Initio INI-9100UW user manual B DOS Space 1GB, MS-DOS, OS/2 & Windows NT, NetWare, Sco Unix, 12-4

B:DOS Space > 1GB

The default disk head mapping for Initio SCSI host adapter is 64 heads and 32 sectors. Under this configuration, the MS-DOS limit is 1024 cylinders per drive. This translates to a maximum accessible capacity of 1 GBytes per drive. By changing the head mapping to 255 heads and 63 sectors, the "DOS Space > 1GB" option can support disk capacities up to 8 GBytes under MS-DOS.

Warning: If you have already installed the operating system on your hard drives, changing the head mapping will corrupt your files and cause other unexpected problems. Before changing any "DOS Space > 1GB" option setting, please back up your disk drives. Then you should run the FDISK utility to delete all the partitions on your selected disk drive. At this point you can switch the setting, reinstall the operating system, and restore your backed up files.

All device drivers for the INI-9100U/9100UW Host Adapter will support different head mappings based on the setting of "DOS Space > 1GB" option.

MS-DOS, OS/2 & Windows NT

Under MS-DOS, OS/2 & Windows NT, we recommend you enable "DOS Space > 1GB" option if your SCSI hard disk has more than 1 GByte capacity.

NetWare 386

NetWare does not have a 1 GByte barrier. Therefore, the "DOS Space > 1GB" option is not required to be enabled; however, you must verify the boot partition is located below 19100UW4 cylinders. If the size of your boot partition is greater than 1 GByte or the location of the boot partition is beyond 1 GByte, you should enable the "DOS Space > 1GB" option.

SCO UNIX

SCO UNIX does not have a 1 GByte barrier. Therefore, the "DOS Space > 1GB" option is not required to be enabled; however, you must make sure the root file system is located below 19100UW4 cylinders in order to perform the kernel boot routines. If the size of the root file system is greater than 1 GByte or the location of root file system is beyond 1 GByte, you should enable the "DOS Space > 1GB" option.

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