Subject: AMD SCSI driver? Another soul lost in Deskpro XL limbo...
To: None <port-i386@netbsd.org>
From: Ken Harrenstien <klh@us.oracle.com>
List: port-i386
Date: 03/27/1999 14:05:06
(I think this is the right list.)

I'm wondering whether there are any plans for (or hope of) support for
the AMD AM79C974, which basically combines a 53C974 (PC-SCSI) with a
Lance (PC-NET).  FWIW the specs are at:
	http://www.amd.com/products/npd/techdocs/18681.pdf

I recently picked up a Compaq Deskpro XL, which uses this chip, based
on the claims in the web sites of both FreeBSD and NetBSD that the
53C794 was supported.

Foolish me -- this turns out not to be the case, and I finally realized
this is why I can't install either of them.  The FreeBSD people have
admitted that they dropped support without updating the documentation;
I'm not sure what the story is for NetBSD however.  (Look at
http://www.netbsd.org/Hardware/pci.html where it specifically lists the
AM53c974).

I searched the i386 FAQ, Deja News, and the NetBSD mailing list
archives (however it only seems to search subject lines, sigh) and
found very little on this topic; the most relevant message was from one
Izumi Tsutsui who was testing a 53C974 driver back in 6/6/1998.

I can spare some time to help test ideas or experimental support, or
loan the machine to anyone in the SF bay area who wants it, but not
much more.  I can't even rebuild a kernel because I first need a
machine that NetBSD/i386 will run on!  Is there anything that can be
done, short of buying new adapter cards?  (Which would make the machine
worthless to me as the slots I need would be exhausted.)

Thanks!
--Ken