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diff --git a/drivers/block/README.fd b/drivers/block/README.fd new file mode 100644 index 000000000..2bd07338c --- /dev/null +++ b/drivers/block/README.fd @@ -0,0 +1,168 @@ +This Readme file describes the floppy driver. + +FAQ list: +========= + + A FAQ list may be found in the fdutils package (see below), and also +at ftp.imag.fr:pub/Linux/ZLIBC/floppy/FAQ + + +Lilo config options (Thinkpad users, read this) +=============================================== + + The floppy driver is configured using the 'floppy=' option in +lilo. This option can be typed at the boot prompt, or entered in the +lilo configuration file. + Example: If your kernel is called linux-72, type the following line +at the lilo boot prompt (if you have a thinkpad): + linux-72 floppy=thinkpad +You may also enter the following line in /etc/lilo.conf, in the description +of linux-72: + append = "floppy=thinkpad" + + Several floppy related options may be given, example: + linux-72 floppy=daring floppy=two_fdc + append = "floppy=daring floppy=two_fdc" + + If you give options both in the lilo config file and on the boot +prompt, the option strings of both places are concatenated, the boot +prompt options coming last. That's why there are also options to +restore the default behaviour. + + The floppy related options include: + + floppy=<mask>,allowed_drive_mask + Sets the bitmask of allowed drives to <mask>. By default, only units + 0 and 1 of each floppy controller are allowed. This is done because + certain non-standard hardware (ASUS PCI motherboards) mess up the + keyboard when accessing units 2 or 3. This option is somewhat + obsoleted by the cmos option. + + floppy=all_drives + Sets the bitmask of allowed drives to all drives. Use this if you have + more than two drives connected to a floppy controller. + + floppy=asus_pci + Sets the bitmask to allow only units 0 and 1. (The default) + + floppy=daring + Tells the floppy driver that you have a well behaved floppy controller. + This allows more efficient and smoother operation, but may fail on + certain controllers. This may speed up certain operations. + + floppy=0,daring + Tells the floppy driver that your floppy controller should be used + with caution. + + floppy=one_fdc + Tells the floppy driver that you have only floppy controller (default) + + floppy=two_fdc + floppy=<address>,two_fdc + Tells the floppy driver that you have two floppy controllers. The + second floppy controller is assumed to be at <address>. If <address> + is not given, 0x370 is assumed. + + floppy=thinkpad + Tells the floppy driver that you have a Thinkpad. Thinkpads use an + inverted convention for the disk change line. + + floppy=0,thinkpad + Tells the floppy driver that you don't have a Thinkpad. + + floppy=<drive>,<type>,cmos + Sets the cmos type of <drive> to <type>. Additionally, this drive is + allowed in the bitmask. This is useful if you have more than two + floppy drives (only two can be described in the physical cmos), or if + your BIOS uses non-standard CMOS types. The CMOS types are: + 0 - unknown or not installed + 1 - 5 1/4 DD + 2 - 5 1/4 HD + 3 - 3 1/2 DD + 4 - 3 1/2 HD + 5 - 3 1/2 ED + 6 - 3 1/2 ED + (Note: there are two valid types for ED drives. This is because 5 was + initially chosen to represent floppy *tapes*, and 6 for ED drives. + AMI ignored this, and used 5 for ED drives. That's why the floppy + driver handles both) + Setting the CMOS to 0 for the first two drives (default) makes the + floppy driver read the physical cmos for those drives. + + floppy=unexpected_interrupts + Print a warning message when an unexpected interrupt is received + (default behaviour) + + floppy=no_unexpected_interrupts + floppy=L40SX + Don't print a message when an unexpected interrupt is received. This + is needed on IBM L40SX laptops in certain video modes. (There seems + to be an interaction between video and floppy. The unexpected interrupts + only affect performance, and can safely be ignored.) + + +Supporting utilities and additional documentation: +================================================== + + Additional parameters of the floppy driver can be configured at run +time. Utilities which do this can be found in the fdutils +package. This package also contains a new version of mtools which +allows to access high capacity disks (up to 1992K on a high density 3 +1/2 disk!). It also contains additional documentation about the floppy +driver. It can be found at: + ftp.imag.fr:pub/Linux/ZLIBC/fdutils/fdutils-4.0.src.tar.gz + sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/system/Misc/fdutils-4.0.src.tar.gz + tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/sources/sbin/fdutils-4.0.src.tar.gz + + Alpha patches to these utilities are at: + ftp.imag.fr:pub/Linux/ZLIBC/fdutils/ALPHA + All patches contained in this directory are directly against the base +version, i.e. DON'T APPLY THEM ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. Only apply the +most recent one. + + +Alpha patches for the floppy driver: +==================================== + + You may find ALPHA patches of the driver itself in +ftp.imag.fr:pub/Linux/ZLIBC/floppy/ALPHA. These patches are named +fdp<kernel-version>-<day><month>.diff.gz + WARNING: These _are_ ALPHA, and may introduce new problems! Some +problems may only show up on certain hardware, or when trying weirdo +things. So don't be misled by people claiming they are stable and +should really be BETA. What works for one person, may not work for +somebody else at all. This directory contains a RELEASES file +describing the features of some of these patches. + + If after some testing these patches prove to be sufficiently stable, +they'll move into ftp.imag.fr:pub/Linux/ZLIBC/floppy/BETA. + + You may find quick&dirty fixes to the driver in +ftp.imag.fr:pub/Linux/ZLIBC/QDF. These patches are named +fdp<kernel-version>-<day><month>.diff + These patches fix only the most obvious problems, or provide trivial +enhancements. The main objective is to keep these patches small and +local, in order to keep the probability of introducing new problems as +small as possible. However, they may not attack the root of the +problem but only cure the symptoms. This directory contains a RELEASES +file describing the features of these patches. + + The ALPHA, BETA and QDF directories are removed, and replaced by a +README file when they get empty due to integration of the patches into +the stock kernel. You may still find patches to old kernels in +ftp.imag.fr:pub/Linux/ZLIBC/obsolete + + +Reporting problems about the floppy driver +========================================== + + If you have a question or a bug report about the floppy driver, mail +me at Alain.Knaff@imag.fr. If you post to the news, use preferably one +of the groups comp.os.linux.help (for questions) or +comp.os.linux.hardware (for bug reports). As the volume in these +groups is rather high, be sure to include the word "floppy" (or +"FLOPPY") in the subject line. + + Be sure to read the FAQ before mailing/posting any bug reports! + + Alain |