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************************************************************************ FastATA 4000 Controller (A4000 PowerFlyer) with transfer rate 16.6 MB/s ************************************************************************ FEATURES > High-speed Fast ATA-3/EIDE ZORRO III controller for Amiga 3000/4000. > Enables operation of the devices in fast modes PIO-3 and PIO-4 up to 16.6 MB/s. > Data transfer is several times faster than in any ZORRO II or Fast ZORRO II controllers. > Compatible with PIO-0 to PIO-4, UDMA-33, UDMA-66 devices. > Two IDE 3.5" ports allow to connect 4 EIDE devices (HDD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, ZIP, LS-120, DVD) working at full speed. > Supports HDDs > 4 GB. > The set includes very advanced FastATA4000 software for controlling EIDE devices and the fastest CD filesystem: AllegroCDFS. REGISTRATION If you would like to receive e-mail updates of the software written for the ELBOX FastATA 4000 (A4000 PowerFlyer) Controller, please send a message to: support@elbox.com subject: subscribe FastATA4000 body: <your name>, <your mailing address>, <your FastATA.driver version>, <the serial number of your controller>, <company where controller was bought>. INSTALLATION Insert the controller board into any of the ZORRO III slot. Its elements must be visible on the UPPER side. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION Note: If you use AmigaOS3.5 with no devices connected to the original A4000 IDE port, you should insert the following line at the begin of the S:startup-sequence: SetPatch QUIET SKIPROMUPDATES scsi.device If you use AmigaOS3.5 please remember to edit NSDPatch.cfg file (in DEVS: drawer). Add a "#" comment character in the lines where you already use an NSD device. FastATA4000 software controls EIDE/ATAPI devices by its own scsi.device (version 1 revision 0) or 2nd.scsi.device. Scsi.device (2nd.scsi.device) from FastATA4000 is a NSD device, so you should place "#" before scsi.device or 2nd.scsi.device line in NSDPatch.cfg file. Instead of editing NSDPatch.cfg file, you could change in the SetPatch line (in S:startup-sequence file) as follows: SetPatch NONSD QUIET SKIPROMUPDATES scsi.device Note: New HDD installation (partitioning) or making any change in RDB of HDD attached to FastATA 4000 is permissible only if FastATA.driver is running. FastATA.driver should be started before HDToolBox. The following files are provided in the enclosed FastATA4000 floppy disk: FastATA.driver FastATAInstall FastATAPrefs AllegroCDFS AllegroCDFS.test1 Mountlists: CD0, CD1, CD2, CD3, PC4, PC5, PC6, PC7, CheckLMB ReadMeFirst History.txt DriveSpeed ATAPIFormat ReadTest FastATA4000.lha Copyright.doc Note: If you have only one drive attached to any port, jumpers on it should be set to SINGLE (MASTER). If you have two drives attached to any port, the first drive should have jumpers set to MASTER, the second one to SLAVE. AUTOMATIC SOFTWARE INSTALLATION 1. Boot the computer from the hard disk. 2. Run FastATA-Install from the FastATA4000 floppy disk. The installation proceeds fully automatically. FastATA-Install prepares all the AllegroCDFS mountlists for your CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW/DVD drives. Note: The Installer program (from INSTALL Workbench) must be present in the C: drawer of the booting disk. MANUAL SOFTWARE INSTALLATION 1. Copy FastATA.driver to the C: drawer. 2. Copy FastATAPrefs to the PREFS: drawer. 3. Add the following at the beginning of the startup-sequence: C:CheckLMB IF WARN SYS:Prefs/FastATAPrefs EndIF C:FastATA.driver QUIET Note: If you upgrade drivers, copy only new FastATA.driver and new FastATAPrefs to appropriate drawers. 4. For manual AllegroCDFS installation, copy AllegroCDFS to L: drawer. 5. Copy proper mountlists from FastATA4000:mountlists to DEVS:DosDrivers. HOW THE SOFTWARE WORKS The card creates a proprietary device for software FastATA 4000 control, whose name depends on the system's configuration. If you do not use a standard IDE port in the A4000 mainboard, the card will create a scsi.device. If you use a standard IDE port, the card will create 2nd.scsi.device. When several FastATA 4000, A2091 or A4091 cards are used, the card will create: 3rd.scsi.device, 4th.scsi.device... Software allows for simultaneous controlling of up to seven FastATA 4000 controllers in A4000. In the first start of FastATA.driver (in S:startup-sequence) switch all drives attached to FastATA 4000 to modes stored by FastATAPrefs program. In the second run, the FastATA.driver gives only information about the connected devices and their modes of operation - PIO 0 to PIO 5. Most of new HDDs could work in PIO5 but for using HDD in PIO5 your Amiga should be equipped in turbo board with FastRAM on it. The FastATA 4000 Controller supports HDD > 4 GB by automatic HDD splitting into 4 GB logical units, thus guaranteeing 100% compatibility with the Operating System and any earlier software. If you connect hard disks > 4 GB, they will be automatically divided into units smaller than 4 GB. The split 4 GB units have Drive Revision 4Gxx in the HDToolBox program. In FastATAPrefs preferences, you can choose the mode of operation: either SPLIT (default) or NO SPLIT. The latter means that an installed HDD will NOT be divided it into logical units. Then, use only the filesystems with NSD, TD64 or DirectSCSI commands implemented. Scsi.device created by FastATA 4000 supports NSD, TD64 and DirectSCSI. Note: Run the FastATA.driver before partitioning HDDs larger than 4 GB! Note: Some filesystems (e.g. FFS) do not correctly support partitions larger than 2 GB. See also FAQ2 in the end of ReadMeFirst. ATAPI DEVICES If you have ATAPI-standard devices installed, the DEVS:DosDrivers drawer has to include an appropriate mountlist. The Unit parameter of the CD mountlist shall correspond to the Unit number for the given CD-ROM drive. PRIMARY MASTER Unit 0 use CD0 from FastATA:mountlists drawer PRIMARY SLAVE Unit 1 use CD1 SECONDARY MASTER Unit 2 use CD2 SECONDARY SLAVE Unit 3 use CD3 Note: CDx mountlists for AllegroCDFS are stored in the FastATA4000:mountlist drawer. Note: If you are using any other mountlist, always set the device=scsi.device (2nd.scsi.device, 3rd.scsi.device,.. depending of numbers of FastATA 4000 cards in computer) for HDD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW drives and device=trackdisk.device for removable media like LS-120, ZIP-ATAPI. Removable media drives like LS-120, ZIP, etc. do not require any special mountlist, when formatted with the Amiga operational system, as they are automatically recognised. When these media are used in the PC format, the Devs/DOsDrivers drawer has to include an appropriate mountlist (PCx). Note: The Unit parameter of the PCx mountlist shall correspond to the drive Unit number (Unit = Unit number + 4). for PRIMARY MASTER use PC4 from FastATA4000:mountlists drawer for PRIMARY SLAVE use PC5 for SECONDARY MASTER use PC6 for SECONDARY SLAVE use PC7 THE FastATAPrefs PROGRAM The FastATAPrefs may be used to manually adjust operation modes in any non-standard or old drives and to configure the FastATA.driver. Start this program always after changing your hardware configuration. To store it, change exit by SAVE. It will save FastATA.Prefs configuration file in the ENVARC: drawer. This file is used by FastATA.driver. Note: Pressing the RESTORE button in the FastATAPrefs recalls the fastest settings and auto-booting after any unwanted changes made with the FastATAPrefs software. Note: You could start FastATAPrefs by pressing left mouse button at computer's start. Note: From FastATA.driver ver.1.5, in order to reach the full speed on A3000/A4000 with 68040 it is necessary to start once FastATAPrefs and exit it with SAVE option. ALLEGRO CDFS > AllegroCDFS is the fastest Amiga CD File System and the first Amiga file system to support UDF (the Video DVD format). > It provides access to: ISO 9660 level 1, 2, 3, Joliet (Windows 95/98 long name) level 1, 2, 3, RockRidge (with Amiga Extensions), CDDA, UDF (Video DVD). > Supports Amiga protection bits. > Supports Multisession. > Supports SCSI and ATAPI devices (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD). > Supports direct audio grabbing from standard audio CDs. READTEST (works also without FastATA 4000 controller) ReadTest is used for testing read from any drives. It serves checking whether a given disk may work in a specific configuration in a specific PIO mode. Syntax: ReadTest scsi.device n where n is the unit number from 0 to 3. Note: Any read error means that using this mode is strictly forbidden! You have to check the configuration, possibly shorten the signal ribbons, check whether any of the SIMMs used does not interfere with the transmission (controller software switches SIMMs into the burst mode), etc. Any attempt to write to partitions when the test reports read errors may cause writing bad checksums in the disk. Afterwards, you will have reports of bad checksums when a given sector is read again without any transmission errors. DRIVESPEED (works also without FastATA 4000 controller) DriveSpeed is used for checking speed of any drives. Syntax: DriveSpeed scsi.device n where n is the unit number from 0 to 3. Note: For checking the maximum CD-ROM speed, use CD-ROM disk larger than 675 MB. With smaller disks, only the central (slower) sectors speed is read out. ATAPIFORMAT (works also without FastATA 4000 controller) ATAPIFormat is a low-level formatting program for any removable ATAPI media. Syntax: ATAPIFormat scsi.device n where n is the unit number from 0 to 3 FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS FAQ 1. How long should HDD ribbons be? The ATA/ATAPI-4 specification recommends using as short cables as possible, never longer than 18 inches (46 cm). These cables should be even shorter for the unspecified PIO-5 mode. One also has to take care when installing HD removable drive bay racks (for relocating hard disk from one machine to another). These racks may introduce signal noises at fast transfers, which are similar to those occurring with very long ribbons. FAQ 2. I have a problem with disappearing data on my HDD 6.5 GB... ABOUT USING HDD > 4 GB The scsi.device implemented in the A4000's ROM does not work properly with standard Amiga file systems when managing hard disks > 4 GB. Attempts to write to partitions above the 4 GB may result in damaging data located in lower partitions. New file systems, based on TD64 commands (TrackDisk.device 64) are an effort to cope with this situation. However, this solution does not provide full compatibility with the current software available for Amiga computers. Major malfunctions are observed in the working of software directly modifying disk sectors: the FORMAT system command, REORG, DPU, DiskSalve, QuarterbackTools and other programes. (Using any of these in any partition above 4 GB may lead to damaging data in lower partitions.) ELBOX FastATA 4000 controller solves all the problems related to the application of hard disks > 4 GB. The controller employs a method of managing large disks, which is different from TD64 commands. Disks > 4 GB are automatically split into logical units of 4 GB size and a unit of a size, which is part of that amount, if needed. For example, an 18.3 GB disk will be divided into 4 disks of 4 GB each and a 2.3 GB disk. This method guarantees 100% compatibility of logical disks created with all the software available for Amiga computers. Any file system (OFS, FFS, AFS, SFS, PFS-2, PFS-3 etc.) may be used, the disk may be partitioned with the standard HDToolBox, and partitions may be formatted with the FORMAT system command. Note: During partitioning disks > 4 GB, controller must be activated. Run the FastATA.driver before running HDToolBox (for partitioning HDD > 4GB). If the disk to be installed is the only disk connected to the Amiga, the FastATA.driver must be run from the FastATA4000 floppy disk supplied with the controller. Below, please find the step-by-step instruction for installing > 4 GB hard disk in the Amiga with the ELBOX FastATA 4000 controller. NEW HDD INSTALLATION If you would like to SPLIT HDD > 4BG into 4GB units (recommended): 1. Start FastATA.driver and next FastATAPrefs. 2. Set HDD driver to SPLIT and exit FastATAPrefs by SAVE or USE. 3. Run the HDToolBox. 4. The status line will have several logical disks with the status: UNKNOWN, Address = 0, Lun = 0, 1, ... 5. Mark the first of the logical disks and open the Change Drive Type options. 6. Select the Define New option. 7. Enter RAM: in the File Name field: before the file name (so as not to save to the Install floppy disk or HDD). 8. Select Read Configuration, then OK, then OK. 9. Start partitioning the first hard disk. (Please remember that FFS does not work properly with partitions larger than 2 GB; therefore, if you want some partitions to be present in the FFS, these should be smaller than 2 GB.) 10. After dividing the disk into partitions, select the Save Changes to Drive option. 11. Mark the next logical disk and proceed as in steps 5 to 10. Repeat the procedure for all the logical disks. Note: Make sure that every partition is named differently. 12. EXIT the HDToolBox and reset the computer. 13. All the partitions will appear in the screen. Now make quick format for each partition. You can freely use a hard disk, which was prepared in this way, and writing to partitions above the 4 GB size will not result in losing data in lower partitions. You could use any file systems: OFS, FFS, AFS, SFS, PFS-2, PFS-3 on any HDD partition. If you would like to use NSD, DirectSCSI or TD64 command instead of splitting HDD > 4 GB: 1. Start FastATAPrefs 2. Set HDD driver to NO SPLIT and exit FastATAPrefs by SAVE or USE. 3. Run FastATA.driver. 4. Run HDToolBOX. 5. Mark installing disk in status line and open the Change Drive Type options. 6. Select the Define New option. 7. Enter RAM: in the File Name field: before the file name (so as not to save to the Install floppy disk or HDD). 8. Select Read Configuration, then OK, then OK. 9. Start partitioning the hard disk. 10. After dividing the disk into partitions, select the Save Changes to Drive option. 11. EXIT the HDToolBox and reset the computer. 12. All the partitions will appear in the screen. Now make quick format for each partition. If you will choose NO SPLIT installation, use only the filesystems supporting NSD or TD64 or DirectSCSI. Note: Changing the operation mode of the FastATA.driver (SPLIT/NO SPLIT) for the given disk (without its new installation) into mode which is incompatible with its installation (and partitioning), may result in losing data (when attempting using software, which accesses directly disk sectors: Format, ReOrg, DiskSalv, ...). FAQ 3. After removing HDD from the motherboard IDE port computer needs more time to start... If you do not use IDE connector on the A4000 motherboard the computer need about 30 second (KS3.1) to start. You could disable waiting for drives on motherboard IDE by making two connections in the 40-pin header motherboard: 10 kOhm between pin 39 and pin 3, 10 kOhm between pin 39 and pin 5. Full speed of FastATA 4000 controller start you will reach when on both controller ports you will attach any devices. FAQ 4. I have a problem with multitasking when copying large volumes of data between my HDDs... We recommend using UNIX-like process scheduler - Executive (from Aminet) for full multitasking during EIDE devices operation. FAQ 5. I have Buddha ZORRO II IDE controller. Could I use it simultaneous with FastATA 4000 controller? Yes. All types of IDE splitters (all ZORRO II IDE controllers and 4-way buffered interfaces) could be use simultaneous with FastATA 4000 controller. IDE splitters work as A4000 motherboard IDE port only in the slowest PIO mode - PIO-0 (transfer < 3 MB/s). So only the oldest devices are practical to be connected. You should attach all new, fast EIDE/ATAPI devices to FastATA 4000 controller . If you have many fast HDD, CD-ROM, DVD, ZIP, LS-120 drives please remember that you could use together as many FastATA 4000 controllers in your computer as many ZORRO III slots you have. FAQ 6. I would like to buy a new IBM 25 GB Ultra-ATA/66 HDD. What will be the actual transfer from this disk? Will this disk be much slower than in a PC with Ultra-ATA/66 controller? The actual transfer will be approximately the same. The transfer is given in the parameter reported by the manufacturer as "substained data rate". For this very disk, the parameter is from 8.7 MB/s to 15.5 MB/s depending on the place of the disk, from which data are read. The FastATA 4000 controller is capable of accepting data from HDD at the speed of up to 16.6 MB/s. Benchmarking software (e.g. Sysinfo, DriveSpeed) show the speed at which data read from the disk by FastATA 4000 controller are located by the turbo card in its FAST memory. This speed may be limited by the design of a specific turbo card. SUPPORT If you have any questions about ELBOX FastATA 4000 (A4000 PowerFlyer) Controller, please contact our technical support: support@elbox.com.