DOCUMENT ID:  1132-02

SYNOPSIS:     Installation of IDE hard drives under Solaris x86

OS RELEASE:   

PRODUCT:      Solaris x86

KEYWORDS:     install IDE hard drive kernel


DESCRIPTION:

The operating system will not boot after successful loading and
configuring of the UNIX kernel. 


SOLUTION:

AT interface (IDE) hard drives often implement BIOS translation schemes
that allow using standard, non-user defined, drive types that are chosen
from the BIOS tables and written to CMOS memory.  Since UNIX does not
use BIOS services during operation, this may cause a communication gap. 
Some users, when adding a second hard drive, may not know how to
configure the drive array for a master/slave configuration, and this
could prevent booting as well. 

Workaround -

Use the manufacturer's data sheet to determine the proper jumpering and
geometry for each hard drive.  Also use the user-definable CMOS entry
whenever possible and make sure that the UNIX FDISK utility agrees with
these parameters.  See the UNIX man pages for a thorough explanation of
the -g and -G options to fdisk.  Lastly,

             ****  DO NOT LOW-LEVEL FORMAT  ****

any IDE hard drive and keep the data cable lengths short.


Background -

Most IDE drives have one or more of the following jumpers: ACT, C/D,
DSP, HOST SLV/ACT, HSP, CS, DS, SL, and/or MA. 

HSP, when jumpered, takes the HOST/SLAVE/ACTIVE signal on the IDE
interface to be active low.  This tells the system that a slave drive is
present in a two-drive system. 

C/D is also often referred to as DS and is the drive-select jumper. 
Remove this jumper for the secondary (slave) drive and make sure is set
on the primary (master) drive. 

DSP should only be jumpered on the first drive if two IDE drives are
installed in the same system.  This jumper tells the master drive that
there is another drive present on the IDE cable. 

The ACT jumper connects the -ACTIVE signal to the -HOST SLV/ACT signal
on the interface.  This signal is often used to power an external
drive-activity light. 

Please note that two drives from different manufacturers may not be able
to co-exist on the same bus and that Compaq-specific drives may not be
used with the normal PC/AT IDE interface.  The specification
documentation that you manufacturer provides will be your best source of
information. 


DATE APPROVED: 10/10/95