From: Robb Masters <rsm@cybermagic.net>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi.hardware
Subject: Non SGI CDROM Drives - Summary
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 12:57:39 +0000
Organization: CyberMagic Ltd
Message-ID: <30F65AC3.41C6@cybermagic.net>
This is a summary of all the messages I received about CD-ROM drives on SGIs.
The table is wider than 80 characters, I'm afraid.
Boots? = Does it boot?
Works? = Does it generally work?
Mods? = Were modifications necessary
Maybe = Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't...
Blank = information not supplied
Notes = see the numbered notes after the table for more information
CDROM Drive SGI Machine OS Boots? Works? Mods? Notes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apple 300 Indigo1 R4000 5.2 Yes 23
Mac 300e Indy 5.2 Yes 15
NEC CDR25, CDR26, Quad No 19
Plextor Power Indigo2 6.0.1 No 21
Plextor Indigo 5.3 Maybe 22
Sun Indy 5.3 Yes 13
Sun 4D/25, Indy 4.0.5 Yes 7
Sun 4D/25, Indy 5.2 Yes 8
Sun4 Maybe 5
Texel 4D/25TG No 12
Toshiba 3051B4X Indy 5.1.1 Maybe 10
Toshiba 3301? 2X model Indy 5.2, 5.3 Yes Yes 14
Toshiba 3301 4D/25 Yes Yes 3
Toshiba 3301B Indigo 5.3 Yes 20
Toshiba XM3301B Indigo (r3k, r4k) No Yes 1
Toshiba 3401E / 3401B 4D/25TG 4.0.5, 5.2, 5.3 Yes 11
Toshiba 3401B Indy 5.3 Yes Maybe 17
Toshiba 3401B 4D/25, 4D/35, Indy 5.2 Yes Yes Yes 2
Toshiba 3401bu Maybe 6
Toshiba XM3601B Indy Yes Yes 4
Toshiba XM3601B-S Indy 5.3 Yes Yes 18
Toshiba 'Quad Speed' Indy 5.3 Yes 9
Toshibas Indigo, Crimson, PI, Challenge 4.0.5c, 5.2, 5.3 Yes 16
Note 1 (from Kevin Glueck <kglueck@edsiris01.tamu.edu>)
I have a Toshiba XM3301B (I think it's a B) that works for mounting stuff
and reading, but I am unable to boot). I've been using it on an Indigo (r3k
and r4k) for a while now...
Note 2 (from Greg Douglas <gdouglas@Compatible.COM>)
I am using a Toshiba 3401B, modified as per the faq, to boot & run on a 4D/25,
4D/35, and an Indy using Irix 5.2.
Note 3 (from Greg Douglas <gdouglas@Compatible.COM>)
Also, I used a Toshiba 3301 (stock) to LOAD IRIX onto a 4D/25. The faq (Dave
Olson) says this can't be done, but it worked. I got SCSI errors, and had to
re power the drive (without repowering the 4D/25), and I was able to boot
sash, then the miniroot, then load the OS (5.2).
Note 4 (from Michael L. Easterling <easterl@amstersgi.chem.uga.edu>)
We installed a Toshiba 3601 internal in the Indy's SCSI tower a few months
ago and it hasn't missed a lick. Installation was no problem, just powered
down, hooked up and rebooted. The OS did the makedev and after
booting the CD icon appeared on the screen. I have sucessfully booted the
OS from this drive and it is also exported. (My distribution stuff lives
there)
[The SCSI Tower] is a non-SGI part that I have put together myself. I
purchased a four-bay tower that resembles the case for a small PC. It has a
power supply and three internal fans to support devices that are usually
internally mounted. As you know, INDY does not really support internal stuff,
so I made this thing. It has worked impeccably so far with the CD-ROM, a DDS-2
DAT drive, a 4GB hard drive, and one free bay left. This has allowed me to add
all of these devices very cheaply ($950 for the 4GB).
A SCSI cable runs out to the box to an external connector. This feeds an
internal ribbon cable with 4 device hookups. There is another external SCSI
connection, but I just terminate on it. The box was only about $200. It is an
XM3601B.. I got it because the bantering on the SGI newsgroups seemed to favor
it.
Notes 5 & 6 (from Josef Oldenburg <joldenbu@transtec.de>)
I have a Sun4-CDROM and Toshiba 3401bu, when installing nonSGI software,
sometimmes the drive are not recocnized with mediad.
Notes 7 & 8 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Sun CD-ROM used on Indy and 4D/25. Worked fine under IRIX 4.0.5, but stopped
working under 5.2
Note 9 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Toshiba `Quad-speed' used on Indy 133MHz R4600 PC under IRIX 5.3. Hadn't tried
booting. Audio intermittent, but everything else works. Possible cabling
problem.
Note 10 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Toshiba 3051B 4X on Indy under IRIX 5.1.1 Had trouble booting. No other
information.
Note 11 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Toshiba 3401E & external 3401B on 4D/25TG under IRIX 4.0.5, 5.2, & 5.3
Everything works fine, but can't test audio on 4D/25. Had problems with first
Toshiba's they received because they had DEC specific firmware. Everything
worked fine after they go the `standard' firmware.
Note 12 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Texel CDROM on 4D/25TG under IRIX ? Didn't have any luck.
Note 13 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Sun CD-ROM used on Indy under IRIX 5.3 Booted fine, but no other information
given.
Note 14 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Toshiba 3301? (2x model) on Indy under IRIX 5.2 & 5.3 No problems at all
booting, using audio, or anything else.
Note 15 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Mac CD-ROM drive 300e on Indy under IRIX 5.2 No problems, but didn't give any
specifics on what they tried.
Note 16 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Toshiba CD-ROM's on Indigo2's, Crimsons, PI's, Challenges under IRIX 4.0.5c,
5.2, & 5.3. Everything works fine.
Note 17 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Toshiba 3401B on Indy under IRIX 5.3 Worked fine for a Sun then transferred to
Indy. Booted fine and installed IRIX 5.3 with out problems. Had intermittent
problems with drive while system was up.
Notes 18 & 19 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Toshiba XM3601B-S on Indy under IRIX 5.3? Everything works fine, booting,
software install, etc. Tried NEC CD-ROM's: CDR-25, CDR-36, and Quad speed.
None of them worked properly.
Note 20 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Toshiba 3301B on Indigo under IRIX 5.3 Hasn't tried booting from drive, but
software installs work fine.
Notes 21 and 22 (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
Plextor on Power Indigo2 under IRIX 6.0.1 and Indigo under IRIX 5.3
Intermittently works on Indigo, but basically doesn't work on Indigo2.
I contacted Plextor to see if anyone has gotten their 6x drives to work on
SGI's, because I really wanted the fastest drive available, but all I got was
run around from them. I could NOT get any specific
information on WHY their drives don't work on SGI's AND I was SUPPOSE to be
talking to one of their engineers. Dave Olsen even offered to help Plextor
with their problems and they weren't interested. By the end of July, they are
suppose to offer an EXTRA COST software driver to make their drives work on
SGI's. After talking to the Plextor people, I'm not going to bother with
them. The engineer didn't seem to know what was going on or didn't care.
Their drives don't seem to obey standards whether they be written or de facto
ones. I'm also not about to buy an EXTRA COST software driver for something
that SHOULD be plug and play. I talked to a 3rd party reseller who tried
Plextor's driver, it didn't work, so they are not going to sell Plextors.
Note 23 (from ramon8en@euronet.nl <ramon8en@euronet.nl>)
We use a Apple 300 external drive (the one with the caddy) with an Indigo1
R4000 Irix 5.2. Works just fine and is cheap. One drawback, you cannot do
stuff with music with it, like playing Music-CD's etc. But you kan use it for
installing the OS and programmes.
Summary (from Brent L. Bates <blbates@vigsun1.vigyan.com>)
No one seems to be able to get NEC CD-ROM's to do anything either and this is
from BOTH network sources and `on the street' sources.
[See also the FAQ on NECs].
It looks like if you buy a Toshiba with the latest `standard' firmware you
have an almost guaranteed chance of success. If you have problems with a
Toshiba you probably have one or more of the following problems:
1) bad cables
2) bad termination
3) out of date or non `standard' firmware.
4) old workstation and need the FAQ hardware fix to the drive
I've also found out that the new Toshiba 3601's aren't really Quad speed
drives, but 4.4x speed drives, so they should be a little faster than a plain
quad speed CD-ROM. The Toshiba 3601's can be found for around $300 in the
U.S.
Thanks to all contributors.
Robb
______________________________________________
Robb Masters, <rsm@cybermagic.net>
Internet Development Manager
CyberMagic Ltd, <http://www.cybermagic.net/>
______________________________________________