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Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 19:49:11 +0100
From: Stefan Esser <se@freebsd.org>
To: Lars Jonas Olsson <ljo@mcs.net>
Cc: hackers@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: Symbios 53C876 (differential) and 20 GB DLT tape drive
References: <199703251645.KAA10669@Venus.mcs.net>
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In-Reply-To: <199703251645.KAA10669@Venus.mcs.net>; from Lars Jonas Olsson on Tue, Mar 25, 1997 at 10:45:02AM -0600
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On Mar 25, Lars Jonas Olsson <ljo@mcs.net> wrote:
>  I'm thinking of buying a DLT subsystem from CSC. Its a 10/20 GB DLT
> drive in external enclosure, cable, terminator, and controller for
> $1495. 
> 
>  The controller is based on Symbios 53C876. Is this likely to work
> with FreeBSD? Is the programming any different or is it only
> electrically different (differential vs single ended)?

AFAIK, the 53c876 is a dual channel version of the 53c875,
i.e. much like the Adaptec 3940 implements two 2940 cards.
According to the information I have on that device, I do
expect it to work with an unmodified driver, but it may
be necessary to add the PCI device ID. (It is more common
to have a multi-function chip, that contains several devices
that are also available seperately, use the original PCI IDs
for each of its functions.)

If the kernel does not accept the card, then I'll send you 
a patch for the NCR driver, based on VERBOSE boot messages
supplied by you :)

Regards, STefan