SCSI-controller - Phase A2040/60: HDD-size

Iznougoud · 14 November 2008, 16:22

Anyone know what the hardware-limitation of the Phase5 A2040/60 SCSI-controller is when it comes to large disks? Given your using a filesystem that's up to the task, what are the largest physical disks and partititons you can use with that particular controller?

Zetr0 · 14 November 2008, 17:16

@Iznougoud

Hmm i am pretty sure it the same SCSI controller that is on the CyberSCSI Mk2 so any disk really, the limmitation comes from the filesystem.

Toni Wilen · 14 November 2008, 17:34

SCSI controller won't care about disk sizes but device driver still can have bugs in device io <> SCSI conversion routines like arithmetic overflows.

Filesystem with direct-scsi: generally no device driver restrictions.

Without direct-scsi: difficult question, too many variables like device driver version.. (especially older ones may have issues)

zipper · 14 November 2008, 19:30

It has a line in OS 3.5/3.9 NSD patch to make it to work at least to 128 GB.

Iznougoud · 14 November 2008, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipper

It has a line in OS 3.5/3.9 NSD patch to make it to work at least to 128 GB.

So using, say, SFS under AOS3.9 and that SCSI-controller, what "safe" partition sizes are we talking here? Speaking of which, can that controller handle "modern" disks such as 68-PIN Ultra320 (using a converter), or is it restricted to SCSI II only?

zipper · 14 November 2008, 22:03

SCSI III etc should be no problem with the right converters; I had a 50pin SCSI III drive on it with no problems and it was a little faster than SCSI II drivers, very near the theoretical max 10 MB/s of the controller. Just kept the boot partition under 2 GB to be safe, then free hands upto 128 GB. Just had to remember that over 4 GB area is available after the OS has been patched. Ultra drives just need to support SE mode to work in backwards compatible way.

Iznougoud · 15 November 2008, 01:40

I was thinking in the lines of something like this; http://www.webhallen.com/prod.php?id=72489 - far more silent operation than my present 4.2Gb SCSI II-HDD and with some added storage as a bonus. Not sure to what extent it's backwards compatible though, but from the looks of things this is what's available if you're not planning to buy second hand.

Jope · 16 November 2008, 10:40

Phase5 scsi devices are TD64 compatible out of the box. Use a suitable filesystem.

thomas · 16 November 2008, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipper

It has a line in OS 3.5/3.9 NSD patch to make it to work at least to 128 GB.

There is no such limit for SCSI. Next limit for current Amiga SCSI drivers is 2 TB (2^32 blocks of 512 bytes each).

Quote:

Phase5 scsi devices are TD64 compatible out of the box. Use a suitable filesystem.

Yes, that's correct. SFS supports TD64, too, so Phase5 + SFS is an ideal combination.

Quote:

So using, say, SFS under AOS3.9 and that SCSI-controller, what "safe" partition sizes are we talking here?

SFS has a partition size limit of 128 GB (note: partition size, not HDD size).

So you can use HDDs of up to 2TB with multiple partitions of 128 GB each.

Quote:

Speaking of which, can that controller handle "modern" disks such as 68-PIN Ultra320 (using a converter), or is it restricted to SCSI II only?

Yes, with the right adapters those disks should be downward compatible to SCSI2.

Iznougoud · 02 December 2008, 01:31

I've always liked the SCSI-controller of the 2040-board. But now I think I've fallen in love with it - what a joy it is, when compared to the IDE-controllers of the A1200/A4000.. Thanks for all your help

14 November 2008, 16:22	#1
Iznougoud Quite the odd one Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 180	SCSI-controller - Phase A2040/60: HDD-size Anyone know what the hardware-limitation of the Phase5 A2040/60 SCSI-controller is when it comes to large disks? Given your using a filesystem that's up to the task, what are the largest physical disks and partititons you can use with that particular controller?

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14 November 2008, 17:16	#2
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	@Iznougoud Hmm i am pretty sure it the same SCSI controller that is on the CyberSCSI Mk2 so any disk really, the limmitation comes from the filesystem.

14 November 2008, 17:34	#3
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,546	SCSI controller won't care about disk sizes but device driver still can have bugs in device io <> SCSI conversion routines like arithmetic overflows. Filesystem with direct-scsi: generally no device driver restrictions. Without direct-scsi: difficult question, too many variables like device driver version.. (especially older ones may have issues)

14 November 2008, 19:30	#4
zipper Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: finland Posts: 1,841	It has a line in OS 3.5/3.9 NSD patch to make it to work at least to 128 GB.

14 November 2008, 22:03	#6
zipper Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: finland Posts: 1,841	SCSI III etc should be no problem with the right converters; I had a 50pin SCSI III drive on it with no problems and it was a little faster than SCSI II drivers, very near the theoretical max 10 MB/s of the controller. Just kept the boot partition under 2 GB to be safe, then free hands upto 128 GB. Just had to remember that over 4 GB area is available after the OS has been patched. Ultra drives just need to support SE mode to work in backwards compatible way.

15 November 2008, 01:40	#7
Iznougoud Quite the odd one Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 180	I was thinking in the lines of something like this; http://www.webhallen.com/prod.php?id=72489 - far more silent operation than my present 4.2Gb SCSI II-HDD and with some added storage as a bonus. Not sure to what extent it's backwards compatible though, but from the looks of things this is what's available if you're not planning to buy second hand.

16 November 2008, 10:40	#8
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,885	Phase5 scsi devices are TD64 compatible out of the box. Use a suitable filesystem.

02 December 2008, 01:31	#10
Iznougoud Quite the odd one Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 180	I've always liked the SCSI-controller of the 2040-board. But now I think I've fallen in love with it - what a joy it is, when compared to the IDE-controllers of the A1200/A4000.. Thanks for all your help

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