> I am thinking to buy a motherboard with SCSI controller. A local > newspaper advertised Iwill motherboard with Adaptec 2940U Ultra SCSI > controller. Does Debian support such motherboard? The manufacturer > has a web site @ http://www.iwill.com.tw > I appreciate it if someone could tell me pros and cons after used > the board.
Hi. I myself considered buying MB with on-board SCSI adapter, though it was Asus P2L97-DS and AIR P6LDX-S. The AIC7880 SCSI chip (the one used in 2940UW) is supported by linux, but you can always expect any surprise from Adaptec - a little change in SCSI BIOS and you are out of luck (at lest for a while). In any case BusLogic SCSI adapters are *MUCH* better supported. So the only PRO is that you save one PCI slot for something else. The CONS are: worse supported adapter, practically impossible to attach any external devices. (MB doesn't have external scsi slot, you can daisy-chain the connector from the internal one, but SCSI bus length limitations would not allow you to attach no more than one external device, if you are lucky.) Length restrictions also apply for the case of PCI adapter and though more easily fulfilled with the same number of devices, any serious system should consider having 2 SCSI adapters (if you do not plan to use IDE at all), and not only for SCSI bus length reasons. So, the real alternatives are: SCSI MB with another PCI (Adaptec, mixing two brands of adapters is probably not good idea) SCSI controler and non-SCSI MB with 2 BusLogic Adapters. The second is much better, and cost only about $150 more. Alex Y. -- _ _( )_ ( (o___ +-------------------------------------------+ | _ 7 | Alexander Yukhimets | \ (") | http://pages.nyu.edu/~aqy6633/ | / \ \ +-------------------------------------------+ -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Trouble? e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] .