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diff --git a/Documentation/scsi/FlashPoint.rst b/Documentation/scsi/FlashPoint.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..ef3c07e94a --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/scsi/FlashPoint.rst @@ -0,0 +1,176 @@ +.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 + +=================================== +The BusLogic FlashPoint SCSI Driver +=================================== + +The BusLogic FlashPoint SCSI Host Adapters are now fully supported on Linux. +The upgrade program described below has been officially terminated effective +31 March 1997 since it is no longer needed. + +:: + + MYLEX INTRODUCES LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM SUPPORT FOR ITS + BUSLOGIC FLASHPOINT LINE OF SCSI HOST ADAPTERS + + + FREMONT, CA, -- October 8, 1996 -- Mylex Corporation has expanded Linux + operating system support to its BusLogic brand of FlashPoint Ultra SCSI + host adapters. All of BusLogic's other SCSI host adapters, including the + MultiMaster line, currently support the Linux operating system. Linux + drivers and information will be available on October 15th at + http://sourceforge.net/projects/dandelion/. + + "Mylex is committed to supporting the Linux community," says Peter Shambora, + vice president of marketing for Mylex. "We have supported Linux driver + development and provided technical support for our host adapters for several + years, and are pleased to now make our FlashPoint products available to this + user base." + +The Linux Operating System +========================== + +Linux is a freely-distributed implementation of UNIX for Intel x86, Sun +SPARC, SGI MIPS, Motorola 68k, Digital Alpha AXP and Motorola PowerPC +machines. It supports a wide range of software, including the X Window +System, Emacs, and TCP/IP networking. Further information is available at +http://www.linux.org and http://www.ssc.com/. + +FlashPoint Host Adapters +======================== + +The FlashPoint family of Ultra SCSI host adapters, designed for workstation +and file server environments, are available in narrow, wide, dual channel, +and dual channel wide versions. These adapters feature SeqEngine +automation technology, which minimizes SCSI command overhead and reduces +the number of interrupts generated to the CPU. + +About Mylex +=========== + +Mylex Corporation (NASDAQ/NM SYMBOL: MYLX), founded in 1983, is a leading +producer of RAID technology and network management products. The company +produces high performance disk array (RAID) controllers, and complementary +computer products for network servers, mass storage systems, workstations +and system boards. Through its wide range of RAID controllers and its +BusLogic line of Ultra SCSI host adapter products, Mylex provides enabling +intelligent I/O technologies that increase network management control, +enhance CPU utilization, optimize I/O performance, and ensure data security +and availability. Products are sold globally through a network of OEMs, +major distributors, VARs, and system integrators. Mylex Corporation is +headquartered at 34551 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont, CA. + +Contact: +======== + +:: + + Peter Shambora + Vice President of Marketing + Mylex Corp. + 510/796-6100 + peters@mylex.com + + +:: + + ANNOUNCEMENT + BusLogic FlashPoint LT/BT-948 Upgrade Program + 1 February 1996 + + ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT + BusLogic FlashPoint LW/BT-958 Upgrade Program + 14 June 1996 + + Ever since its introduction last October, the BusLogic FlashPoint LT has + been problematic for members of the Linux community, in that no Linux + drivers have been available for this new Ultra SCSI product. Despite its + officially being positioned as a desktop workstation product, and not being + particularly well suited for a high performance multitasking operating + system like Linux, the FlashPoint LT has been touted by computer system + vendors as the latest thing, and has been sold even on many of their high + end systems, to the exclusion of the older MultiMaster products. This has + caused grief for many people who inadvertently purchased a system expecting + that all BusLogic SCSI Host Adapters were supported by Linux, only to + discover that the FlashPoint was not supported and would not be for quite + some time, if ever. + + After this problem was identified, BusLogic contacted its major OEM + customers to make sure the BT-946C/956C MultiMaster cards would still be + made available, and that Linux users who mistakenly ordered systems with + the FlashPoint would be able to upgrade to the BT-946C. While this helped + many purchasers of new systems, it was only a partial solution to the + overall problem of FlashPoint support for Linux users. It did nothing to + assist the people who initially purchased a FlashPoint for a supported + operating system and then later decided to run Linux, or those who had + ended up with a FlashPoint LT, believing it was supported, and were unable + to return it. + + In the middle of December, I asked to meet with BusLogic's senior + management to discuss the issues related to Linux and free software support + for the FlashPoint. Rumors of varying accuracy had been circulating + publicly about BusLogic's attitude toward the Linux community, and I felt + it was best that these issues be addressed directly. I sent an email + message after 11pm one evening, and the meeting took place the next + afternoon. Unfortunately, corporate wheels sometimes grind slowly, + especially when a company is being acquired, and so it's taken until now + before the details were completely determined and a public statement could + be made. + + BusLogic is not prepared at this time to release the information necessary + for third parties to write drivers for the FlashPoint. The only existing + FlashPoint drivers have been written directly by BusLogic Engineering, and + there is no FlashPoint documentation sufficiently detailed to allow outside + developers to write a driver without substantial assistance. While there + are people at BusLogic who would rather not release the details of the + FlashPoint architecture at all, that debate has not yet been settled either + way. In any event, even if documentation were available today it would + take quite a while for a usable driver to be written, especially since I'm + not convinced that the effort required would be worthwhile. + + However, BusLogic does remain committed to providing a high performance + SCSI solution for the Linux community, and does not want to see anyone left + unable to run Linux because they have a Flashpoint LT. Therefore, BusLogic + has put in place a direct upgrade program to allow any Linux user worldwide + to trade in their FlashPoint LT for the new BT-948 MultiMaster PCI Ultra + SCSI Host Adapter. The BT-948 is the Ultra SCSI successor to the BT-946C + and has all the best features of both the BT-946C and FlashPoint LT, + including smart termination and a flash PROM for easy firmware updates, and + is of course compatible with the present Linux driver. The price for this + upgrade has been set at US $45 plus shipping and handling, and the upgrade + program will be administered through BusLogic Technical Support, which can + be reached by electronic mail at techsup@buslogic.com, by Voice at +1 408 + 654-0760, or by FAX at +1 408 492-1542. + + As of 14 June 1996, the original BusLogic FlashPoint LT to BT-948 upgrade + program has now been extended to encompass the FlashPoint LW Wide Ultra + SCSI Host Adapter. Any Linux user worldwide may trade in their FlashPoint + LW (BT-950) for a BT-958 MultiMaster PCI Ultra SCSI Host Adapter. The + price for this upgrade has been set at US $65 plus shipping and handling. + + I was a beta test site for the BT-948/958, and versions 1.2.1 and 1.3.1 of + my BusLogic driver already included latent support for the BT-948/958. + Additional cosmetic support for the Ultra SCSI MultiMaster cards was added + subsequent releases. As a result of this cooperative testing process, + several firmware bugs were found and corrected. My heavily loaded Linux + test system provided an ideal environment for testing error recovery + processes that are much more rarely exercised in production systems, but + are crucial to overall system stability. It was especially convenient + being able to work directly with their firmware engineer in demonstrating + the problems under control of the firmware debugging environment; things + sure have come a long way since the last time I worked on firmware for an + embedded system. I am presently working on some performance testing and + expect to have some data to report in the not too distant future. + + BusLogic asked me to send this announcement since a large percentage of the + questions regarding support for the FlashPoint have either been sent to me + directly via email, or have appeared in the Linux newsgroups in which I + participate. To summarize, BusLogic is offering Linux users an upgrade + from the unsupported FlashPoint LT (BT-930) to the supported BT-948 for US + $45 plus shipping and handling, or from the unsupported FlashPoint LW + (BT-950) to the supported BT-958 for $65 plus shipping and handling. + Contact BusLogic Technical Support at techsup@buslogic.com or +1 408 + 654-0760 to take advantage of their offer. + + Leonard N. Zubkoff + lnz@dandelion.com |