Additional features and last minute notes for the PCI SCSI JackHammer‚Ñ¢.
Version 1.3 of the PCI SCSI JackHammer Control Panel includes:
• A number of general firmware enhancements have been made to increase PCI SCSI JackHammer performance when used with various digital video cards. In particular, the JackHammer's performance with a Media 100XS or Media 100XR system has been tuned to allow maximum bandwidth video capture and playback.
• A checkbox was added for all Ultra capable JackHammer boards to allow disabling of Ultra SCSI transfers. Some early digital video systems did not work well when large ultra speed transfers used up much of the PCI bus bandwidth for short periods of time. The best solution available was to throttle the SCSI bus down to standard Fast-Wide speeds to allow time on the PCI bus for the digital video board.
This feature can be also be used with the single ended PCI Ultra SCSI JackHammer•SE in a limited number of short cable length configurations which allow up to four Ultra SCSI disk drives to be connected to the Ultra SCSI bus. StreamLogic recommends disabling Ultra SCSI if you must connect more than four SCSI devices or a mix of Ultra SCSI and non-Ultra SCSI devices to the Ultra SCSI bus.
NOTE: Differential PCI Ultra SCSI JackHammer products do not have the cable length limitations described above. An Ultra Differential SCSI bus has no problems with total SCSI bus lengths up to and beyond 15 meters. The entire SledgeHammer•PRO line of products from StreamLogic uses Ultra Differential SCSI to improve system performance and expandability.
• Easy Menu Control for Changing SCSI Initiator IDs
All PCI SCSI JackHammers include a new pop-up menu that allows the you to change the board's SCSI Initiator ID from the standard value of 7 to any of the other possible values. Please note that if the initiator ID is changed to a value between 8 and 15 inclusive, some narrow SCSI devices on the bus may not work properly.
IMPORTANT:
All PCI SCSI JackHammers in a single Macintosh must have the same version of Flash ROM firmware. Before you add a new PCI JackHammer to a PCI Macintosh that already has a PCI SCSI JackHammer, please install and run the newest PCI SCSI JackHammer Control Panel. If the software asks to update the ROM firmware, choose yes.
PCI Macintosh performance can be marginally increased by inserting pairs of identical memory DIMMs into particular slots on the motherboard. Please see the Apple Technical Information document that came with your computer for more information.
Dual board PCI SCSI JackHammer array performance on the PM9500 can also be increased by inserting the two PCI boards into separate PCI buses. Please see the PCI SCSI JackHammer manual for more information.
=========== INSTALLATION ===========
The PCI SCSI JackHammer package may contain several floppy diskettes. The software for the PCI SCSI JackHammer comes on a separate floppy diskette from any other software included in the package.
The PCI SCSI JackHammer software should only be installed on Power Macintosh with PCI computers with System Software version 7.5.2 or later. As a precaution, the installer does not allow installation of the PCI SCSI JackHammer software on computers that do not meet the above criteria.
Virtual Memory
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This release of the PCI SCSI JackHammer software is compatible with Apple's virtual memory (VM), but we advise performance-oriented users to disable VM in the Memory Control Panel. Performance-oriented users should avoid virtual memory whenever possible, as there is no substitute for real RAM.
Software Installation Notes
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BEFORE proceeding with the installation, disable any virus protection software and System Extensions.
=========== UPDATE INFORMATION ===========
Version Numbers
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FWB Software's Hard Disk ToolKit and RAID ToolKit have version numbers independent from StreamLogic's PCI SCSI JackHammer Control Panel. You should note that the two are different and not directly related.
=========== SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY ===========
3rd Party Compatible SCSI Manager 4.3 Savvy Applications
Always use high-quality double-shielded SCSI cables with the PCI SCSI JackHammer. Use only an active SCSI terminator on a single ended SCSI bus and a differential terminator on a differential SCSI bus. When in doubt, purchase cables and terminators only from a reputable source such as StreamLogic.
Low-level Block Size
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All array drives must be formatted for 512-byte block size when used on the PCI SCSI JackHammer‚Ñ¢. Failure to do so may result in data loss.
Uninterruptable Power Supplies
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StreamLogic recommends that your computer and all its drives be connected to a proper size UPS. A UPS provides excellent protection from power surges and dips and may prevent data loss due to power loss.
Disabling the JackHammer
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Holding down "Command-Option-J" at startup disables all PCI SCSI JackHammer boards. When a board is disabled, the drives connected to the board are not be accessible to the Macintosh system until the Macintosh is restarted. Even when the card is disabled, you can still use the PCI SCSI JackHammer software to set options or update the firmware.
