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CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:51 am
by drbrain
I was testing my spare CSPPC today (a 200MHz + 060) with OS4.1 Classic (Gold and Update4).
But I can't seem to boot OS4.1 from my SCSI HDD connected to the CSPPC.
At cold boot it loads the OS4.1 kernel etc just fine and then reboots.
But after the reboot it can't find anything on the SCSI-chain, holding both mouse buttons and looking in the Early Startup Menu there's no partitions in the "Boot Options", only DF0.
The card boots OS3.9 just fine from the same HDD and works great there.
If I use my main CSPPC (330Mhz + 060) with the same SCSI HDD + cables etc it works fine and boots OS4.1 as it should.

Any ideas what could be wrong?
Seems strange it boots OS3.9 without problems and loads OS4.1 but after first reboot can't find anything on the HDD...

// Fredrik

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:30 pm
by Slayer
So you're saying your first card works fine?

Does this back up card have the same settings? have the same firmware revision? Is it terminated in the same manner etc etc

I haven't got my A4000PPC up and running at the moment but I'm sure Darren/Carl will be along shortly to offer more insight but I think these questions will do for a start :)

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:53 pm
by drbrain
My main CSPPC (330Mhz+060) works just fine... it boots OS3.9 and OS4.1 as it should and works great.

Then if I replace that CSPPC with my spare (200MHz+060), still in the same A4000 with same HDD, cables, zorro/PCI cards etc. It's only the CSPPC that's been replaced.
It boots OS3.9 just fine and works as expected there.
I then try to boot from the OS4.1-partition and it loads from the HDD for ~10 seconds and then reboots just as it should. But after reboot there is no partitions visible in the early startup.

Both cards have the same firmware (v44.67) and they have exactly the same settings in the PPC-bootmenu regarding SCSI, RAM (both set to 70ns) etc..

This is how it looks in Early startup menu after a cold boot...
Image

And this is early startup after it has loaded the OS4.1 kernel...
Image

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:43 am
by DarrenHD
drbrain wrote:My main CSPPC (330Mhz+060) works just fine... it boots OS3.9 and OS4.1 as it should and works great.

Then if I replace that CSPPC with my spare (200MHz+060), still in the same A4000 with same HDD, cables, zorro/PCI cards etc. It's only the CSPPC that's been replaced.
It boots OS3.9 just fine and works as expected there.
I then try to boot from the OS4.1-partition and it loads from the HDD for ~10 seconds and then reboots just as it should. But after reboot there is no partitions visible in the early startup.

Both cards have the same firmware (v44.67) and they have exactly the same settings in the PPC-bootmenu regarding SCSI, RAM (both set to 70ns) etc..

This is how it looks in Early startup menu after a cold boot...
Image

And this is early startup after it has loaded the OS4.1 kernel...
Image
I'm assuming you read the FAQ thoroughly? The common problems are no boot priority, no proper RDB, boot partition larger or outside of 4GB, or even inside 2GB to be safe.

YOu can also specify BootDevice by creating that file in the kickstart folder and adding it to the Kicklayout, so if you have a multi-boot partition with 3.9 and 4.x you can tell 4.x to boot the proper partition after the kernel loads and resets.

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:55 am
by drbrain
I've read the FAQ and as the same HDD works fine with my main CSPPC it's a bit weird...

But i guess i could try with a different HDD and do a clean install.. not that I think it would help but it's worth a try...

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:22 pm
by Calgor
EDIT: Removed info telling you to check the ROM settings as you already said they are identical ;) Note to self: read entire thread first..

However if the RAM on the two boards is not identical then you might need less aggressive RAM settings in the BIOS - 70ns (already set) with extra waitstates? Bad RAM? But doubt that is a problem.

The 060 is running at the same speed on both cards?

Did you try intensive PPC programs in OS3.9 to give the PPC CPU a workout in the non-working in OS4.x PPC card?

I agree it does seem strange given the settings are so similar.

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:55 am
by drbrain
Calgor wrote:EDIT: Removed info telling you to check the ROM settings as you already said they are identical ;) Note to self: read entire thread first..

However if the RAM on the two boards is not identical then you might need less aggressive RAM settings in the BIOS - 70ns (already set) with extra waitstates? Bad RAM? But doubt that is a problem.

The 060 is running at the same speed on both cards?

Did you try intensive PPC programs in OS3.9 to give the PPC CPU a workout in the non-working in OS4.x PPC card?

I agree it does seem strange given the settings are so similar.
I've tried different RAM sticks, still same problem.
The 060 is clocked at 50MHz on the card with problems... (my main, fully working CSPPC, has PPC@330MHz and 060@60MHz)

I installed OS4.1 on an IDE HDD connected to the internal IDE-port in the A4000... booting from that works fine as well as playing around in OS4.1 so the PPC-side on the card is working as it should.
But connecting anything to the SCSI is a big no-no... :(

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:55 pm
by DarrenHD
drbrain wrote:
Calgor wrote:EDIT: Removed info telling you to check the ROM settings as you already said they are identical ;) Note to self: read entire thread first..

However if the RAM on the two boards is not identical then you might need less aggressive RAM settings in the BIOS - 70ns (already set) with extra waitstates? Bad RAM? But doubt that is a problem.

The 060 is running at the same speed on both cards?

Did you try intensive PPC programs in OS3.9 to give the PPC CPU a workout in the non-working in OS4.x PPC card?

I agree it does seem strange given the settings are so similar.
I've tried different RAM sticks, still same problem.
The 060 is clocked at 50MHz on the card with problems... (my main, fully working CSPPC, has PPC@330MHz and 060@60MHz)

I installed OS4.1 on an IDE HDD connected to the internal IDE-port in the A4000... booting from that works fine as well as playing around in OS4.1 so the PPC-side on the card is working as it should.
But connecting anything to the SCSI is a big no-no... :(
Well that is very strange. I'm afraid I don't have any further tips to give you... If possible though try a different scsi hard disk...just something to try for that CS PPC. I have two CS PPC's with SCSI and they are both OK. My 3rd CS PPC the SCSI doesn't work properly in OS 4.1 because it's an overclocked board. SCSI works fine in OS 3.x though as it's driven by the 68K side, not the PPC side.

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:12 am
by Calgor
Can you please describe exactly your scsi chain including termination and termination power.
A lof of people have an incorrectly setup scsi chain that luckily works in their configuration.
Also, it might not be a good idea to get the termination power from the csppc as it is such an old board.

Re: CSPPC SCSI problems

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:46 am
by drbrain
Terminator - CSPPC - UWSCSI HDD (with termpwr on) - Terminator

I've tried three different cables and four different terminators (all working fine with my main CSPPC) but none will work with OS4.1 on this card...
I've also tried four different firmwares on the CSPPC too... v44.57, v44.67, v44.69 and v44.71 (all the same, OS3.x works but not OS4.x)