GE VMIMPC-5790 PMC Dual Channel Ultra160 SCSI Host Adapter

Do not perform internal repairs or adjustments alone, personnel who can provide first aid and resuscitation must be present.

Do not replace components or modify the system to avoid introducing additional hazards. Product repairs should be returned to VMIC to ensure that safety functions are maintained.

Dangerous program warning: There will be a warning in the manual before potential dangerous programs, and the instructions in the warning must be followed.

Safety symbols

Multiple safety symbols are used in the manual, representing dangerous voltage, protective conductor terminals, low-noise or noiseless clean grounding terminals, frame or chassis terminals, AC power supply, DC power supply, AC/DC power supply, prohibited operation (which may cause personal injury or system damage), warning (which may cause personal injury or system damage), caution (which may cause system damage), attention (emphasizing important information), etc.

Operating principle

PCI Addressing: There are three types of PCI defined address spaces: configuration space, memory space, and I/O. The configuration space is a continuous set of addresses dedicated to each "slot" or "stub" on the bus. Ultra160 SCSI contains two sets of configuration registers, which BIOS uses to initialize devices and determine whether to access the configuration register space through C_BE [7:0]/decoding. The IDSEL bus signal is "chip selection", which allocates base addresses for memory access and I/O access during initialization, and accesses by comparing the base address with values on the address/data bus.

Supported PCI bus commands: Bus commands indicate the transaction type requested by the target host device, encoded through C_BE [7:0]/line in the address phase, and support multiple command types such as I/O read cycle, I/O write cycle, memory read, memory write, etc.

PCI bus configuration register: The configuration register is only accessed by the system BIOS during the PCI configuration cycle and cannot be accessed by users. It includes various registers such as device ID, vendor ID, status/command register, class code/revision ID register, etc. Each register has its specific bit definition and function.

SCSI interface registers: The control registers of the SCSI core can be directly accessed from the PCI bus through memory or I/O mapping. SCSI functions A and B contain the same register set, and the address mapping table lists the addresses and names of each register. The phase mismatch register contains the byte count and addressing information required to update the direct, indirect, or table. The host CPU can only access some registers when executing SCRIPTS in SYM53C1010.

Configuration and Installation

Unpacking procedure: Product components are sensitive to static electricity and should be placed on conductive materials during handling. When not in use, they should be stored in their original packaging. Upon receipt of the product, it should be checked for any transportation damage. If so, a claim should be made to the carrier and VMIC notified.

Physical installation: Do not power on when installing or removing the board. The appearance and installation program of the PMC slot in the host system differ greatly. It is recommended to first check the host system installation program. The installation steps include removing the motherboard, installing the board to the PMC connector and fixing it, reinstalling the motherboard and powering it on. The board design complies with relevant PCI signal specifications.

Cable configuration: The SCSI connection uses a dual channel 68 pin VHDCI external connector. The front panel SCSI connector consists of two 68 position VHDCI right angled stacked sockets, representing channels A and B respectively, which can connect multiple SCSI devices. Terminal handling should be noted. When Ultra160 SCSI uses low voltage differential (LVD) signals, the cable length can reach 12 meters, and a single channel can connect up to 16 devices.

Maintenance

When a product malfunctions, it is necessary to first check the software, system configuration, electrical connections, jumper or configuration options, card insertion status, connector pin cleanliness, adjacent card components for interference, cable and I/O connection quality, etc.

If you need to return the item, you need to contact VMIC to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. Customer service can be contacted by phone or email.

User level maintenance is not recommended, and the drawings and tables in the manual are for reference only.

SCSI BIOS and Configuration Utility

SCSI BIOS: It is bootable ROM code that manages SCSI hardware resources, integrates with standard system BIOS, extends the standard disk service program provided through INT13h, initializes at boot time, determines the installed hard disks in the system, and maps SCSI drives.

Start SCSI BIOS Configuration Utility: During the boot sequence, this utility can be used to change the default configuration of the SCSI host adapter. Press "Ctrl-C" to start when a specific message is displayed on the screen. If all controllers are disabled, press a specific key combination to reactivate and configure them during restart.