[Pc_Support] Re: Quantum DLT4000, three lights flashing

[Bryan J. Smith <b.j.smith at ieee.org>]

From: Damien McKenna <dmckenna at thelimucompany.com>
> I wish it was that easy for me.

I always thought things were difficult until I just finally entered
"debug" in DOS long ago and started sending data in and out of
ports, or setting up registers and calling interrupts, with direct
assembly.

Today, it's actually a bit easier to do that in UNIX/Linux by just
writing and reading binary data directly from /dev/* files.  A little
C here, a little C there -- heck, Perl might not be out-of-the-question.

> Quantum's website has a diagnostic tool but you have to use an Adaptec
> SCSI card, I've got an Advansys.  I'm going to pop by the office of my
> second job, I got an Adaptec SCSI card off Dan Cherry and I'll test it
> there.

Yeah, that's the PITA with an OS with_out_ standards (such as DOS),
you have adapter-specific issues.  If vendors would adopt Linux for
diagnostics, you wouldn't have such issues -- especially with today's
live CDs.

And unlike Windows PE, it's not illegal to distribute a Linux Live CD.

Some vendors _are_ moving to adopt Linux Live CDs for diagnostics
though.  Heck, last time I checked, there was a movement to use
Linux Live CDs for on-line banking.

> Thanks again Bryan.

I don't know if I helped much.



--
Bryan J. Smith   mailto:b.j.smith at ieee.org