MegaSTE and ICD adSCSI Micro ST

[tophe38]

Hi everybody,

 

I have a MegaSTE 4 with integrated ACSI (internal). I own an ICD adSCSI Micro ST, to install a SCSI hard drive inside the MegaSTE.

The MegaSTE ACSI works correctly, as I can use an external Megafile 30. ACSI internal connector (30 Pins) has 8 jumpers on 1-2, 3-4 ...

 

According documentation adSCSI Micro ST, it seems this adaptor don't support parity, so, I will add a parity generator (24ls280) on back.

Documentation raise a warning about parity on SCSI, so, I guess it doesn't provide it.

 

My question is about a cable to link MegaSTE internal connector and adSCSI.

I have MegaSTE 30 pins connector pinout, but, nothing about adSCSI.

adSCSI is a 24 pins connector.

Is it the same as MegaST 24 pin internal ?

 

Regards,

Christophe

 

[+DarkLord]

Er, I guess I'm missing something here but why not just put a hard drive inside the Mega STe? It

is made for it, after all. I couldn't quite tell from the post, but if there is already an internal drive

in the Mega STe, and you need more space, why not just get a bigger drive?

 

Sorry if I misunderstood something.

[tophe38]

Hi,

 

Sorry, I was not clear indeed.

MegaSTE don't have internal harddrive, but is a version with internal ACSI controller (usually, MegaSTE4 have one, some MegeSTE1 don't have it, and require an expansion card).

My MegaSTE is a version with internal ASCI on motherboard , it's a 30 pin connector.

I have a standard SCSI harddrive, with a 50 pins connecteur, and an ICD adSCSI micro st adaptator (details at ATARI's ICD http://www.icd.com/atari/ ).

The adaptator has a SCSI 50 pins connector, so, I plug it directly on harddrive.

 

The adaptor provide an ACSI connector for input (24 pins), but I don't have pinout.

I ask if someone known it, and/or if it's the same as MegaST internal connector.

 

From MegaSTE pinout, I know 6 last pins are GND and VCC, but I'm not sure if other 24 pins are directly the same as the adaptator.

Regarding this nice document (http://atari.nvg.org/mste_host_adapter/Stacy_MSTE_SCSI_host_adapter.pdf), It may be similar to MegaST internal connector.

 

Regards,

Christophe

Edited August 15, 2015 by tophe38

[ParanoidLittleMan]

According to ICD that ADSCI Micro is for Mega ST internal ACSI connector., what has really 24 pins. So, all you need is to DL Mega ST schematic and look that.

I guess that that adapter supports max 1 GB . Just by count of chips on it

[tophe38]

Hi,

 

ParanoidLittleMan, you're right, adSCSI Micro is MegaST pin compatible, so, I wired MegaSTE <-> MegaST, and It Works !!! Thanks to parity generator, my IBM DSAS-3540 is recognized by ICD Pro.

 

I manage to test it, partition it, and use it. Nice.

 

But ... When I reboot, Harddrive did not boot. I have to load ICDBOOT.PRG from a floppy. Of course, I have install driver on HD, and make C as boot partition (I can see .sys driver file).

 

To be continued ...

 

Christophe

[ParanoidLittleMan]

What capacity is that drive ?

[tophe38]

Hi,

 

This drive is 540MB size.

I check jumper for any special configuration (Terminator On, Disable TI Negociation), I don't see why it doesn't boot.

 

Is there something to configure (jumper on motherboard) on the MegaSTE ?

 

Thanks,

Christophe

[ParanoidLittleMan]

No jumper on mbo for hard disk. Something is wrong in driver install, I guess.

If you can attach that disk to some PC may try with writing image on - it's with autoboot driver. That's 1 GB, but you can write it on partially, and will see only first 2 partitions.

http://atari.8bitchip.info/DiskImgPP1.html

[tophe38]

Yes, I can attach my harddrive to pc, and apply your suggestion.

 

Also, I'd like to thank you very much for your website, and all applications you provide. It's a nice contribution, and thanks to you, I have fix and save valuable Atari data from my first HD.

 

I'll back soon.

 

Christophe

[tophe38]

I'm back.

Well, same result, HD don't boot.

If I start ICDBOOT.PRG from a floppy, HD is recognizing, but no partitions (Ok, your driver is required).

 

I plug it into my PC, and Windows mount 3 partitions, so, image writting was correct. I'm also trying several jumpers configuration, without success.

 

I must say I did not restore jumpers on MegaSTE internal connector (1-2, 3-4, 5-6 ...), as I did not use any external HD.

I previously plug my megafile 30, and it boot. Maybe I must try again.

 

to be continued ...

 

Christophe

[ParanoidLittleMan]

Likely there is unreliable data transfer, what causes that MBR checksum matches not, so it autoboots not. Should do some tests by copying files between partitions.

[tophe38]

Once again, I think you're right. I use long dupont cable (pin to pin) to build this custom made connection. I will short them, and build a small adaptor, to use a flat rubon cable.

 

But, once driver is loaded, I play with files : copying severals directory over partition, and I did not see any corruption. Only this damn no boot.

 

Another point is only ICD Driver can it. HDDriver 6.0 and scsitool don't see any HD attached. Maybe only ICDPro support ICD adapter....

[ParanoidLittleMan]

It is possible that this adapter works only with their driver. ADSCI Plus works with Hddriver or my driver for sure.

[Bama]

Once again, I think you're right. I use long dupont cable (pin to pin) to build this custom made connection. I will short them, and build a small adaptor, to use a flat rubon cable.

 

But, once driver is loaded, I play with files : copying severals directory over partition, and I did not see any corruption. Only this damn no boot.

 

Another point is only ICD Driver can it. HDDriver 6.0 and scsitool don't see any HD attached. Maybe only ICDPro support ICD adapter....

Hello Cristohpe,

 

Any updates? Any chance you tried this with HDDRIVER 9? Did the external ASCSI port work with the micro adscsi attached?

 

Smiles,

 

BAMA