Hi,
I'm trying to use ftape with an external DittoMax drive on a Compaq DeskPro
running the 2.2.12 kernel... having numerous problems, the worst of which is
a kernel hang when I try to use the device. I'm wondering if anyone is
having success with such a configuration. Here are the particulars:
- I'm using the "unstable" ftape-4.x-1999_09_11 which, unlike the 4.03
pre-release, can be compiled against the 2.2 kernel.
- I'm inserting the modules with reasonable values:
/sbin/modprobe ftape ft_fdc_driver=bpck-fdc
/sbin/modprobe zftape
/sbin/modprobe bpck-fdc
- The address and IRQ values reported for the parallel device are correct,
and printing works just fine (when the bpck-fdc driver isn't loaded, of
course).
- I have the device configured more or less like an EPP (more detail below).
- As soon as I try to use the device (for example, ftmt -f /dev/qft0
status), the system locks up and will respond only to a power cycle.
Now, I know that the driver is particular about using EPP and not ECP
(according to info at LinuxTapeCert.org)... would that possibly account for
the lockup?
Configuring the parallel port on the DeskPro is an interesting exercise. The
BIOS configuration menu doesn't offer choices like "SPP, EPP, ECP", it
offers choices that look like this:
<IO Address>
<IO Address> <IRQ>
<IO Address> <IRQ> <DMA>
In other words, you can choose a configuration that specifies an IO address
but nothing else (like SPP?), one that specifies an IO address and an IRQ
(like EPP?), or one that specifies an IO address, IRQ, and DMA (like ECP?).
I've chosen one that specifies an IO address and IRQ, which are correctly
recognized by the parallel driver. /proc/parport/0/hardware reports the
following:
base: 0x378
irq: 7
dma: none
modes: SPP, ECP, ECPEPP, ECPPS2
These modes seem a little strange for a device without DMA enabled, but the
IO and IRQ values match the BIOS settings. Might these mode choices explain
the driver lockup?
I observe something else strange when I insert the drivers: in the
/sbin/lsmod output: zftape reports a "Used by" value of -1.
That's my life with ftape in a nutshell. Does anyone recognize the problems
and/or have suggestions on what steps might get this stuff to work?
Nathan Meyers
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
