Sorry for the late summary. I've included my original post at the end
of this message.
Most respondents suggested my inability to use the Digital floppy
drive, RX23L, was due to the fact the ribbon cable was installed
incorrectly. The ribbon cable supplied by Digital has very clear
markings on either end, one has "CONTROLLER END", the other "DRIVE
END". The workstation was shipped with the "DRIVE END" attached to the
mother-board! In an unrelated situation, the workstation was also
shipped with the internal speaker cable un-attached, but that's
another story.
I tried swapping the "CONTROLLER" and "DRIVE" ends without
success. Finally after trying two different spare (non-Digital) ribbon
cables I found one which worked. Both were unkeyed, by the way. Lastly
just as a test, we snipped off the key on Digital's "DRIVE END" which
dictated the orientation the connector was to use and reversed it,
voila, it worked!
I'd like to thank all those who responded:
Miguel Avillez <mavillez_at_ast.man.ac.uk>
Sean O'Connell <sto_at_stat.Duke.EDU>
Greg Merrell <greg_at_netuser.com>
Werner Hahling <Werner.Hahling_at_jcu.edu.au>
Paul Tyler <pct_at_atom.ansto.gov.au>
barnwell_at_jbsvax.eksystems.com
Andre Delafontaine <delaand_at_pigeon.echostar.com>
Jim Neeland <neeland_at_madmax.hrl.hac.com>
-- bb
> Digital screwed up and did not factory install a floppy, RX23L, in a
> DEC ALPHAstation 255/233 we received recently. I'm trying to install
> it now, but have some questions about it.
>
> The disk came with documentation which indicates that Digital uses
> multiple hardware suppliers (Teac, Mitsubishi, Citizen, Mitsumi,
> Yasakawa) for drives. Unfortunately my disk did not match any of
> figures Digital supplied in the documentation to aid the user in
> determining the proper jumper settings. The only one which is not
> pictured is the Mitsumi and so I am assuming the drive sent is
> manufactured by Mitsumi. However, Digital did not bother to specify
> list the jumper settings for the Mitsumi drive either. The
> documentation clearly states "the jumpers set at the factory for
> proper operation on personal computers."
>
> Using the anemic documentation provided by Digital I connected the
> "date" and "power" cables using the only ribbon and power cables
> remaining inside the workstation. Also installed are a SEAGATE
> ST15150N (rz0), and a RZ26F (rz3).
>
> When I power up the system the indicator light on the floppy stays
> on *all* the time. I would have assumed the light would only come on
> when the drive was being accessed. Is the way the drive is supposed
> to operate?
>
> I added the following lines to my configuration file:
>
> controller fdi0 at isa0 slot 5
> device disk fd0 at fdi0 drive 0
> device disk fd1 at fdi0 drive 1
>
> I then rebuilt the kernel and rebooted. I see the following during
> boot:
>
> Mar 15 10:31:45 ***** vmunix: fdi0 at isa0
> Mar 15 10:31:45 ***** vmunix: fd0 at fdi0 unit 0
> Mar 15 10:31:45 ***** vmunix: fd1 at fdi0 unit 1
>
> I also did a MAKEDEV for fd[01].
>
> <snip..>
>
> I'd appreciate any assistance.
Received on Fri Mar 28 1997 - 15:58:45 NZST