command line of the
SYM8XXNW.HAM or SYMHINW.HAM driver. The driver does not actually load, but
available options are displayed.
* * * * * * * * * * DOS Access Dependencies * * * * * * * *
Typically, NetWare requires access to the DOS partition (perhaps to load a
file, or to down the system). The SYM8XXNW.HAM and/or SYMHINW.HAM drivers support
several SDMS DOS configurations.
SYM8XXNW.HAM and SYMHINW.HAM detect whether an SDMS 3.XX or SDMS 4.XX BIOS is
present. They also detect if the SDMS 4.05 DOS driver ASPI8XX.SYS is loaded.
If the unsupported SDMS 3.XX BIOS or supported SDMS 4.10 or older BIOS is being
used, then ASPI8XX.SYS 4.05 or greater must also be loaded. When using the
SDMS 4.11 BIOS, the ASPI8XX.SYS is not required.
Note: SYM8XXNW.HAM and SYMHINW.HAM drivers do not support the SDMS 3.XX DOS
drivers--DOSCAM and MINICAM.
If DOS partitions exist on any device connected to a Symbios controller, Symbios
recommends using at least an SDMS 4.10 or older 4.XX BIOS and/or SDMS ASPI8XX
DOS 4.05 or greater driver for DOS support.
* * * * * * * * * Supported DOS Configurations * * * * * * * *
The following are the DOS configurations supported by the SYM8XXNW.HAM
driver:
SDMS 4.11 or greater BIOS, No DOS Drivers
SDMS 4.XX BIOS, ASPI8XX.SYS*
No SDMS BIOS, ASPI8XX.SYS*
No SDMS BIOS, No DOS Drivers
*In addition to ASPI8XX.SYS (version 4.05 or greater), SYMCD.SYS and/or
SYMDISK.SYS may be loaded for DOS CD-ROM and DOS Magneto Optical (MO) support,
respectively. SYMCD.SYS and SYMDISK.SYS are NOT required for CD-ROM or MO support
under NetWare. Magneto Optical drives are supported by version 4.03 of the
Symbios NWPA driver.
* * * * * * * * * * If Using the SDMS 3.XX BIOS * * * * * * * *
SDMS 3.XX BIOS is no longer supported by Symbios. In the event you are using
the SDMS 3.XX BIOS, load ASPI8XX.SYS (version 4.05 or greater) in the CONFIG.SYS
file. This solution provides an optimal workaround so that the driver can be
loaded. An optional driver for CD-ROM support (SYMCD.SYS) works with these
drivers in conjunction with MSCDEX.EXE. However, Symbios recommends upgrading
to an SDMS 4.XX BIOS for support purposes. Users can obtain the SDMS 4.XX BIOS
from the Symbios web site at http://www.symbios.com.
* * * * * * * * * * When Using the 4.XX BIOS * * * * * * * *
If the SDMS 4.10 or older BIOS is present, load ASPI8XX.SYS (version 4.05
or greater) in the CONFIG.SYS file. SCAM must be disabled in the 4.XX BIOS.
If SCAM is enabled, then the Symbios NWPA driver will fail to load.
If SCAM is enabled on the adapter, then you must manually disable SCAM in the
BIOS Configuration Utility in order for the driver to successfully load. Please
note that for 32K BIOS with SCAM enabled, no configuration utility is available.
* * * * * * * * * * When Using ASPI8XX.SYS * * * * * * * * *
Note: SCAM support by default is off in ASPI Manager version 4.05.
* * * Supported DOS Drivers * * *
The SDMS 3.XX BIOS and SDMS 4.10 or older 4.XX BIOS are both supported by the
SDMS ASPI8XX.SYS (version 4.05 or greater) DOS driver. Support for CD-ROM and
MO devices under DOS is provided by SYMCD.SYS and SYMDISK.SYS, respectively.
Neither SYMCD.SYS nor SYMDISK.SYS are required for NetWare support of CD-ROM
and MO devices, but for SCSI CD-ROM installation, ASPI8XX and SYMCD are required.
A list of DOS drivers currently supported by the Symbios NWPA drivers,
SYM8XXNW.HAM and SYMHINW.HAM, are described below.
* * ASPI8XX.SYS * *
The ASPI8XX.SYS driver provides an interface for disk and non-disk devices.
ASPI8XX.SYS is required for NetWare support if the SDMS 3.XX BIOS or
SDMS 4.10 or older 4.XX BIOS is used. If NetWare is being installed from a
SCSI CD-ROM device on a Symbios controller, SYMCD.SYS is required with
ASPI8XX.SYS.
* * SYMCD.SYS * *
To install the NetWare operating system from CD-ROM, load the SYMCD.SYS driver
with ASPI8XX.SYS. Once the NetWare operating system installation is complete,
SYMCD.SYS is not needed. The NetWare NWPA environment provides support for
SCSI CD-ROMs through the NetWare driver interface.
* * MSCDEX.EXE * *
The MSCDEX.EXE driver (provided with DOS) is required in conjunction with
SYMCD.SYS to install NetWare from a CD-ROM.
* * SYMDISK.SYS * *
The SYMDISK.SYS driver provides support for removable media and large sector
size devices under DOS. This driver is not required for NetWare support of
these devices
Note: The NetWare drivers can function independently of any DOS drivers, with
the following exceptions:
1. If the installation of NetWare is from a SCSI CD-ROM,
-OR-
2. If the unsupported SDMS 3.XX BIOS or supported SDMS 4.10 or older
4.XX BIOS is being used.
* * * * * * * * * * When Using No SDMS BIOS * * * * * * * *
The SYM8XXNW.HAM and SYMHINW drivers operate properly on a system when no
SDMS BIOS or SDMS DOS drivers are present. In this case, DOS must reside on a
device that is not connected to a Symbios controller-based host adapter. As an
example, DOS could reside on an IDE drive.
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.