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NWPA.TXT
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INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR THE SDMS DRIVERS: SYM8XXNW.HAM
SYMHINW.HAM
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
Using the Verbose Mode Option
NetWare NWPA Driver Customizable Options
Using the Tagged Queuing Option
Using the Synchronous SCSI Option;Sync =0, 10, 20, or 40
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
When Using the SDMS 3.XX BIOS
When Using the SDMS 4.XX BIOS
When Using ASPI8XX.SYS
Supported DOS Drivers
ASPI8XX,SYS (Version 4.04.03 for SYM53C896)
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, controlled by a
Symbios SCSI BIOS, with NetWare. The Symbios NWPA software, coupled with
a Symbios SCSI controller or processor and Novell or third party Custom
Device Modules (CDMs), provide a SCSI solution within the NetWare
environment.
A single driver is provided for the Novell NetWare versions 3.12 and
4.xx 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 Provides synchronous negotiation, including Fast, Ultra SCSI,
and 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
o Supports SDMS 4.XX DOS drivers
o Handles target initiated negotiation (wide and synchronous)
In conjunction with Novell software:
o Supports the ASPI interface via Novell's NWASPI.NLM
o Support for SCSI CDROM devices via Novell's SCSICD.CDM
o Support for removable media devices including SCSI Magneto Optical, and
Bernoulli devices via Novell's SCSIMO.CDM
o Support for SCSI-2 Tape devices via Novell's SCSI2TP.CDM
Note: Other third party CDMs may also support these devices.
Symbios Devices Supported
The SYM8XXNW.HAM supports the following devices and Symbios host adapters based
on those devices:
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, SYM53C895A (SYM8951U)
The SYMHINW.HAM supports the following device and Symbios host adapters based
on this device:
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 for driver installation.
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 CDROM 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 Novell'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.
You must load the Symbios NWPA NetWare driver once for each Symbios
controller 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 4.04.03 for SYM53C896)
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).
Both the SDMS 3.XX BIOS (version 3.07.00) and SDMS 4.XX BIOS (version 4.02.02
or later) are supported, but we recommended that you use the SDMS 4.XX BIOS,
if possible. If you are using the SDMS 3.XX BIOS, then you must also load
ASPI8XX.SYS.
To Upgrade the BIOS (Boot ROM) from 3.XX to 4.XX:
1. Load FLASH8X5.EXE
2. Select the appropriate BIOS file (i.e., 8XX_32.ROM or *XX_64.ROM). You must
use BIOS version 4.10 or later.
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.
It is recommended that you 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 CDROM support is required, then add the following:
DEVICE=<path>\ASPI8XX.SYS
DEVICE=<path>\SYMCD.SYS /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 you
are installing the driver from the A: drive, press Enter to continue. If
you are installing the driver from the B: drive, press F3 (to specify the
path to search for the driver), and enter the drive letter:
B:
The SYM8XXNW.HAM or the SYMHINW.HAM driver will appear as a selection.
You MUST install the SYM8XXNW.HAM driver before installing the SYMHINW.HAM
driver.
Note: If the INS key option doesn't 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 HAM 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 you are prompted 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. Select any
options needed for your particular installation.
4. Load a separate instance of the driver for every Symbios controller
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.
6. When asked to edit the STARTUP.NCF file, make sure the SYM8XXNW.HAM (or
SYMHINW.HAM) is loaded once per Symbios controller or host adapter present
in the system. Add a SLOT=<slot number> to each load line in the STARTUP.NCF,
specifying the slot numbers written down in step 5 above, one per load instance.
* * * * * * * 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 you currently have Symbios SDMS (DDFS) NetWare drivers (SDMSNETx.DSK
and optionally NETASPIx.NLM) installed on your system, then you must replace
these files with SYM8XXNW.HAM. Follow the instructions below to ensure
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, 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 OS 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/SYMHINW.HAM drivers have many tuning parameters. Following is a
list of tuning parameters available, including the default option and a list of
valid options. Following each parameter is a description of when to use a
parameter, and any impact its use may have on your 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 Verbose Mode
command line option is desired, the load command line should look like this:
load SYM8XXNW.HAM verbose=on
-or-
load SYMHINW.HAM verbose=on
Note: No spaces are allowed within a specific command line option, but spaces
are required between different command line options.
* * * * * * * * * * Information Options * * * * * * * * *
The information options described below are: Using the Help Mode Option and
Using the Verbose 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.
* * * Using the Verbose Mode Option * * *
Command line option: verbose=<option>
Default value: off
Valid options: on, off
Function: Display the current settings of all driver options.
This option shows all the command line option settings for this load of
the driver.
* * * * * * 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 (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, 10, 20, or 40
Function: Enable/Disable support of synchronous SCSI.
Possible Impact: No synchronous SCSI support available.
This 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 Mega transfers/second with any device capable
of synchronous negotiations.
* * * 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 option allows the user to disable support of wide SCSI when using a
wide SCSI controller. Set this option to "disable" if a wide SCSI device
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 "disable",
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: You may affect performance by varying the elevator
threshold value.
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, 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.
********************* Important Additional Information **********************
* * * * * For Information Pertaining to a Specific Driver * * * * *
This document addresses options available on the Symbios NWPA NetWare
driver, versions 4.01.00 or later. For information pertaining to a specific
driver, please do one of the following:
- For NetWare version 4.11, consult the SYM8XXNW.DDI or SYMHINW.DDI file for
options available for SYM8XXNW.HAM. This is accessed via the NetWare install
utility.
- Load the driver specifying the ? option on the command line of the
SYM8XXNW.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/SYMHINW.HAM driver supports
several SDMS DOS configurations.
SYM8XXNW.HAM/SYMHINW.HAM detects whether an SDMS 3.XX or SDMS 4.XX BIOS is
present. It also detects if the SDMS 4.XX DOS driver ASPI8XX.SYS is loaded.
If you are using the SDMS 3.XX BIOS, then ASPI8XX.SYS must also be loaded.
Note: SYM8XXNW.HAM/SYMHINW.HAM do not support the SDMS 3.XX DOS drivers
(DOSCAM and MINICAM).
If there are DOS partitions present on any device connected to a Symbios
controller, the SDMS 3.XX or SDMS 4.XX BIOS and/or SDMS ASPI8XX DOS driver
is required for DOS support.
* * * * * * * * * Supported DOS Configurations * * * * * * * *
The following are the DOS configurations supported by the SYM8XXNW.HAM
driver:
SDMS 3.XX BIOS, ASPI8XX.SYS*
SDMS 4.XX BIOS, No DOS Drivers
SDMS 4.XX BIOS, ASPI8XX.SYS*
No SDMS BIOS, ASPI8XX.SYS*
*In addition to ASPI8XX.SYS (Version 4.04), you may optionally load SYMCD.SYS
and/or SYMDISK.SYS for DOS CD-ROM and DOS MO support, respectively. SYMCD.SYS
and SYMDISK.SYS are NOT required for CD-ROM or MO support under NetWare.
* * * * * * * * * * When Using the 3.XX BIOS * * * * * * * *
If the SDMS 3.XX BIOS is present, you must load ASPI8XX.SYS in the CONFIG.SYS
file. An optional driver for CD-ROM support (SYMCD.SYS) works with these
drivers in conjunction with MSCDEX.EXE.
* * * * * * * * * * When Using the 4.XX BIOS * * * * * * * *
If you are using a version of the SDMS 4.XX BIOS that supports non-volatile
random access memory (NVRAM), you must disable SCAM on all Symbios host
adapters via the Configuration utility. If there is no NVRAM present, then any
SCAM devices must be set to fixed IDs so that SCAM always assigns those IDs.
Note: SCAM support by default is off in versions 4.09 and later.
* * * * * * * * * * When Using ASPI8XX.SYS * * * * * * * * *
If you are using ASPI8XX.SYS, you must disable SCAM when ASPI8XX.SYS is
loaded on the command line. If you are using ASPI8XX.SYS with the SDMS 4.XX BIOS,
you must first disable SCAM using the SDMS 4.XX BIOS Configuration utility so
that ASPI8XX.SYS accepts the /SCAM=OFF switch. For example in the CONFIG.SYS
file, type the following:
device=c:\symbios\aspi8xx.sys /SCAM=OFF<>
Note: SCAM support by default is off in versions 4.04 and later.
* * * Supported DOS Drivers * * *
The SDMS 3.XX BIOS and SDMS 4.XX BIOS are both supported by the SDMS 4.XX
ASPI8XX.SYS 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. The following is a
list of DOS drivers currently supported by the SYM8XXNW.HAM driver:
* * ASPI8XX.SYS * *
The ASPI8XX.SYS driver provides an interface that allows support of non-disk
devices. ASPI8XX.SYS is not required for NetWare support if you are not using
the SDMS 3.XX BIOS. It is required for NetWare installation, if you are using a
SCSI CD-ROM device that is attached to a Symbios controller.
* * SYMCD.SYS * *
To install the NetWare operating system from CD-ROM, you must load the
SYMCD.SYS driver with ASPI8XX.SYS. Once the NetWare operating system
installation is complete, CDROM.SYS is not needed. The NetWare NWPA
environment provides support for SCSI CD-ROMs under NetWare.
* * MSCDEX.EXE * *
The MSCDEX.EXE driver (provided with DOS) is required in conjunction with
SYMCD.SYS to install NetWare from a CD-ROM. A recommended name to assign
to the CD-ROM device is MSCD001.
* * SYMDISK.SYS * *
The SYMDISK.SYS driver provides support for removable media devices under
DOS. While you may load this driver in the DOS environment, it 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. The installation of NetWare from a SCSI CD-ROM.
2. If you are using an SDMS 3.XX BIOS.
* * * * * * * * * * When Using No SDMS BIOS * * * * * * * *
The SYM8XXNW.HAM driver operates 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.