SCSI Device Settings

The SCSI device settings allow you to configure certain parameters for each device on the SCSI bus. To configure a specific device, you must know the SCSI ID assigned to that device. If you are not sure of the SCSI ID, see “Using the SCSI Disk Utilities” found later in this section.

Initiate Sync Negotiation. This option determines whether the host adapter initiates synchronous data transfer negotiation (sync negotiation) between itself and the device. The default setting is Yes.

The host adapter always responds to sync negotia- tion if the SCSI device initiates it. If neither the host adapter nor the SCSI device initiates sync negotia- tion, data is transferred asynchronously.

Normally, you should leave the Initiate Sync Negoti- ation setting enabled, because most SCSI devices support sync negotiation and because it allows for faster data transfer.

NOTE: Some older SCSI-1 devices do not support sync negotiation. This may cause your computer to operate erratically or hang if Initiate Sync Negotia- tion is set to Yes. Set Initiate Sync Negotiation to No for these devices.

Maximum Sync Transfer Rate. This option sets the maximum synchronous data transfer rate that the host adapter supports. The host adapter supports rates up to the maximum of 40 megabytes per second (MB/sec). The default setting is 40 MB/sec (the maximum).

If the host adapter is set to not negotiate for synchro- nous data transfer, the maximum synchronous transfer rate is the maximum rate that the host adapter accepts from the device during negotiation. (This is standard SCSI protocol.)

Enable Disconnection. This option (sometimes called disconnect/reconnect) determines whether the host adapter allows the SCSI device to disconnect from the SCSI bus. Enabling disconnection allows the host adapter to perform other operations on the SCSI bus while the SCSI device is temporarily dis- connected. The default setting is Yes.

Leave Enable Disconnection set to Yes if two or more SCSI devices are connected to the host adapter. This optimizes SCSI bus performance. If only one

SCSI device is connected to the host adapter, set Enable Disconnection to No to achieve slightly bet- ter performance.

Initiate Wide Negotiation. This option determines whether the host adapter attempts 16-bit data transfer instead of 8-bit data transfer. The default setting is Yes.

NOTE: Some 8-bit SCSI devices may have trouble handling wide negotiation, which may result in erratic behavior or a hang condition. For these devices, set Initiate Wide Negotiation to No.

When this option is set to Yes, the host adapter attempts 16-bit transfer. When this option is set to No, 8-bit data transfer is used unless the SCSI device itself requests wide negotiation. The effective trans- fer rate is doubled when 16-bit data transfer is used because the data path for wide SCSI is twice the size of normal 8-bit SCSI.

Send Start Unit Command. This option determines whether the start unit command is sent to the SCSI device at boot. The default setting is Yes.

Setting this option to Yes reduces the load on your computer’s power supply by allowing the host adapter to start SCSI devices one at a time when you boot your computer. When this option is set to No, the devices are allowed to start at the same time. Most devices require you to set a jumper before they can respond to this command.

NOTE: For many devices, if Send Start Unit Com- mand is set to Yes, the boot time will vary depending on how long it takes each drive to start.

Advanced Host Adapter Settings

The advanced host adapter settings should not be changed unless absolutely necessary. Dell sets these val- ues and changing them may cause conflicts with the SCSI devices.

Host Adapter BIOS. This option enables or disables the host adapter BIOS. The default setting is Enabled.

NOTE: Several SCSISelect options are not valid unless the host adapter BIOS is enabled.

If you are booting from a SCSI hard-disk drive con- nected to the host adapter, the BIOS must be enabled.

Installing and Configuring SCSI Drivers

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Dell 2100/200, 2100/180 manual Scsi Device Settings, Advanced Host Adapter Settings

2100/180, 2100/200 specifications

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