From owner-freebsd-questions Mon Apr 22 01:22:18 1996 Return-Path: owner-questions Received: (from root@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.3/8.7.3) id BAA20891 for questions-outgoing; Mon, 22 Apr 1996 01:22:18 -0700 (PDT) Received: from genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au (genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au [129.127.96.120]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.3/8.7.3) with ESMTP id BAA20882 for ; Mon, 22 Apr 1996 01:22:14 -0700 (PDT) Received: from msmith@localhost by genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au (8.6.12/8.6.9) id RAA01739; Mon, 22 Apr 1996 17:47:37 +0930 From: Michael Smith Message-Id: <199604220817.RAA01739@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au> Subject: Re: Atapi IDE cdrom support To: wbart3@ktb.net (Bill Bartley) Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 17:47:37 +0930 (CST) Cc: questions@FreeBSD.ORG In-Reply-To: <317B3439.E00@ktb.net> from "Bill Bartley" at Apr 22, 96 00:24:41 am MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-questions@FreeBSD.ORG X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk Bill Bartley stands accused of saying: > > I've been running Linux for sometime, and would like to give FreeBSD > a try. But-I have an Atapi IDE cdrom. Linux has supported this > type of cdrom drive for over a year, yet your latest version, 2.1, > describes its support of this type of drive as being of "alph" > quality. Linux has support _some_ drives of this type for over a year. The Linux camp are, perhaps, somewhat more generous in their use of the term "support". Many people are using the FreeBSD ATAPI driver with no problems at all, however because it doesn't work with the vast majority of drives, and hasn't been heavily tested, it's generally considered wise to mention this up front. > I was wondering when this situation will be corrected. Atapi IDE > cdrom drives are not exactly new technology. Calling ATAPI drives "technology" of any sort is a bit of a joke. If you can put three models from three different vendors together, and find a lowest-common-denominator set of commands and options that allow the _basic_ CDROM operations, then you deserve a medal. And then we'll give you a fourth that breaks the set. If you're not sure whether your drive will work, download the ATAPI-enabled boot floppy and try it - you may well already be a winner. If you have a drive that doesn't work, and you're willing to help the developer(s) get it working, then people will be very happy. > Bill -- ]] Mike Smith, Software Engineer msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] Genesis Software genesis@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] High-speed data acquisition and (GSM mobile) 0411-222-496 [[ ]] realtime instrument control (ph/fax) +61-8-267-3039 [[ ]] Collector of old Unix hardware. "Where are your PEZ?" The Tick [[