Gdth Driver Parameters - ICP RS Series User Manual

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G.5 gdth driver parameters
Driver versions older than 1.05 do not support driver parameters. From driver version 1.05
to 1.07 it is necessary to add driver parameters directly in /usr/src/linux/drivers/scsi/gdth.c .
From version 1.10 on you may use for the parameters the LILO boot prompt (gdth=...") or in
/etc/lilo.conf the append command (append = "gdth=...").
Reservation of SCSI devices:
The reservation of SCSI devices becomes necessary if you wish that so-called 'Direct Access
Devices' (e.g. hard disks, removable hard disks like IOMEGA or SyQuest, some MOs) are
directly controlled by Linux and not the ICP Controller's firmware (i.e., they are not config-
ured as Host Drives). This is also called "raw-service". In this case the ICP Controller does
not cache the data to/from the reserved SCSI device. This reservation is important for re-
movable hard disks. If they are controlled by the ICP Controller and are a Host Drive, a me-
dia change is very difficult. 'Non Direct Access Devices' like CD-ROMs, Streamers, DATs, etc.
do not require a reservation. IMPORTANT: The reservation is only possible with not-
initialized SCSI devices. (Use ICPCON to de-initialize an already initialized device).
As already mentioned a reservation for driver versions 1.05 to 1.07 has to be made directly
in the driver sources. Look for 'gdth_reserve_str' in '/usr/src/linux/drivers/scsi/gdth.c' . You'll
find a non-active sample entry, which you can change according to the coordinates of the
device you want to reserve (enter Adapter, Bus, ID and LUN). Save the file and compile a
new kernel.
From driver version 1.10 on you can add the parameters for the reservation with the LILO
append command:
Excerpt of /etc/lilo.conf:
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/sda2
label = Linux
append = "gdth=reserve_list:1,0,6,0"
# Linux bootable partition config ends
This gdth driver parameter reserves the SCSI device which is connected with ICP Controller
1 (second ICP Controller), SCSI Bus 0 (channel A), ID 6, LUN 0 for Linux (raw service).
After each change in /etc/lilo.conf , lilo must be loaded once.
Driver parameters may also be entered at the LILO boot prompt.
(e.g.: gdth=reserve_list:1,0,6,0).