TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #1
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Compliments of
The P e r S t o r S u p p o r t B o a r d
FidoNet 1:102/523
AlterNet 7:401/523
213-306-1447
RELEASE DATE: 9/9/88
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #1
INTRODUCTION
This technical memorandum describes compatibility with certain
operating systems and machine combinations. It is intended to
provide the installer, dealer, VAR, and OEM with the technical
information necessary to install these operating systems. This
memo also contains examples of known incompatibilities.
FIXDOS
The PERSTOR PS180-8XT and PS180-8AT utiliziny the XT9-1.03 and
AT9-1.05 BIOS are compatible with PC- and MS-DOS versions 3.1,
3.2, 3.3, and 4.0. The Perstor diskette has been revised to
include the new batch program called FIXDOS40 to correct the
patch present in and intended only for original IBM AT systems
with a motherboard BIOS dated 01/10/84.
FIXDOS40 is available on the Perstor Bulletin Board System as
well as on the diskette. Users may access the BBS by dialing
(213-306-1447). After gaining entry to the BBS, the user should
download FIXDOS40.ARC and the necessary de-archiving software.
Next, the user should perform the FIXDOS procedure of the operat-
ing system diskette. Again, this is only necessary for those
users having the PS180-8XT/-8AT Controller in a true IBM AT
system with a BIOS dated 01/10/84.
There are various corrections and anomalies contained within PC-
and MS-DOS version 4.0 and earlier which should be addressed to
Microsoft or IBM directly instead of Perstor Systems, Inc.
Those corrections deal with the performance and operating consis-
tency of DOS, and they are unrelated to the Perstor Controllers.
MICROSOFT WINDOWS 386
Windows 286 and 386 versions 2.0³ and 2.± are compatible with the
PS180-16F Controllers. In addition, Windows 286 and Windows 386
are compatible with the PS180-8XT and PS180-8AT Controllers.
PLEASE NOTE that Windows software must first be copied into a
separate subdirectory (such as WINDOWS), and the setup program
should be performed from there. This will build the subdirectory
known as WIN386, where the actual program will be executed from.
Any attempt to build or run thr setup program from the execution
subdirectory, WIN386, will result in a failure of setup
completion. This problem is related to the nature of Windows 386
and its installation procedure rather than any Perstor product.
SCO XENIX SYSTEM µ
XENIX, UNIX, and all variations are complex multi-user operating
systems which do not perform BIOS calls, but rather deal directly
with the controller input and output ports and are therefore
highly time dependent. The correct functioning of the operating
system depends upon a combination of motherboard architecture,
processor speeds, disk subsystem, controller, and operating
system. The installer should have sufficient knowledge of these
differences to successfully install these systems. Perstor
Systems, Inc. has performed tests with SCO XENIX 2.² and found it
to be compatible. However, Perstor cannot be responsible for all
possible motherboard/BIOS and timing relationships.
SCO XENIX 2.2 INSTALLATION
1) Prepare the subsystem, initialize it utilizing the setup
program provided on the Perstor diskette, and perform the
low-level format using the Perstor ATFLFMT program.
2) Choose the correct drive configuration utilizing the on-board
BIOS tables on the PS180-16F Controller.
3) Perform the surface scan function provided within the ATFLFMT
program and mark any marginal or defective sectors recorded
on the drive before the actual installation of XENIX.
4) Begin the installation procedure contained within the XENIX
guide, making all necessary backups and diskette copies as
advised. Boot from the installation diskette as described on
page 2.¸ of the guide. This page discusses the invocation of
the HDINIT program and its subsequent invocation of DKINIT.
The DKINIT program will have recognized the 3± sector per
track value on the Perstor controller and may be executed as
described in the XENIX installation guide.
WARNINGº DO NOT attempt to low level format the hard disk
attached to the PS180-16F Controller utilizing ANY low level
formatting software other than the PERSTOR ATFLFMÔ program. After
completing the XENIX installation procedures, your XENIX system
will be usable and operational in the standard manner as
described by the XENIX software.
AT&T UNIX/MICROPORT UNIX/INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS CORPORATION UNIX
We believe that the Perstor PS180-16F Controller is compatible
with the WD100³ controller in timing characteristics. However,
the implementation of the device drivers for various UNIX systems
may be different. Though it is our belief that these operating
systems will operate and function properly, we cannot assure that
the software driver developers have not relief of some different
characteristis or timing relationship.
NOVELL NETWARE VERSION 2.0
Novell Netware is, again, a highly complex multi-user operating
system which is timing dependent upon the instruction execution
speed of the host machine, the machine in which the operating
system has been generated, the bios contained within the machine,
the operating system itself, and the disk drive and controller
combination. The user should be thoroughly familiar with these
characteristics before attempting an initialization.
If a Novell system is generater of one machine and operates on a
machine which has a higher execution speed, various errors and
false reports or errors will occur. This results from the Novell
software performing instruction time-dependent timing of various
operations and reporting errors which do not exist. Novell ELÓ
and Advanced Netware 28¶ version 2.° do not support any
controllers allocating more than 1· sectors per track to the hard
disk, without first patching the Novell software.
1) Setup and define the disk utilizing the SETUP program
supplied by Perstor Systems, Inc. choosing the correct drive
table entry from the menu provided on the screen.
2) Perform the low-level format using the Perstor ATFLFMT
program, scan the surface, and mark any defective sectors
labeled by the manufacturer, whether they have been detected
by the initial scan using ATFLFMT or not.
3) You may use COMPSURÆ on other network preparation programs
such as Disk Manager Î to prepare the disk for operation, but
do NOT format the disk at this point.
4) After performing the COMPSURÆ operation, proceed with the
SYSLOAÄ procedures. PLEASE NOTE that if you are using Novell
ELÓ or Advanced Netware version 2.° you will need to utilize
the patches provided in the attached addendum and available
through the Perstor BBS. These patches overcome the 1·
sector per track limitation of the Novell software.
NOVELL NETWARE 286 VERSION 2.11
This program must be generated on the machine utilizing the
generation parameters prescribed by Novell. Again, this develops
a highly timing dependent operating system which can be
successfully installed and operates providing the installing
contractor is knowledgeable of the timing related software issues
discussed above.
1) Setup and define the disk utilizing the setup program
supplied by Perstor Systems, Inc. choosing the correct drive
table entry from the menu provided on the screen.
2) Perform the low level format using the Perstor ATFLFMT
program, perform the surface scan and mark any defective or
marginal sectors labeled by the manufacturer, whether they
have been detected by the initial scan using ATFLFMT or not.
3) You may Use COMPSURF or other network preparation programs
such as Disk Manager Î to prepare the disk for operation, but
do not format the disk at this point. Again, you must have a
machine with the correct operating characteristics for
COMPSURÆ to properly operate.
4) After completing the surface analysis and disk initialization
segments of COMPSURF, you may proceed with the actual NETGEÎ
operation and installation. You will notice that the COMPSURF
and NETGEÎ programs will have recognized the 3± or 3´ sector
per track characteristics on the Perstor controllers.
After this procedure is completed as defined by Novell, the
system will operate in the prescribed manner.
NOVELL 86
The Perstor PS180-8XT and PS180-8AT controllers are compatible
with Novell Netwarr 86, providing that the low level format has
been performed using the PS2FMT program supplied by Perstor
Systems, Inc.
TECHNICAL MACHINE DIFFERENCES AND COMPATIBILITY ISSUES
The test process on the PS180-8XT, PS180-8AT, and PS180-16F
products has included a variety of equipment, ranging from the
original IBM AT (1/10/84) to the COMPAQ 386, various clones, and
various hard disk drives. These tests rely on the Ê (or higher
letter designations level microcode and the REÖ 1.³ (or higher
artwork level of the PS180-16F. If you have a REÖ 1.² board,
utilizing the Ê microcode, certain ECÎ changes musy be made to
the board to ensure that it retains the compatibility in all of
the above cases.
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ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ
Compliments of
The P e r S t o r S u p p o r t B o a r d
FidoNet 1:102/523
AlterNet 7:401/523
213-306-1447
RELEASE DATE: 9/9/88
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #1
INTRODUCTION
This technical memorandum describes compatibility with certain
operating systems and machine combinations. It is intended to
provide the installer, dealer, VAR, and OEM with the technical
information necessary to install these operating systems. This
memo also contains examples of known incompatibilities.
FIXDOS
The PERSTOR PS180-8XT and PS180-8AT utiliziny the XT9-1.03 and
AT9-1.05 BIOS are compatible with PC- and MS-DOS versions 3.1,
3.2, 3.3, and 4.0. The Perstor diskette has been revised to
include the new batch program called FIXDOS40 to correct the
patch present in and intended only for original IBM AT systems
with a motherboard BIOS dated 01/10/84.
FIXDOS40 is available on the Perstor Bulletin Board System as
well as on the diskette. Users may access the BBS by dialing
(213-306-1447). After gaining entry to the BBS, the user should
download FIXDOS40.ARC and the necessary de-archiving software.
Next, the user should perform the FIXDOS procedure of the operat-
ing system diskette. Again, this is only necessary for those
users having the PS180-8XT/-8AT Controller in a true IBM AT
system with a BIOS dated 01/10/84.
There are various corrections and anomalies contained within PC-
and MS-DOS version 4.0 and earlier which should be addressed to
Microsoft or IBM directly instead of Perstor Systems, Inc.
Those corrections deal with the performance and operating consis-
tency of DOS, and they are unrelated to the Perstor Controllers.
MICROSOFT WINDOWS 386
Windows 286 and 386 versions 2.0³ and 2.± are compatible with the
PS180-16F Controllers. In addition, Windows 286 and Windows 386
are compatible with the PS180-8XT and PS180-8AT Controllers.
PLEASE NOTE that Windows software must first be copied into a
separate subdirectory (such as WINDOWS), and the setup program
should be performed from there. This will build the subdirectory
known as WIN386, where the actual program will be executed from.
Any attempt to build or run thr setup program from the execution
subdirectory, WIN386, will result in a failure of setup
completion. This problem is related to the nature of Windows 386
and its installation procedure rather than any Perstor product.
SCO XENIX SYSTEM µ
XENIX, UNIX, and all variations are complex multi-user operating
systems which do not perform BIOS calls, but rather deal directly
with the controller input and output ports and are therefore
highly time dependent. The correct functioning of the operating
system depends upon a combination of motherboard architecture,
processor speeds, disk subsystem, controller, and operating
system. The installer should have sufficient knowledge of these
differences to successfully install these systems. Perstor
Systems, Inc. has performed tests with SCO XENIX 2.² and found it
to be compatible. However, Perstor cannot be responsible for all
possible motherboard/BIOS and timing relationships.
SCO XENIX 2.2 INSTALLATION
1) Prepare the subsystem, initialize it utilizing the setup
program provided on the Perstor diskette, and perform the
low-level format using the Perstor ATFLFMT program.
2) Choose the correct drive configuration utilizing the on-board
BIOS tables on the PS180-16F Controller.
3) Perform the surface scan function provided within the ATFLFMT
program and mark any marginal or defective sectors recorded
on the drive before the actual installation of XENIX.
4) Begin the installation procedure contained within the XENIX
guide, making all necessary backups and diskette copies as
advised. Boot from the installation diskette as described on
page 2.¸ of the guide. This page discusses the invocation of
the HDINIT program and its subsequent invocation of DKINIT.
The DKINIT program will have recognized the 3± sector per
track value on the Perstor controller and may be executed as
described in the XENIX installation guide.
WARNINGº DO NOT attempt to low level format the hard disk
attached to the PS180-16F Controller utilizing ANY low level
formatting software other than the PERSTOR ATFLFMÔ program. After
completing the XENIX installation procedures, your XENIX system
will be usable and operational in the standard manner as
described by the XENIX software.
AT&T UNIX/MICROPORT UNIX/INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS CORPORATION UNIX
We believe that the Perstor PS180-16F Controller is compatible
with the WD100³ controller in timing characteristics. However,
the implementation of the device drivers for various UNIX systems
may be different. Though it is our belief that these operating
systems will operate and function properly, we cannot assure that
the software driver developers have not relief of some different
characteristis or timing relationship.
NOVELL NETWARE VERSION 2.0
Novell Netware is, again, a highly complex multi-user operating
system which is timing dependent upon the instruction execution
speed of the host machine, the machine in which the operating
system has been generated, the bios contained within the machine,
the operating system itself, and the disk drive and controller
combination. The user should be thoroughly familiar with these
characteristics before attempting an initialization.
If a Novell system is generater of one machine and operates on a
machine which has a higher execution speed, various errors and
false reports or errors will occur. This results from the Novell
software performing instruction time-dependent timing of various
operations and reporting errors which do not exist. Novell ELÓ
and Advanced Netware 28¶ version 2.° do not support any
controllers allocating more than 1· sectors per track to the hard
disk, without first patching the Novell software.
1) Setup and define the disk utilizing the SETUP program
supplied by Perstor Systems, Inc. choosing the correct drive
table entry from the menu provided on the screen.
2) Perform the low-level format using the Perstor ATFLFMT
program, scan the surface, and mark any defective sectors
labeled by the manufacturer, whether they have been detected
by the initial scan using ATFLFMT or not.
3) You may use COMPSURÆ on other network preparation programs
such as Disk Manager Î to prepare the disk for operation, but
do NOT format the disk at this point.
4) After performing the COMPSURÆ operation, proceed with the
SYSLOAÄ procedures. PLEASE NOTE that if you are using Novell
ELÓ or Advanced Netware version 2.° you will need to utilize
the patches provided in the attached addendum and available
through the Perstor BBS. These patches overcome the 1·
sector per track limitation of the Novell software.
NOVELL NETWARE 286 VERSION 2.11
This program must be generated on the machine utilizing the
generation parameters prescribed by Novell. Again, this develops
a highly timing dependent operating system which can be
successfully installed and operates providing the installing
contractor is knowledgeable of the timing related software issues
discussed above.
1) Setup and define the disk utilizing the setup program
supplied by Perstor Systems, Inc. choosing the correct drive
table entry from the menu provided on the screen.
2) Perform the low level format using the Perstor ATFLFMT
program, perform the surface scan and mark any defective or
marginal sectors labeled by the manufacturer, whether they
have been detected by the initial scan using ATFLFMT or not.
3) You may Use COMPSURF or other network preparation programs
such as Disk Manager Î to prepare the disk for operation, but
do not format the disk at this point. Again, you must have a
machine with the correct operating characteristics for
COMPSURÆ to properly operate.
4) After completing the surface analysis and disk initialization
segments of COMPSURF, you may proceed with the actual NETGEÎ
operation and installation. You will notice that the COMPSURF
and NETGEÎ programs will have recognized the 3± or 3´ sector
per track characteristics on the Perstor controllers.
After this procedure is completed as defined by Novell, the
system will operate in the prescribed manner.
NOVELL 86
The Perstor PS180-8XT and PS180-8AT controllers are compatible
with Novell Netwarr 86, providing that the low level format has
been performed using the PS2FMT program supplied by Perstor
Systems, Inc.
TECHNICAL MACHINE DIFFERENCES AND COMPATIBILITY ISSUES
The test process on the PS180-8XT, PS180-8AT, and PS180-16F
products has included a variety of equipment, ranging from the
original IBM AT (1/10/84) to the COMPAQ 386, various clones, and
various hard disk drives. These tests rely on the Ê (or higher
letter designations level microcode and the REÖ 1.³ (or higher
artwork level of the PS180-16F. If you have a REÖ 1.² board,
utilizing the Ê microcode, certain ECÎ changes musy be made to
the board to ensure that it retains the compatibility in all of
the above cases.
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