Adaptec AVA-2906 User Manual

USER’S
GUIDE

R

ADAPTEC SCSI CARD 2906

Copyright

© 2001 Adaptec, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the
prior written consent of Adaptec, Inc., 691 South Milpitas Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035.

Trademarks

Adaptec and the Adaptec logo are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc., which may be
registered in some jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.

Changes

The material in this document is for information only and is subject to change
without notice. While reasonable efforts have been made in the preparation of this
document to assure its accuracy, Adaptec, Inc. assumes no liability resulting from
errors or omissions in this document, or from the use of the information contained
herein.

Adaptec reserves the right to make changes in the product design without
reservation and without notification to its users.

Disclaimer

IF THIS PRODUCT DIRECTS YOU TO COPY MATERIALS, YOU MUST HAVE
PERMISSION FROM THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OF THE MATERIALS TO AVOID
VIOLATING THE LAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN DAMAGES OR OTHER
REMEDIES.

ii

Adaptec Customer Support

If you have questions about installing or using your Adaptec product, check this
document first—you will find answers to most of your questions here. If you need
further assistance, use the support options listed below.

Technical Support Identification (TSID) Number

■ Before contacting Technical Support, you’ll need your TSID. The TSID helps us

provide more efficient service by accurately identifying your product and
support status. The 12-digit TSID can be found on the white barcode-type label
included inside the box with your product.

■ Affix your TSID label here:

Support Options

■ Search the Adaptec Support Knowledgebase (ASK) at http://ask.adaptec.com for

articles, troubleshooting tips, and frequently asked questions for your product.

■ For support via Email, submit your question to Adaptec’s Technical Support

Specialists at

North America

■ Visit our Web site at http://www.adaptec.com.

■ For information about Adaptec’s support options, call [phone], 24 hours

per day, 7 days per week. To speak with a Technical Support Specialist,

■ For Hardware products call [phone],

Monday to Friday, 3:00

■ For RAID and Fibre Channel products call [phone]

Monday to Friday, 3:00

To expedite your service, have your computer in front of you.

■

To order Adaptec products, including accessories and cables, call [phone].

http://ask.adaptec.com.

A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Pacific Time.

A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Pacific Time.

iii

Europe

■ Visit our Web site at http://www.adaptec-europe.com.

■ English and French: To speak with a Technical Support Specialist, call one of the

following numbers, Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 17:30;
Friday, 10:00 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:30, Central European Time:

■ English: [phone]

■ French: [phone]

To expedite your service, have your computer in front of you.

■ German: To speak with a Technical Support Specialist, call [phone],

Monday to Thursday, 9:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:30; Friday, 9:30 to 12:30 and
13:30 to 15:00, Central European Time. To expedite your service, have your
computer in front of you.

■

To order Adaptec products, including accessories and cables, call [phone].

Australia and New Zealand

■ Visit our Web site at http://www.adaptec.com.au.

■ To speak with a Technical Support Specialist, call [phone],

Monday to Friday, 10:00

A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Eastern Australia Time. To expedite

your service, have your computer in front of you.

Hong Kong and China

■ Visit our Web site at http://www.adaptec.com.

■ To speak with a Technical Support Specialist, call [phone],

Monday to Friday, 10:00

A.M. to 5:00 P.M. To expedite your service, have your

computer in front of you.

■ Fax Technical Support at [phone].

Singapore

■ Visit our Web site at http://www.adaptec.com.

■ To speak with a Technical Support Specialist, call [phone],

Monday to Friday, 10:00

A.M. to 5:00 P.M. To expedite your service, have your

computer in front of you.

Japan

■ Visit our Web site at http://www.adaptec.co.jp.

■ To speak with a Technical Support Specialist, call [phone]

Monday–Friday, 9:00

A.M. to 12:00 P.M and 1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

iv

Limited 5-Year Hardware Warranty

1. Adaptec, Inc. (“Adaptec”) warrants to the purchaser of this product that it will
be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of five (5) years
from the date of purchase. If the product should become defective within the
warranty period, Adaptec, at its option, will repair or replace the product, or
refund the purchaser’s purchase price for the product, provided it is delivered at
the purchaser’s expense to an authorized Adaptec service facility or to Adaptec.

2. Repair or replacement parts or products will be furnished on an exchange basis
and will either be new or reconditioned. All replaced parts or products shall
become the property of Adaptec. This warranty shall not apply if the product
has been damaged by accident, misuse, abuse or as a result of unauthorized
service or parts.

3. Warranty service is available to the purchaser by delivering the product during
the warranty period to an authorized Adaptec service facility or to Adaptec and
providing proof of purchase price and date. The purchaser shall bear all
shipping, packing and insurance costs and all other costs, excluding labor and
parts, necessary to effectuate repair, replacement or refund under this warranty.

4. For more information on how to obtain warranty service, write or telephone
Adaptec at 691 South Milpitas Boulevard, Milpitas, CA 95035, [phone].

5. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY DOES NOT EXTEND TO ANY PRODUCT
WHICH HAS BEEN DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF ACCIDENT, MISUSE,
ABUSE, OR AS A RESULT OF UNAUTHORIZED SERVICE OR PARTS.

6. THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTIES
WHICH NOW OR HEREAFTER MIGHT OTHERWISE ARISE RESPECT TO
THIS PRODUCT. IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON­INFRINGEMENT SHALL (A) HAVE NO GREATER DURATION THAN 5
YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, (B) TERMINATE
AUTOMATICALLY AT THE EXPIRATION OF SUCH PERIOD AND (C) TO
THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW BE EXCLUDED. IN THE EVENT THIS
PRODUCT BECOMES DEFECTIVE DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE
PURCHASER’S EXCLUSIVE REMEDY SHALL BE REPAIR, REPLACEMENT
OR REFUND AS PROVIDED ABOVE. INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOSS OF DATA, ARISING
FROM BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ARE NOT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF ADAPTEC AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW, ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED BOTH FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND TO
THE EXTENT NOT UNCONSCIONABLE, FOR PERSONAL INJURY
DAMAGE.

7. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR CONSUMER
PRODUCTS, AND SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW
LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR
EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

8. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state.

v

Adaptec Software License Agreement

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE IS SUBJECT TO THE SOFTWARE
LICENSE TERMS OF ADAPTEC, INC. AND OTHER LICENSORS WHOSE SOFTWARE MAY
BE BUNDLED WITH THIS PRODUCT.

BY YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE INCLUDED WITH THIS PRODUCT YOU AGREE TO
THE LICENSE TERMS REQUIRED BY THE LICENSOR OF THAT SOFTWARE, AS SET FORTH
DURING THE INSTALLATION PROCESS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE LICENSE
TERMS APPLICABLE TO THE SOFTWARE, YOU MAY RETURN THE ENTIRE UNUSED
PRODUCT FOR A FULL REFUND.

In return for acquiring a license to use the Adaptec software (“Software”) and the related
documentation, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. License. This Agreement grants you, the Licensee, a license to:

a. Use the Software on a single computer system or on multiple workstations, systems and

servers which incorporate an Adaptec RAID controller and may be accessed by multiple
users from multiple locations. You may make as many installations of the Software as
needed, but must restrict such installation only to systems, workstations or servers
using an Adaptec RAID controller.

b. Make one copy of the Software in machine readable form solely for back-up purposes

provided you reproduce Adaptec’s copyright notice and any proprietary legends.

2. Restrictions. You may not distribute copies of the Software to others. You may not post or
otherwise make available the Software, or any portion thereof, in any form, on the Internet.
You may not use the Software in a computer service business, including in time sharing
applications. The Software contains trade secrets and, in order to protect them, you may not
decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, or otherwise reduce the Software to a human­perceivable form. YOU MAY NOT MODIFY, ADAPT, TRANSLATE, RENT, LEASE, LOAN,
RESELL FOR PROFIT, DISTRIBUTE, NETWORK OR CREATE DERIVATIVE WORKS
BASED UPON THE SOFTWARE OR ANY PART THEREOF.

3. Ownership of Software. As Licensee, you own the media upon which the software is
recorded or fixed, but Adaptec and its licensors retain title and ownership of the Software
recorded on the original media and all subsequent copies of the Software, regardless of the
form or media in which or on which the original and other copies may exist. This license is
not a sale of the Software or any copy.

4. Confidentiality. You agree to maintain the Software in confidence and that you will not
disclose the Software to any third party without the express written consent of Adaptec. You
further agree to take all reasonable precautions to preclude access of unauthorized persons
to the Software.

5. Term. This license is effective until January 1, 2045, unless terminated earlier. You may
terminate the license at any time by destroying the Software (including the related
documentation) together with all copies or modifications in any form. Adaptec will have the
right to terminate our license immediately if you fail to comply with any term or condition
of this Agreement. Upon any termination, including termination by you, you must destroy
the Software (including the related documentation), together with all copies or
modifications in any form.

6. Special Terms Applicable to Databases. Where a database is included with the Software, you
acknowledge that it is licensed only in connection with the use of the Software to perform
disc creation, and that the database and all data derived therefrom must be maintained in
confidence in accordance with the provisions of Section 4. This license does not grant you
any rights to distribute or disclose such database or data.

vi

7. Limited Warranty. Adaptec and its Licensor warrant only that the media upon which the
Software is furnished will be free from defects in material or workmanship under normal
use and service for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of delivery to you. ADAPTEC
AND ITS LICENSORS DO NOT AND CANNOT WARRANT THE PERFORMANCE OR
RESULTS YOU MAY OBTAIN BY USING THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION. THE
FOREGOING STATES THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES ADAPTEC AND ITS
LICENSORS WILL PROVIDE FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY. EXCEPT FOR THE
FOREGOING LIMITED WARRANTY, ADAPTEC AND ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED, AS TO
NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some states do not allow the exclusion of implied
warranties or limitations on how long an implied warranty may last, so the above
limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may
also have other rights which vary from state to state.

8. The entire liability of Adaptec and its licensors, and your exclusive remedy for a breach of
this warranty, shall be:

a. The replacement of any media not meeting the above limited warranty which is

returned to Adaptec; or:

b. If Adaptec or its distributor is unable to deliver replacement media which is free from

defects in materials or workmanship, you may terminate this Agreement by returning
the Software and your money will be refunded.

9. Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT WILL ADAPTEC OR ITS LICENSORS BE LIABLE TO
YOU FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES,
INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, OR LOSS OF DATA, EVEN IF
ADAPTEC OR A LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY. Some states do not allow the
exclusion or limitation of special, incidental, or consequential damages, so the above
limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

10. Export. You acknowledge that the laws and regulations of the United States and other
countries may restrict the export and re-export of the Software. You agree that you will not
export or re-export the Software or documentation in any form in violation of applicable
United States and foreign law.

11. Government Restricted Rights. The Software is subject to restricted rights as follows. If the
Software is acquired under the terms of a GSA contract: use, reproduction or disclosure is
subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable ADP Schedule contract. If the Software is
acquired under the terms of a DoD or civilian agency contract, use, duplication or disclosure
by the Government is subject to the restrictions of this Agreement in accordance with
48 C.F.R. 12.212
49 C.F.R. 227.7202-1

12. General. You acknowledge that you have read this Agreement, understand it, and that by
using the Software you agree to be bound by its terms and conditions. You further agree that
it is the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between Adaptec and you, and
supersedes any proposal or prior agreement, oral or written, and any other communication
between Adaptec and you relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. No additional or
any different terms will be enforceable against Adaptec unless Adaptec gives its express
consent, including an express waiver of the terms of this Agreement, in writing signed by an
officer of Adaptec. You assume full responsibility for the use of the Software and agree to
use the Software legally and responsibly. This Agreement shall be governed by California
law, except as to copyright matters, which are covered by Federal law. This Agreement is
deemed entered into at Milpitas, California by both parties. Should any provision of this
Agreement be declared unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be
deemed severable from this Agreement and shall not affect the remainder hereof. All rights
in the Software not specifically granted in this Agreement are reserved by Adaptec.

Should you have any questions concerning this Agreement, you may contact Adaptec by
writing to:

Adaptec, Inc.
Legal Department
691 South Milpitas Boulevard
Milpitas, California 95035.

of the Federal Acquisition Regulations and its successors and

of the DoD FAR Supplement and its successors.

vii

Regulatory Compliance Statements

Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement

WARNING: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and
can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. However, if this
equipment does cause interference to radio or television equipment reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

■ Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

■ Increase the separation between equipment and receiver.

■ Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the

receiver is connected.

■ Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.

■ Use a shielded and properly grounded I/O cable and power cable to ensure

compliance of this unit to the specified limits of the rules.

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Adaptec, Inc. SCSI Card 2906

Teste d to Co mp l y
With FCC Standards

FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE

European Union Compliance Statement

This Information Technology Equipment has been tested and found to comply with
the following European directives:

EMC Directive 89/336/EEC, as amended by 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC

EN50081-1 (1992)
EN55022 (1994) Class B
EN50082-1 (1992)
EN61000-4-2 (1998)
EN61000-4-3 (1998)
EN61000-4-4 (1995)
EN61000-4-5 (1995) Surges
EN61000-4-6 (1996) Conducted immunity
EN61000-4-11 (1994) Supply dips of variation

Australian/New Zealand Compliance Statement

This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3548 set out by
the Spectrum Management Agency.

viii

Canadian Compliance Statement

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference­Causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur
le matérial brouilleur du Canada.

Japanese Compliance (Voluntary Control Council Initiative)

ix

This

User’s Guide

and associated drivers in Windows

describes how to install the Adaptec® SCSI Card 2906

®

and Macintosh® computers. It
also describes how to install and connect your internal and external
SCSI devices.

Kit Contents

Your SCSI Card 2906 kit includes:

■ SCSI Card 2906

■ Standard 50-pin internal SCSI cable

■ SCSI Card 2906 CD, containing drivers, online documentation,

and other useful tools and information

■ Adaptec SCSISelect disk

■ Adaptec SCSI Card 2906 Installation Guide

If you plan to connect more than two internal SCSI devices, or one
or more external SCSI devices, to your computer, you will need
additional cables not included in this package.

1

Kit Contents

Installing the SCSI Card 2906

Note: If you are installing the SCSI Card 2906 into a Macintosh
computer, you must install the driver first. See Installing
Drivers – Macintosh on page 19.

Take these precautions before you begin installing your SCSI Card 2906:

■ Turn off the computer and disconnect the power cord.

■ Ground yourself by touching the chassis.

■ Always handle the SCSI card by its edges or metal bracket. Do

not touch the gold connector or any of the components on the
card.

To install the SCSI Card 2906

1 After turning off the computer and disconnecting the power

cord, open the computer cabinet. Refer to the computer’s
documentation for instructions.

2 Find an unused PCI expansion slot (typically white or ivory) in

the computer. Unscrew the expansion slot cover screw and
remove the slot cover to provide an opening, as shown. Save the
slot cover screw for use in Step 5.

Expansion slot cover PCI expansion slots

2

Kit Contents

3 Remove the SCSI Card 2906 card from its antistatic packaging.

Remember to handle the card by its edges.

4 Place the SCSI Card 2906 in the slot and press it down firmly

until the connector fingers are fully seated.

5 Secure the card bracket with the screw you removed in Step 3.

Screw

Bracket

Card bracket

Installing SCSI Devices

You can connect a total of seven SCSI devices to the SCSI Card

2906. If you are connecting more than two internal SCSI devices,
you will need an internal SCSI cable with enough connectors for all
devices.

The SCSI card, and each SCSI device (whether internal or external),
must have a unique SCSI ID. See Understanding SCSI on page 28
and refer to each device’s documentation for more information.

Note: The card’s SCSI ID is preset to 7 and should not be
changed.

3

Installing Internal SCSI Devices

Installing Internal SCSI Devices

You must prepare each internal SCSI device for installation. See
Preparing SCSI Devices for Installation on page 30 for detailed
instructions.

If you are installing only external devices, skip to Connecting
External SCSI Devices on page 7.

Note: If you are installing the SCSI Card 2906 into a Macintosh
computer, you must install the driver before you install any
SCSI devices. See Installing Drivers – Macintosh on page 19.

To install internal SCSI devices:

1 Take all precautions listed on page 2.

2 Ensure that each internal SCSI device has a unique SCSI ID.

Refer to the SCSI device’s documentation for instructions on
setting the SCSI ID. See SCSI IDs on page 28 for more
information.

3 Mount each SCSI device in an available drive bay inside your

computer, as shown in the next figure. Refer to the
documentation for your computer and SCSI devices for
installation instructions.

Note: If space is limited inside your computer, you may
have difficulty connecting SCSI and power supply cables
to your SCSI devices once they’re installed. Consider
completing these connections (Step 4 on page 5) before
installing the devices.

Internal SCSI device mounted
in the drive bay

4

Installing Internal SCSI Devices

4

Connect one end of the 50-pin internal SCSI cable to the SCSI connector
on the card, as shown in the next figure. Ensure that it fits snugly.

Make sure Pin 1 on the cable aligns with Pin 1 on the internal SCSI
device connector. Pin 1 is usually designated by a “1” or small triangle.

Blue or red stripe
denotes Pin 1

Standard 50-pin
internal SCSI cable
(included in kit)

Key

Pin 1 marking

Internal SCSI
connector

5 Connect the other end of the cable to the internal SCSI device, as

shown in the next figure.

Terminated internal
SCSI device

Internal SCSI cable

6 If you are installing one internal SCSI device only, you must

terminate this device, then skip to Step 9 on page 6.

Termination is usually controlled by installing or removing a SCSI
terminator. On some SCSI devices, you use a switch or button on
the back of the SCSI device. Refer to your SCSI device’s
documentation for termination instructions.
SCSI Bus on page 29 for more information

See Terminating the

.

5

Installing Internal SCSI Devices

If you are installing more than one internal SCSI device, continue
with the next step.

7 Connect all other internal SCSI devices, as shown.

Terminated internal SCSI device

Unterminated internal SCSI device

Internal SCSI cable

8 Terminate the device that is connected to the end of the cable.

Refer to the SCSI device’s documentation for instructions.

9 Connect a power cable from your computer’s power supply to

the power input connector on the SCSI device, as shown. Repeat
this step for each SCSI device.

Power input connector

Power cable

Power supply

If you are also installing external SCSI devices, skip to the next
section (Connecting External SCSI Devices).

6

Connecting External SCSI Devices

If you are installing internal SCSI devices only:

1 Replace the computer cabinet and reconnect the power cord to

the computer, then turn on the computer.

2 Install the software driver for your operating system. See

Installing Drivers – Windows on page 10 for detailed instructions.
(If your computer is running Macintosh, you should already have
installed the driver. See

3 Install any software included with your SCSI device.

Installing Drivers – Macintosh

on page 19

Connecting External SCSI Devices

You must prepare each external SCSI device for connection. See
Preparing SCSI Devices for Installation on page 30 for instructions.

For each external SCSI device you install, you need a high-quality
external SCSI cable. External SCSI cables are not included in the
SCSI Card 2906 kit.

Note: If you are installing the SCSI Card 2906 into a Macintosh
computer, you must install the driver before you install any
SCSI devices. See Installing Drivers – Macintosh on page 19.

.)

To connect external SCSI devices:

1 Take all precautions listed on page 2.

2 Ensure that each external SCSI device has a unique SCSI ID. For

most external SCSI devices, the SCSI ID is set with a switch on
the back of the device, as shown. See SCSI IDs on page 28 for
more information.

SCSI ID

7

Connecting External SCSI Devices

3

Connect one end of an external SCSI cable to the SCSI Card 2906
external SCSI connector as shown. Secure the cable by
tightening the thumb screws on the cable connector.

DB25-pin connector (female)

DB25-pin external SCSI cable (male)
(not included in kit)

4 Connect the other end of the cable to a SCSI connector on the

back of the SCSI device, as shown.

SCSI terminator

4

SCSI termination switch

4

5 If you are installing only one external SCSI device, terminate the

device.

Termination is usually controlled by installing or removing a
SCSI terminator. On some SCSI devices, you use a switch or
button on the back of the SCSI device. Refer to your SCSI
device’s

documentation for termination instructions.

Terminating the SCSI Bus on page 29 for more information

See

.

8

Connecting External SCSI Devices

U

6 If you are connecting external SCSI devices to a computer

running Macintosh OS 9, use the SCSI Card Control Panel to set
the maximum synchronous transfer rate to 5 MB/sec.

Note: The DB-25 connector is not rated for speeds higher
than 5 MB/sec.

7 Connect other external SCSI devices by cabling each device to

the previous one, as shown. Only terminate the SCSI device at
the end of the chain.

nterminated devices

Terminated device

8 Replace the computer cabinet, and reconnect the power cord to

the computer. Connect all power cables to the external SCSI
devices.

9 Turn on all external SCSI devices and allow them to power up.

Then turn on the computer.

10 Install the software driver for your operating system. See

Installing Drivers – Windows on page 10 for detailed instructions.
(If your computer is running Macintosh, you should already
have installed the driver. See Installing Drivers – Macintosh on
page 19.)

11 Install any software included with your SCSI device.

9

Windows 2000/Windows Me

Installing Drivers – Windows

Note: Install the SCSI Card 2906 and any SCSI devices before
installing the driver. See Installing the SCSI Card 2906 on
page 2.

Install the SCSI Card 2906 driver by following the instructions for
the version of Windows running on your computer:

■ For Windows 2000 and Windows Me, see the next section.

■ For Windows 95/98, see page 11.

■ For Windows NT 4.0, see page 16.

Windows 2000/Windows Me

In Windows 2000 and Windows Me, driver installation is fully
automatic, including the identification of compatible drivers.

The current versions of both OSs have embedded driver support
for a SCSI card as part of the installation software. When the SCSI
Card 2906 is installed and you have rebooted your computer, the
Add New Hardware Wizard setup window appears to walk you
through the final steps:

1 In the window that appears, select the top radio button to

launch an automatic search for the most suitable driver, and
click Next.

Your OS locates the appropriate driver for the newly-detected
SCSI card and automatically processes the installation.

The SCSI Card 2906 is detected as AIC-7850 PCI SCSI
Controller. This is the integrated circuit chip on your SCSI card.

2 Click Finish to complete the installation.

10

Windows 95/98

Windows 95/98

Once your SCSI Card 2906 is installed and you have restarted your
computer, the Add New Hardware Wizard setup window appears
to walk you through the rest of the installation process:

1 When the Add New Hardware Wizard appears, click Next.

2 Select the top radio button, and click Next.

11

3 Select the CD-ROM option, and click Next.

Note: Be sure that the Microsoft Windows 9x CD-ROM is in

your CD-ROM drive.

Windows 95/98

4 Select the top radio button, then click Next.

12

Windows 95/98

5 Your system locates the device and prompts you to continue

with the installation. Click Next.

The Insert Disk window appears.

6 Insert your Windows 95 or 98 CD-ROM, then click OK.

Note: If you do not have your Windows 95 or 98 CD-ROM,

skip to Completing Installation Without a Windows 95/98 CD­ROM on page 15.

13

Windows 95/98

The Copying Files window appears.

7 Ensure that the system has detected your Windows CD-ROM,

then Click OK.

The SCSI Card 2906 is detected as AIC-7850 PCI SCSI
Controller. This is the integrated circuit chip on your SCSI card.

8 Click Finish to complete the installation.

Note: If the driver is not listed or is not loading properly, see

the troubleshooting suggestions on page 22.

14

Windows 95/98

Completing Installation Without a Windows 95/98 CD-ROM

If you do not have your Windows 95/98 CD-ROM, use the SCSI
Card 2906 CD to complete the driver installation.

Continuing from Step 5 on page 13:

6 Insert your SCSI Card 2906 CD into your CD-ROM drive, then

click OK.

The Copying Files window appears.

7 Use the Browse button to find your CD-ROM drive, then click

OK..

Your system copies the appropriate files from the SCSI Card
2906 CD.

8 When the Version Conflict window appears, click Ye s.

15

9 Click Finish to complete the installation.

Note: If the driver is not listed or is not loading properly, see

the troubleshooting suggestions on page 22.

Windows NT 4.0

Windows NT 4.0

The current version of Windows NT 4.0 has embedded driver
support for the SCSI Card 2906 as part of the installation software.
Before you install the Windows NT driver from the embedded list,
download either the latest Microsoft service pack or the Adaptec
driver file

www.adaptec.com.

For additional instructions on installing embedded driver support,
refer to the OS documentation.

Once your SCSI Card 2906 is installed and you have restarted your
computer, follow these steps:

1 Click Start, point to Settings, then double-click Control Panel.

2 Double-click SCSI Adapters.

The SCSI Adapters window opens.

7800wnt.exe from the Adaptec support Web site at

16

Verifying Driver Installation

Note: Although the title of the Control Panel window is
SCSI Adapters, the window also displays IDE buses. If a
line mentions IDE, ATA, ATAPI, UDMA, or Ultra DMA,
the bus referred to is not a SCSI bus.
Ignore the presence of these other buses as you configure
the Adaptec controller.

3 Go to the Drivers tab. Click Add.

The Install Driver window opens.

4 From the Manufacturers list, select Adaptec. From the SCSI

Adapter list, select the driver you wish to install.

If the SCSI Card 2906 does not appear in the list, select Adaptec
AHA-294X/AHA-394X or AIC-78XX PCI SCSI Controller. The
SCSI Card 2906 belongs to this family with its AIC-7850 SCSI
integrated circuit chip.

5 Click OK to complete the installation.

Verifying Driver Installation

To verify that the driver for the SCSI Card 2906 is installed
properly, follow the instructions for the version of Windows
running on your computer:

■ For Windows 2000, see the next section.

■ For Windows 95, 98, or Me, see page 18.

■ For Windows NT 4.0, see page 19.

Verifying Driver Installation – Windows 2000

1 Right click on the My Computer icon on your desktop.

2 Select Manage.

3 Click on Device Manager.

17

Verifying Driver Installation

4 Double-click SCSI and RAID Controllers. Check that the SCSI

Card 2906 is listed, as shown.

SCSI Card 2906
driver installed

Verifying Driver Installation – Windows 95, 98, Me

1 Click Start, point to Settings, then click Control Panel.

2 Double-click System.

3 Go to the Device Manager tab.

18

Verifying Driver Installation

4 Double-click SCSI Controllers. Check that the SCSI Card 2906

is listed, as shown.

SCSI Card 2906 driver installed

Verifying Driver Installation – Windows NT 4.0

1 Click Start, point to Settings, then select Control Panel.

2 Double-click SCSI Adapters.

3 Go to the Devices tab. If the SCSI Card 2906 is listed, the driver

is loaded. (Expanding the plus sign next to the adapter displays
a list of the devices connected to the SCSI card.)

Installing Drivers – Macintosh

If you are running Macintosh on your computer, you must install
the SCSI Card 2906 driver before you install the SCSI card or any
SCSI devices.

Install the SCSI Card 2906 driver by following the instructions
outlined for the Mac OS running on your computer:

■ For Mac OS 9.x, see the next section.

■ For Mac OS X, see page 20.

19

Macintosh OS 9.x

Macintosh OS 9.x

1 Open the Mac OS 9.x folder on your SCSI

Card 2906 CD and double-click on the
installer icon shown at right.

2 Follow the instructions displayed on the screen. Files will be

installed as follows:

■ Adaptec SCSI Card 2906 driver will be installed in the

System Folder/Extension folder of your system disk.

■ SCSIProbe will be installed in the System Folder/Control

Panels

folder of your system disk.

See the table on Information for Macintosh Users on page 38 for
details on Mac OS 9 utilities and drivers.

3 Restart the computer to complete the installation. The

SCSIProbe control panel makes drives available on your
desktop after system startup.

4 Ensure that the Mount Drives at Startup option on the

SCSIProbe control panel is checked. If it is not checked, your
drives will not show up on the desktop when you start your
system.

Macintosh OS X

The driver is not embedded in early releases of Mac OS X (for
example, OS X 10.0 through 10.0.4). To install or update the driver,
follow the steps in this section.

Note:

Some utilities may not be compatible with Mac OS X. Check

the Adaptec Web site at

Warning: Do not run the installer if you have changed the
permissions for any of the directories on this path:

Library/Extensions

Also, do not run the installer if you have set up any of these
directories to be symbolic links (similar to aliases in OS 9); the
system may not function properly.

www.adaptec.com

; the driver might overwrite these directories.

for the latest information

/System/

.

20

Macintosh OS X

To install the Mac OS X driver:

1 Log in as Administrator.

Note: You must be logged on as an administrator to install

the driver for the SCSI Card 2906. The installer will
prompt you for an administrator name and password.

2 Open the Mac OS X folder on your SCSI

Card 2906

CD and double-click the installer

icon

shown at right.

3 Follow the instructions displayed on the screen.

The Adaptec SCSI Card 2906 driver will be installed into the

System/Library/Extensions folder of your system disk. The

installed driver is

Adaptec290X-2906.kext.

Troubleshooting

Most problems with the SCSI Card 2906 result from errors in
preparing and connecting devices on the SCSI bus. If you have
problems, check these items first:

■ Are all SCSI devices turned on?

■ Are all SCSI bus cables and power cables properly connected?

■ Is the SCSI Card 2906 firmly seated and secured in the PCI

expansion slot? (Turn off the power to the computer before
checking the card.)

■ Is pin 1 orientation maintained throughout the SCSI bus?

■ Does each device on the SCSI bus have a unique SCSI ID?

■ Are all SCSI devices terminated properly?

■ Your computer allows you to set up configuration options when

the computer first boots up (through CMOS setup). Ensure that
the following options are set up as specified:

■ If there is an Interrupt Type or Interrupt Line option in the

Setup program, select Int-A or Interrupt Type = A. (You

21

Troubleshooting Questions and Answers

may also be required to change a motherboard jumper
setting.)

■ If there is a Triggering Interrupt option, select Level.

■ If there is an option to enable or disable bus mastering for

the PCI slots, select Enabled.

■ If your computer has a combination of ISA or EISA boards

and PCI boards, you may need to mark the IRQs used by
ISA/EISA boards as Used so the system BIOS will not try to
assign these IRQs to other PCI boards. Never use an IRQ
below IRQ9 for a SCSI card.

■ If you have not already done so, Adaptec recommends that

you upgrade your motherboard BIOS by downloading the
latest version from the manufacturer’s Web site.

If you still experience problems, try installing the SCSI Card 2906 in
another PCI slot, starting with the first PCI slot.

If, after aworking through this checklist, you are still unable to
resolve a problem, check the Questions and Answers in the next
section or refer to the Adaptec Web Site at

www.adaptec.com for

additional troubleshooting information.

Troubleshooting Questions and Answers

When I start Windows 95/98, the system locks up when the Windows logo displays.
How can I get the system to start so that I can verify that the SCSI card is functioning
normally?

1 Start or restart your computer. View the messages that appear.

2 When the message

release F8 while the text is on your screen.

3 From the menu that displays, select Safe Mode. (It may take

extra time for Windows 95/98 to load.)

4 Verify that the SCSI Card 2906 software driver is loading

properly (see the information in the next question).

How can I tell if the SCSI Card 2906 software driver is loading properly?

If you are running Windows on your computer, follow the
instructions for your operating system as provided in Ve ri fy in g
Driver Installation on page 17.

Starting Windows 95/98 appears, press and

22

Troubleshooting Questions and Answers

Why does an X inside a red circle appear by the SCSI Card 2906 software driver in
Device Manager?

The SCSI Card 2906 software driver is disabled and isn’t loading.
To enable the driver:

1 Double-click the SCSI card software driver in Device Manager.

2

Click the General tab and check

Original Configuration

(current)

Note: In most cases, this is the result of an IRQ conflict.
Refer to the information on page 24.

In Windows 95/98, why is there a yellow “!” beside my driver(s) in Device Manager?

The yellow “!” may appear for many reasons. Use the table to
troubleshoot this problem. The easiest problem to solve is listed first.

Reason See Page

Faulty cables, termination, or device 23

Master Boot Record was modified 23

Conflicting or unavailable resources 24

.

In Windows 95/98, how do I check for faulty cables, termination, or damaged device?

1 Turn off your computer and disconnect the cables from the

SCSI card.

2 Turn on your computer, restart Windows, and verify that the

yellow “!” disappeared from Device Manager.

If the yellow “!” disappeared, the cabling, termination, or device is
faulty, or there may be an IRQ conflict in your system.

In Windows 95/98 where do I check to see if the Master Boot Record was modified?

1 Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2 Double-click System.

3 In the System Properties window, click on the Performance tab.

One of the following messages may appear:

a The Master Boot Record has been modified.

b Your system is configured for optimal performance.

23

Troubleshooting Questions and Answers

c <Drive letter> using MS-DOS compatibility mode file

system.

If message (a) appears, click the Details button in the Performance
tab for more information. If needed, contact the computer
manufacturer for additional help.

If message (b) appears, you must update or install the driver. For
information on downloadable drivers, refer to the Adaptec Web

http://www.adaptec.com/support/index.html. Go to the Drivers

Site at
section for more information on how to download the correct
driver.

If message (c) appears, remove the DOS driver from c

autoexec.bat.

onfig.sys and

1 Click Start, and then click Run.

2 In the Run window, type sysedit, and then click OK.

3 Go to the Autoexec.bat window. If there are lines containing

files with

*.exe, *.com, or *.bat extensions, type rem xx at the

beginning of those lines.

4 Go to the Config.sys window. If there are lines that start with

Device or Device High, type rem xx at the beginning of those

lines.

5 Save the changes and reboot your computer.

In Windows 95/98, where do I check for conflicting or unavailable resources?

1 Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2 Double-click System.

3 In the System Properties window, open Device Manager.

4 In Device Manager, double-click Computer.

24

Troubleshooting Questions and Answers

5 In the Computer Properties window, click Interrupt request

(IRQ), as shown.

The Settings column lists the IRQs in use. IRQ settings range
between 0 and 15. If an IRQ setting is not listed under Settings,
this means it is available. In the example screen, setting 10 is not
listed and therefore is an available IRQ.

Note: Do not use an IRQ below IRQ 9 for a SCSI Card 2906.
Do not allow the SCSI Card 2906 and another card to share
the same IRQ.

In Windows NT 4.0, where can I check which resources are available on my computer?

Note: You must log in as an administrator to complete the

following steps.

1 Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools,

select Windows NT Diagnostics and then click Resources Tab.

2 Select the resource from the Used Resources list, for example

IRQ, DMA, etc.

25

Troubleshooting Questions and Answers

3 In the SCSI Adapters window, click Properties to find which

resources are in use.

What if there is no SCSI Controller icon under Device Manager, or the software driver
for the SCSI Card 2906 does not appear under Device Manager?

Generally, when the SCSI Card 2906 software driver is not listed in
the Device Manager, the system BIOS is not giving the SCSI Card
2906 any resources. Check for available resources (see the previous
question). If resources are available, install the SCSI Card 2906 in
another PCI slot.

Note: The SCSI Card 2906 software driver may also be listed as

PCI SCSI Bus Controller under the Other Devices icon in

Device Manager. If it is listed there, reinstall the driver. (See
the troubleshooting section on page 26 for instructions.)

If the SCSI Controllers icon or the software driver do not appear:

1 Double-click Add New Hardware in the Control Panel.

2 Select Yes on the second screen of the Add New Hardware

Wizard to have Windows search for the SCSI Card 2906.

3 Follow the onscreen instructions.

If Windows 95/98 does not detect the SCSI card, run the Add New
Hardware wizard again:

1 In the Control Panel, double-click Add New Hardware.

2 In the second screen of the wizard, click No.

3 Select SCSI controllers.

4 Select the model of your Adaptec SCSI Card.

If SCSI Card 2906 is not on the list, you may be able to install a SCSI
card driver from the Windows 95/98 CD-ROM (or from the
Adaptec EZ-SCSI Setup Diskette):

1 Place the Windows 95/98 CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive (or

insert the Adaptec EZ-SCSI Setup Diskette in the floppy disk
drive) and run the Add New Hardware wizard.

2 Select No on the second screen of the wizard.

3 Select SCSI controllers.

26

4 Click Have Disk, then click Browse.

Common Error Messages

5 Look in the \

the model of your SCSI card, or go to

drivers/storage directory of the CD-ROM and select

a:\win95\98 on the

Adaptec EZ-SCSI Setup Diskette.

How can I check the status of a resource (for example, IRQ, Memory, I/O)?

1 Click Start, point to Settings, then click Control Panel.

2 Double-click the System icon.

3 Click the Device Manager tab.

4 Click Computer, and then click Properties.

5 Open the View Resources tab and click the option button for the

type of resource you want to check.

The setting and the hardware using the setting displays.

■ If a specific resource is not listed, the resource is not used by

a device.

■ If a resource is listed more than once, the resource is used by

more than one device.

■ If a resource is used by an unknown device, the resource is

used but the device using the resource cannot be detected.

How do I use the Hardware Conflict Troubleshooter in Windows 95/98?

1 Click Start, then click Help.

2 From the Contents tab, double-click Troubleshooting.

3 Double-click If you have a hardware conflict.

4 Follow the step-by-step instructions in the Windows Help

window.

Common Error Messages

“Device connected, but not ready”

The SCSI card received no answer when it requested data from an
installed SCSI device.

■ Make sure the drive is set to spin up when the power is

switched on. (See the documentation for the device.) If you still

27

SCSI IDs

have problems, you may have a bad drive. If you can still access
your computer, follow these steps:

a Click Start, point to Programs>Accessories>System Tools,

and then click ScanDisk.

b Click Start and then wait a few moments for results.

“Time-out failure during...”

An unexpected time-out occurred.

■ Verify that the SCSI bus is properly terminated.

■ Verify that all cables are properly connected.

■ Disconnect the SCSI cables from the SCSI card and then start the

computer. If the computer successfully restarts, one of the SCSI
devices, cable, or terminator may be defective.

Understanding SCSI

SCSI (pronounced “scuzzy”) stands for Small Computer System
Interface. SCSI is an industry standard computer interface for
connecting SCSI devices (such as a hard disk drive, CD-ROM
drive, or scanner) to a common SCSI bus.

A SCSI bus is an electrical pathway that consists of a SCSI card (such
as the SCSI Card 2906) installed in a computer and one or more SCSI
devices. SCSI cables are used to connect the devices to the SCSI card

For the SCSI bus to function properly, each SCSI device must have a
unique SCSI ID and must be correctly terminated. For more information,
see the next section (

SCSI IDs

) and

Terminating the SCSI Bus

on page 29.

SCSI IDs

SCSI IDs identify each device on the SCSI bus and determine
priority when two or more devices are trying to use the SCSI bus at
the same time. The SCSI card is also identified by a SCSI ID. For the
SCSI Card 2906, SCSI IDs are numbers between 0 and 7.

28

.

Terminating the SCSI Bus

Adaptec presets the SCSI Card 2906 to SCSI ID 7. You should not
change this setting. SCSI ID 7 has the highest priority on the SCSI
bus; the remaining SCSI IDs descend in priority from 6 to 0.

Use SCSI ID 0 for the first SCSI hard disk drive. Most internal SCSI
hard disk drives come from the factory set to SCSI ID 0.

See SCAM Protocol on page 29 for more information on assigning
ID numbers.

Here is some general information about SCSI IDs:

■ For internal SCSI devices, you generally set the SCSI ID by

configuring a jumper on the SCSI device.

■ For external SCSI devices, you generally set the SCSI ID with a

switch on the back of the device.

■ For specific instructions on setting the SCSI ID, refer to the SCSI

device’s documentation.

■ In Windows 95/98, you can use the Device Manager to view the

SCSI ID assigned to the SCSI card and each SCSI device.

SCAM Protocol

The SCSI Card 2906 supports the SCSI Configured AutoMatically
(SCAM) protocol. This protocol assigns SCSI IDs dynamically and
resolves SCSI ID conflicts automatically when you start the
computer. If your computer includes SCSI disk drives or other
SCSI devices that support SCAM, you do not need to assign SCSI
IDs manually to these devices.

To determine if your SCSI device supports the SCAM protocol,
check the SCSI device’s documentation.

To enable SCAM support, see Using SCSISelect on page 33.

Terminating the SCSI Bus

To ensure reliable communication on the SCSI bus, both ends must
be terminated. Termination prevents the signal from bouncing off
the end of the cable and interfering with itself.

If the SCSI Card 2906 is connected at one end of the SCSI bus, you
must terminate the device at the other end.

29

Preparing SCSI Devices for Installation

If the SCSI Card 2906 is connected in the middle of the SCSI bus, it
will not terminate itself and you must terminate the SCSI devices
connected to both ends of the SCSI bus.

The method for terminating a SCSI device varies. Refer to the SCSI
device’s documentation for instructions on how to enable or
disable termination.

Here is some general information about termination:

■ Usually, you control termination on internal SCSI devices by

manually setting a jumper or a switch on the device, or by
physically removing or installing a terminator module on the
device. The internal SCSI device at the end of the cable must be
terminated.

■ Usually, you control termination on external SCSI devices by

installing or removing a SCSI terminator. On some external
devices, termination is controlled by setting a switch on the
back of the device. The external SCSI device at the end of the
cable must be terminated.

■ By default, termination on the SCSI Card 2906 is set to

Automatic. Adaptec recommends that you keep this setting. To
manually set termination on the SCSI Card 2906, see Using
SCSISelect on page 33.

■ Most SCSI devices come from the factory with termination

enabled. Some SCSI devices include a terminator block or pass­through terminator. See your SCSI device’s documentation for
information on enabling and disabling termination.

Preparing SCSI Devices for Installation

■ Check the SCSI IDs. Ensure that the SCSI Card 2906 and each

SCSI device you want to connect to it has a unique SCSI ID. See
SCSI IDs on page 28 for more information.

■ Use only high-quality SCSI-2 cables to ensure reliable data

transfer. See Obtaining SCSI Cables on page 32 for more
information.

■ Terminate the ends of the SCSI bus. The SCSI device at the end

of each cable, or the end of the cable itself, must have a
terminator installed or enabled. Terminators must be disabled

30

Using SCSI Devices

or removed from SCSI devices that will be connected between
the ends of the SCSI cable. See Terminating the SCSI Bus on
page 29 for more information.

■ You may need to install the manufacturer’s proprietary device

drivers if you use SCSI devices other than hard disk and
CD-ROM drives. (Refer to your device’s documentation.)

Using SCSI Devices

Hard Disk Drives

■ You cannot boot your computer from a drive connected to the

SCSI Card 2906. To boot your system, a bootable hard disk
drive must already be installed on a different SCSI card or IDE
card.

■ Every SCSI hard disk drive connected to you SCSI card must be

physically low-level formatted, partitioned, and logically
formatted before it can be used to store data. Refer to your
computer and OS documentation for instructions.

Caution:

!

sure to back up your data before performing a low-level
format.

A low-level format destroys all data on the drive. Be

Installing Multiple SCSI Cards

■ You can install multiple SCSI cards in your computer. You are

limited only by the available system resources (for example,
IRQ settings, I/O port addresses, and so on).

■ Each SCSI card you install forms a separate SCSI bus with a

different set of SCSI devices. Each SCSI ID can be used once on
each SCSI card. (For example, each SCSI card can have a device
with SCSI ID 2 but SCSI ID 2 appears only once on each card.)

31

Obtaining SCSI Cables

Obtaining SCSI Cables

High-quality cables are required in high-performance SCSI
systems to ensure data integrity. Adaptec provides the highest
quality SCSI cables designed specifically for use with Adaptec SCSI
cards. For purchasing information, visit the Adaptec Web site at

www.adaptec.com.

External Cables

Description Retail Cable Number

DB25-pin to DB25-pin Cable (3 ft) 100

DB25-pin to High-density 50-pin Cable (3 ft) 200

This is a DB25-pin connector:

This is a High-density 50-pin connector:

Internal Cable

Description Retail Cable Number

5 position (4 devices and SCSI card) standard
50-pin connectors (1.5 m)

This is a Standard 50-pin internal connector:

110 0

32

Maximum Cable Lengths

Maximum Cable Lengths

The total length of cabling (internal and external) on the SCSI bus
may not exceed the maximum lengths listed in the table.

Maximum Cable
Length Data Transfer Rate

3 m (9.8 ft) Fast SCSI

(10 MBytes/sec)

6 m (19.7 ft) 5 MByte/sec

1

Includes the SCSI card.

(asynchronous or synchronous)

Maximum Devices

Supported

1

8

8

Using SCSISelect

If you are running Windows on your computer, you can use
Adaptec SCSISelect software to change SCSI settings without
opening the computer or handling the card and you can low-level
format or verify the disk media of your SCSI hard disk drives. The
table lists the available and default settings for each SCSISelect
option.

Note:

The default settings are appropriate for most systems. Run

Select

SCSI
you would like to run the SCSI disk utilities. See the descriptions
of each option in

if you need to change or view current settings, or if

SCSI Bus Interface Definitions

on page 35

.

33

Starting SCSISelect

SCSISelect Settings

SCSISelect Option Available Settings Default Setting

Host Adapter SCSI ID 0-7 7

SCSI Parity Checking Enabled

Disabled

Host Adapter SCSI Termination Automatic

Enabled

Disabled

Initiate Sync Negotiation Yes

No

Maximum Sync Transfer Rate 10.0

8.0

6.7

5.0

Enable Disconnection Yes

No

Plug-and-Play SCAM Support Enabled

Disabled

Enabled

Automatic

Yes (E n a bl ed )

10.0

Yes (E n a bl ed )

Disabled

Starting SCSISelect

To start SCSISelect:

1 Turn on or restart your computer. Allow it to boot to a DOS

prompt.

2 At the DOS prompt, insert the SCSISelect diskette and change to

the a:\ prompt.

3 At the a:\ prompt, type 2906cfg.exe.

4 From the menu that appears, use the

↑ and ↓ keys to move the

cursor to the option you want to select, then press Enter.

Note: If you have difficulty viewing the display, press F5 to
toggle between color and monochrome modes. (This feature
may not work on all monitors.)

34

Using SCSISelect Settings

Using SCSISelect Settings

To select an option, use the ↑ and ↓ keys to move the cursor to the
option, then press Enter.

In some cases, selecting an option displays another menu. You can
return to the previous menu at any time by pressing Esc.

To restore the original SCSISelect default values, press F6 from the
main SCSISelect screen.

SCSI Bus Interface Definitions

■ Host Adapter SCSI ID—Sets the SCSI ID for the SCSI card. The

SCSI Card 2906 is set at ID 7, which gives it the highest priority
on the SCSI bus. You should not change this setting.

■ SCSI Parity Checking—When set to Enabled, verifies the

accuracy of data transfer on the SCSI bus. Leave this setting
enabled unless any SCSI device connected to the SCSI card does
not support SCSI parity. If one SCSI device does not support
SCSI parity, set parity on the 2906 to Disabled.

■ Host Adapter SCSI Termination—Determines the termination

setting for the SCSI card. The default setting is Automatic, which
determines termination as follows:

■ If a cable is only connected to the SCSI card’s internal or

external SCSI connector, the terminators are enabled if the
2906 termination is set for automatic. (The SCSI card is at the
end of the SCSI bus.)

■ If a cable is connected to the SCSI card’s internal and

external SCSI connector, the terminators are disabled. (The
SCSI card lies between the ends of the SCSI bus.) You can also
disable the terminators by setting Host Adapter Termination
to Disable.

You should leave this setting at its default (Automatic).

Note: The option is for terminating the SCSI card, not for
terminating devices. Be sure that both ends of the SCSI bus
are terminated. Refer to the Adaptec SCSI Card 2906
Installation Guide for details.

35

Using SCSI Disk Utilities

SCSI Device Configuration Options

Note: To configure settings for a SCSI device, you must know

its SCSI ID (see Using SCSI Disk Utilities on page 36).

■ Initiate Sync Negotiation—When set to Enabled, initiates

synchronous data transfer negotiation (Sync Negotiation)
between the device and SCSI card. Leave this setting enabled
unless any attached SCSI device connected to the SCSI card
does not support synchronous negotiation.

■ Maximum Sync Transfer Rate—Determines the maximum

synchronous data transfer rate the SCSI card supports. The
default value is 10.0 MB/sec.

■ Enable Disconnection—When set to Yes , allows the SCSI

device to disconnect from the SCSI bus. Leave the setting at Ye s
if two or more SCSI devices are connected to the SCSI card. If
only one SCSI device is connected, slightly better performance
will be achieved if you change the setting to No.

Advanced Configuration Options

Note: Do not change Advanced Configuration Options unless

absolutely necessary.

■ Plug-and-Play SCAM Support—When set to Enabled, the SCSI

card automatically assigns SCSI IDs to SCSI devices that
support the SCAM protocol. The default is Disabled, but you can
set it to Enabled even if you have a non-SCAM device.

Using SCSI Disk Utilities

To access the SCSI disk utilities:

1 From the menu that appears after starting SCSISelect, select

SCSI Disk Utilities.

SCSISelect scans the SCSI bus to determine the devices installed
and displays a list of all SCSI IDs and the devices assigned to
each ID.

36

Exiting SCSISelect

2 Use the ↑ and ↓ keys to move the cursor to a specific ID and

device, then press Enter.

3 A small menu appears, displaying two options:

■ Verify Disk Media—Allows you to scan the media of a hard

disk drive for defects. If the utility finds bad blocks on the
media, it prompts you to reassign them; if you select yes,
those blocks are longer used. You can press Esc at any time
to abort the utility.

■ Format Disk—Allows you to perform a low-level format on

a hard disk drive. (Most SCSI disk drives are preformatted at
the factory and do not need to be formatted again.) Each
hard disk drive must be low-level formatted before you can
use your operating system’s partitioning and file
preparation utilities, such as MS-DOS Fdisk and Format.

Caution: A low-level format destroys all data on the drive.

!

Be sure to back up your data before performing this operation.

cannot

Yo u
Therefore, do not turn power off to abort this operation.

abort a low-level format once it is started.

Exiting SCSISelect

To exit SCSISelect:

1 Press Esc until a message prompts you to exit.

If you changed settings, you are prompted to save the changes
before you exit.

2

Select

Yes

to exit, then press any key to reboot the computer. Any

Select

changes you made in SCSI

take effect after the computer boots.

37

Macintosh OS 9.x Utilities and Drivers

Information for Macintosh Users

Macintosh OS 9.x Utilities and Drivers

These utilities and drivers will be installed on your system disk as
part of the Macintosh OS 9.x installation:

SCSIProbe

PowerDomain
Control Utility

Adaptec SCSI
Card 2906 Driver

Used to verify SCSI IDs, identify drivers, mount drives
after startup, and auto-mount drives during startup

Used to control various features on the Adaptec SCSI
Card 2906. External documentation for this utility
will be installed on your system by the installer and
is also available on the Adaptec Web site.

Must reside in the Extensions folder; otherwise,
the Adaptec SCSI Card 2906 will not be
recognized by your system.

.

Uninstalling Macintosh OS Driver

To remove the Adaptec SCSI driver:

1 Go to the folder for your Mac OS on the SCSI Card 2906 CD and

locate the Uninstall.command file.

2 Double-click the file to remove the driver.

Note: You must be logged on as an administrator to

uninstall the driver for the SCSI Card 2906. The script will
prompt you for an administrator password.

Verifying the Uninstall

Go to the /System/Library/Extensions directory and verify that

Adaptec290X-2930.kext is no longer in that directory.

38

© 2001 Adaptec, Inc.
All rights reserved. Adaptec and the Adaptec logo
are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc. which may be
registered in some jurisdictions.

Part Number: 513048-06, Ver. AA LW 10/01