From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-path: Received: from majordomo by infradead.org with local (Exim 3.03 #1) id 12VdPT-0002Y8-00 for mtd-list@infradead.org; Thu, 16 Mar 2000 16:46:07 +0000 Received: from fb00.eng00.mindspring.net ([207.69.200.31]) by infradead.org with esmtp (Exim 3.03 #1) id 12VdPR-0002Y2-00 for mtd@infradead.org; Thu, 16 Mar 2000 16:46:06 +0000 Message-ID: <38D10F5D.9A18BC85@nexus-tech.net> Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 11:44:13 -0500 From: Kyle Harris MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Ralph Stickley CC: MTD mailing list Subject: Re: IDE-like SanDisk References: <001101bf8f24$63dbb140$0500a8c0@cores.ro> <8384.953198169@devel2.axiom.internal> <38D0F229.29DE5664@datalux.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-mtd@imladris.demon.co.uk List-ID: Ralph, This is good information. I've been planning on using a CF for a certain application, assuming that the IDE interface means it will work with Linux. I haven't obtained parts yet, so haven't done any testing. What is the PQI device you're referring to? Please keep the list informed on your progress ;) Thanks, Kyle. Ralph Stickley wrote: > > David Woodhouse wrote: > > > > marius_bogoevici@electronic.cores.ro said: > > > Is there any way to use MTD (maybe just an idea) on an IDE-like > > > SanDisk PC-Card ? Or, at least, the FFS2 ? > > > > As far as I'm aware, no. CompactFlash presents itself as an IDE drive, > > As an IDE drive, there are some problems here. The cards I've received > are initially formatted in DOS format. Some have suggested that this > can be used for storage with no problem, plug and play. Ok, I haven't > tried that.. > > However, most suggest that formatting the device with ext2 presents > problems. I've spent a couple of days on this and found several things: > > 1. The BIOS does not fully recognize the CF > A CF jumpered as a master device will not lock up the BIOS, the > HDD will boot then proceed to get completely trashed - dueling > masters-ahhhhh! > > 2. Linux does not recognize the CHS properly > The BIOS (Award, AMI and General Software tested here) has to be > setup for fdisk to even get close to the correct CHS...(still off > by one cylinder, even after setting up the BIOS). > > 3. fdisk will render a CF unusable if you select the default CHS > The cylinder count is off by one, I guess formatting the device > with the wrong number of cylinders overwrites the cards internal > software. > > 4. Lilo works best using "linear" option. > I have been able to get one to boot...but I think the CF file > system then gets trashed when the booting process writes files > back to the device - boot once mode ?:) > > 5. Some CF adaptors don't seem to work > Ok, I've tested with 2 adaptors. One worked.... > > My next attempt is to > a) tell the BIOS what the CHS are manually > b) tell fdisk what the CHS are > c) tell Lilo what the CHS are. > (I finally got a description from PQI for the CHS...no response > from Sandisk yet) > > If this doesn't work, I'm not sure what else to try... > > > and > > has its own flash filing system internally (probably FTL). You can't access > > the flash directly. > > Although I suspect you can overwrite it by formatting with the wrong > number of Cylinders :-O > > Good luck > Ralph > > To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe mtd" to majordomo@infradead.org To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe mtd" to majordomo@infradead.org