From owner-freebsd-isp Sat Dec 6 04:32:35 1997 Return-Path: Received: (from root@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.7/8.8.7) id EAA14344 for isp-outgoing; Sat, 6 Dec 1997 04:32:35 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-isp) Received: from spooky.eis.net.au (spooky.eis.net.au [203.12.171.2]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id EAA14333 for ; Sat, 6 Dec 1997 04:32:25 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from ernie@spooky.eis.net.au) Received: (from ernie@localhost) by spooky.eis.net.au (8.8.7/8.8.3) id WAA19154; Sat, 6 Dec 1997 22:31:59 +1000 (EST) From: Ernie Elu Message-Id: <199712061231.WAA19154@spooky.eis.net.au> Subject: Re: Adaptec 2940/Seagate Failures In-Reply-To: from "Gabor Dolla" at "Dec 6, 97 11:15:48 am" X-ELM-OSV: (Our standard violations) no-mime=1; no-hdr-encoding=1 To: agdolla@telnet.datanet.hu (Gabor Dolla) Date: Sat, 6 Dec 1997 22:31:50 +1000 (EST) Cc: freebsd-isp@freebsd.org X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4ME+ PL31H (25)] Content-Type: text Sender: owner-freebsd-isp@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk > > things. What especially stands out is the number of people saying that > > they have no problem, "it works great," and then noting that they're not > > really using it or only have a tape attached, etc., literally in the same > > breath. The people who DO seem to be having problems are running the 2940 > > > - I've used every combination of AHC_TAGENABLE, AHC_SCBPAGING_ENABLE, and > > AHC_ALLOW_MEMIO in the kernel possible and each one in cooperation with > > the others or on its own eventually brings down the system. > > > Hi > > We had problems when we tried to use FreeBSD as a news server, it always > went down with similar problems you have. > > The funny things is that we have now a Pentium running FreeBSD 2.2.5 and > squid with 128M RAM and a wide 2940 scsi controller and it never goes > down! I even compiled a new kernel with all AHC_... options and still it > is very stable. It was the same with 2.2.2. It does have a nice load as > hundreds of users use this host as a proxy server plus it works with other > squids remote as well. > > Both innd and squid is I/O intensive and uses lots of small files... > > Next week we try to use FreeBSD as a news server again but with DNEWS this > time :) > > Also, I installed a new disk into the proxy server and during boot it says > somethins like 'sending SDTR' when the controller negotiates with this new > disk. What does that mean ? > > best > > Gabor Dolla > DataNet Ltd, Budapest, Hungary > > > I don't know if this is related but I have had a spate of SCSI bus errors on my proxy server, I run Quanutm Fireball 4.3GB drives of which I have bought 5 over the last 3 months. I am running a generic NCR 53c810 based controller but I have also had the same failures with an Adaptec 1542 controller. The first 2 drives I bought are running fine, the next 3 all gave intermittent scsi bus errors that required rebooting the server. I was running FreeBSD 2.2.2 and in an attempt to isolate the problem I replaced ALL the hadware twice and even did a fresh install/upgrade to 2.2.5. No luck, in desparation I sent back 3 of the drives and replaced them with a Segate Barracuda 9.1GB drive which had not failed in the past week. The point I am trying to make is that something was very marginal to bring out a batch fault in the Quantum drives that since have run fine under MacOS or Windows 95/NT. Unfortunately I have an ISP job to get on with so I could not put in the time to zero in any closer to the problem. A SCSI intermittent is very hard to find. - Ernie.