Hi, Jean-David,
> ...
> > # make sure we have enough swap space. N.B.: swapout is not in /sbin.
> > pre-install ftape-internal /usr/bin/swapout 32 <---<<< I have 64 Megabytes RAM.
>
> Nothing to do with swapspace. You need 32 KB-Chunks of
> continous memory in the lower 16 MB as DMA-Buffers. Now,
> with 4 KB page size that is not guaranteed, but if you hug a
> lot of memory[1] (forcing some pages to swap out, and some
> buffers to get freed), and the release the memory used[2],
> you stand a much better chance.
>
> > # Set the maximum allowable data rate for the FDC. Must be one of
> > # 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000.
> > options ftape-internal ft_fdc_rate_limit=1000 <---<<<
>
> > For this line, the ...rate_limit is 2000 by default. While the tape drive and
> > controller are capable of that, my P166 is not reliably capable of keeping up,
> > so I slowed it down to 1000 (! Mb) and it works fine. I suggest you try that
> > speed first. With a P90, you just might have to go to 500, but I would not try
> > it unless 1000 does not work. Mine may restart a block once per entire pass of
> > the tape.
>
> For a lot of tape drives (TR-3), 1000 MBit/s is the lowest
> possible rate you can use. Else you'd have to drop back
> to TR-2, halving the capacity. For the Ditto Max (Pro) the
> minimum rate is 2000 MBit/s. So be sure to check and test that.
> (From memory, and I have been known to be wrong a few times :-)
Let me add my experience. I started using a Ditto 2GB internal on
my internal fdc. My linux box is based on a socket 7 m/b. First I
had a P75 which was enough, but I had great problems getting the
ditto drive working, even under DOS.
Playing with BIOS Parameters (FDC settings) helped little. Later
I added a ditto dash and this brought the breakthrough. After
assigning it's own DMA (important) and IRQ everything went fine,
even with 2000kbit/s under the P75 and with Arkeia as backup
front-end under X. :-)
Ditto 2GB needs at least 1000kBit/s to work.
Later my drive failed detecting the EOT (despooled my
cartridges) and I had to exchange the drive (warranty was valid
and accepted). During this period I learned, that it is possible
that the drive itself enters a state from which ftape could not
wake it up except using the DOS software or doing a power down.
> ...
Martin
--
Martin Jacobs * Windsbach * [EMAIL PROTECTED] und
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Registered Linux User #87175
