Re: [IIGS]Hard drive

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

JVernet <jeromevernet@hotmail.com> wrote:

> "David Empson" <dempson@actrix.gen.nz> a �crit dans le message news:
> 1f8q3sb.1oqio08qdu0xmN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz...
> > Jerome Vernet <jeromevernet@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > My AIIGS got an SCSI CARD (Model 607-0291-C, i think it's a Rev C).
> >
> > I'm not familiar with the model numbers, but your later description (8
> > jumper positions) agrees that this is the original Apple SCSI card.
> >
> > The firmware revision can be identified by looking at the part number on
> > the EPROM label:
> >
> > 341-0112A is revision A
> > 341-0112B is revision B
> > 341-0437-A is revision C
> I check that. EPROM doesn't have any of these number. Or may be i made a
> mistake: the eprom is the big chip with a  metal sticker glued on it ? Dos i
> have to remove this sticker to see the label ?

The metal sticker is the label.  Don't remove it.

If it doesn't have anything written on it then it isn't the official
Apple ROM.  It was probably burned from an image file by the previous
owner.  This will make it harder to identify which version it is.

If you are able to boot GS/OS and it has the SCSI drivers installed,
then it will display an error message during startup if the card has
revision A or B firmware.  It won't display anything if the firmware is
revision C - it will just work.

> Okay, in fact, the first partition (after driver and partition table) is a
> HFS partition. I can move partition with the mac tools, so i'll do that. But
> i can't format the GS partition with PRODOS, as my SE/30 dont let me doing
> that. The formatter toos have no Prodos Format option.

In that case, create at least one 32 MB partition at the start of the
drive, formatted as HFS.  You will be able to erase it on the IIgs and
change it to ProDOS.

> the drive is an 2.4 Gb Fireball.

What 8-bit software are you intending to use with the hard drive?  I'd
suggest two 32 MB partitions as a starting point, but you might want
more if you have a lot of 8-bit software.

You might also want to set up a secondary HFS partition for use by IIgs
native software and/or transferring files between the Mac and IIgs.

The IIgs implementation of HFS is a little buggy (there is a patch to
fix one serious problem), and it would be a good idea to avoid writing
to the Mac partition from the IIgs (unless you regularly run a Mac disk
repair utility over it, e.g. Disk First Aid or Norton Utilities).


i.e.

First 32 MB partition (must be first) for ProDOS - will contain IIgs
system software (as well as applications and data files as appropriate).

Second 32 MB partition for ProDOS - extra storage space.

Third partition (HFS), of whatever size is convenient, which will be
used for IIgs-specific files under GS/OS and for file transfer.

Fourth partition (HFS), for the Mac.  This will be the largest one.

> > 4. Something has to provide power for the SCSI termination.  This is not
> > a standard feature of older Apple SCSI cards, so it is easiest to use a
> > drive mechanism which has the option of supplying termination power.
> > (This is also more reliable, as having the computer supply termination
> > power may impose a heavy load on the power supply.)
> ? I dont know if the drive have this feature.

The earlier Quantum drive models I own (LPS 240 and Trailblazer 850)
both supply termination power, so there is a good chance that your
Fireball will as well.

The only way to tell for certain is to inspect the circuitry for the
expected components: there should be a 1A fuse and a diode, probably
with a capacitor, which supplies +5V to the TERMPWR line on the SCSI
bus.  If you don't know what to look for, another option is to use a
voltmeter to check whether termination power is present with everything
connected and switched on.

I'd have to dig out some documentation to find out which pin in TERMPWR.

> > 5. The SCSI card and drive must be set to different IDs.  Assuming your
> > SE/30 has the standard configuration, then the Mac is ID 7 and its
> > internal SCSI drive is ID 0, so the external drive can be set to any ID
> > from 1 to 6.  You should set the Apple II SCSI card to be ID 7 (jumper
> > connecting the innermost pair - pins 8 and 9 on the 16 pin header).
> External drive is set to 2. The wheel is broken, as i canot change this
> number ;-).
> I will check the jumper. Actually, it is on the rightmost position of the
> card (0, I thought).

Sorry, by "innermost", I meant "furthest away from the edge of the
card".  This is the rightmost position.  (The corner pin numbers are
printed on the legend, which is why I mentioned pins 8 and 9.)

The card is supplied by Apple with the jumper in this position (ID 7),
and there is unlikely to be a good reason to change it.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz