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-Hey, Emacs, we're -*-Text-*- mode!
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.04d 25/11/97 =====
-- The correct pre-processor statement for "else if" is "#elif" not
- "elsif".
-- Need to call zft_reset_position() when overwriting cartridges
- previously written with ftape-2.x, sftape, or ancient
- (pre-ftape-3.x) versions of zftape.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.04c 16/11/97 =====
-- fdc_probe() was calling DUMPREGS with a result length of "1" which
- was just fine. Undo previous change.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.04b 14/11/97 =====
-
-- patches/2.x.x/floppy.c.diff was somewhat broken, releasing i/o
- regions it never had allocated.
-- fdc_probe() was calling DUMPREGS with a result length of "1" instead
- of "10"
-- Writing deleted data marks if the first segents on track zero are
- should work now.
-- ftformat should now be able to handle those cases where the tape
- drive sets the read only status bit (QIC-40/80 cartridges with
- QIC-3010/3020 tape drives) because the header segment is damaged.
-- the MTIOCFTCMD ioctl may now be issued by the superuser ONLY.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.04a 12/11/97 =====
-- Fix an "infinite loop can't be killed by signal" bug in
- ftape_get_drive_status(). Only relevant when trying to access
- buggy/misconfigured hardware
-- Try to compensate a bug in the HP Colorado T3000's firmware: it
- doesn't set the write protect bit for QIC80/QIC40 cartridges.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.04 06/11/97 =====
-- If positioning with fast seeking fails fall back to a slow seek
- before giving up.
-- (nearly) no retries on "no data errors" when verifying after
- formatting. Improved tuning of the bad sector map after formatting.
-- the directory layout has changed again to allow for easier kernel
- integration
-- Module parameter "ftape_tracing" now is called "ft_tracing" because
- the "ftape_tracing" variable has the version checksum attached to it.
-- `/proc/ftape' interface for 2.0.* kernels. `/proc/ftape' no longer
- is a directory but a file that contains all the information formerly
- provided in separate files under the `/proc/ftape/' directory.
-- Most of the configuration options have been prefixed by "CONFIG_FT_"
- in preparation of the kernel inclusion. The Makefiles under
- "./ftape/" should be directly usable by the kernel.
-- The MODVERSIONS stuff is now auto-detected.
-- Broke backslashed multi line options in MCONFIG into separate lines
- using GNU-make's "+=" feature.
-- The html and dvi version of the manual is now installed under
- '/usr/doc/ftape` with 'make install`
-- New SMP define in MCONFIG. ftape works with SMP if this is defined.
-- attempt to cope with "excessive overrun errors" by gradually
- increasing FDC FIFO threshold. But this doesn't seem to have too
- much an effect.
-- New load time configuration parameter "ft_fdc_rate_limit". If you
- encounter too many overrun errors with a 2Mb controller then you
- might want to set this to 1000.
-- overrun errors on the last sector in a segment sometimes result in
- a zero DMA residue. Dunno why, but compensate for it.
-- there were still fdc_read() timeout errors. I think I have fixed it
- now, please FIXME.
-- Sometimes ftape_write() failed to re-start the tape drive when a
- segment without a good sector was reached ("wait for empty segment
- failed"). This is fixed. Especially important for > QIC-3010.
-- sftape (aka ftape-2.x) has vanished. I didn't work on it for
- ages. It is probably still possible to use the old code with
- ftape-3.04, if one really needs it (BUT RECOMPILE IT)
-- zftape no longer alters the contents of already existing volume
- table entries, which makes it possible to fill in missing fields,
- like time stamps using some user space program.
-- ./contrib/vtblc/ contains such a program.
-- new perl script ./contrib/scripts/listtape that list the contents of a
- floppy tape cartridge parsing the output of "mt volinfo" + "mt fsf"
-- the MTWEOF implementation has changed a little bit (after I had a
- look at amanda). Calling MTWEOF while the tape is still held open
- after writing something to the tape now will terminate the current
- volume, and start a new one at the current position.
-- the volume table maintained by zftape now is a doubly linked list
- that grows dynamically as needed.
-
- formatting floppy tape cartridges
- ---------------------------------
- * there is a new user space formatting program that does most of the
- dirty work in user space (auto-detect, computing the sector
- coordinates, adjusting time stamps and statistics). It has a
- simple command line interface.
- * ftape-format.o has vanished, it has been folded into the low level
- ftape.o module, and the ioctl interface into zftape.o. Most of the
- complicated stuff has been moved to user space, so there was no
- need for a separate module anymore.
- * there is a new ioctl MTIOCFTCMD that sends a bare QIC-117 command
- to the tape drive.
- * there is a new mmap() feature to map the dma buffers into user
- space to be used by the user level formatting program.
- * Formatting of yet unformatted or totally degaussed cartridges
- should be possible now. FIXME.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.03b, <forgot the exact date> ====
-
-ftape-3.03b was released as a beta release only. Its main new feature
-was support of the DITTO-2GB drive. This was made possible by reverse
-engineering done by <fill in his name> after Iomega failed to support
-ftape. Although they had promised to do so (this makes me feel a bit
-sad and uncomfortable about Iomega).
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.03a, 22/05/97 ====
-
-- Finally fixed auto-un-loading of modules for kernels > 2.1.18
-- Add an "uninstall" target to the Makefile
-- removed the kdtime hack
-- texi2www didn't properly set the back-reference from a footnote back
- to the regular text.
-
- zftape specific
- ---------------
- * hide the old compression map volume. Taper doesn't accept the
- presence of non-Taper volumes and Taper-written volume on the same
- tape.
- * EOD (End Of Data) handling was still broken: the expected behavior
- is to return a zero byte count at the first attempt to read past
- EOD, return a zero byte count at the second attempt to read past
- EOD and THEN return -EIO.
-
- ftape-format specific
- ---------------------
- * Detection of QIC-40 cartridges in select_tape_format() was broken
- and made it impossible to format QIC-3010/3020 cartridges.
- * There are strange "TR-1 Extra" cartridges out there which weren't
- detected properly because the don't strictly conform to the
- QIC-80, Rev. N, spec.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.03, 30/04/97 =====
-
-- Removed kernel integration code from the package. I plan to provide
- a package that can be integrated into the stock kernel separately
- (hopefully soon).
- As a result, a simple `make' command now will build everything.
-- ALL compile time configuration options have been moved to the file
- `MCONFIG'.
-- Quite a few `low level' changes to allow formatting of cartridges.
-- formatting is implemented as a separate module `ftape-format.o'. The
- modified `mt' program contains sample code that shows how to use it.
-- The VFS interface has been moved from the `ftape.o' module to the
- high level modules `zftape.o' resp. `sftape.o'. `ftape.o' contains
- the hardware support only.
-- A bit of /proc support for kernels > 2.1.28
-- Moved documentation to Doc subdir. INSTALL now contains some real
- installation notes.
-- `install' target in Makefile.
-
-zftape specific:
-----------------
-
-- zftape works for large cartridges now ( > 2^31 bytes)
-- MTIOCVOLINFO and MTIOCGETSIZE now return the size in KILOBYTES,
- NO LONGER in bytes.
-
-- permissions for write access to a cartridge have changed:
- * zftape now also takes the file access mode into account
- * zftape no longer allows writing in the middle of the recorded
- media. The tape has to be positioned at BOT or EOD for write
- access.
-
-- MTBSF has changed. It used to position at the beginning of the
- previous file when called with count 1. This was different from the
- expected behavior for other Un*x tape drivers (i.e. SCSI). MTBSF
- with count 1 should merely position at the beginning of the current
- volume. Fixed. As a result, `tar --verify' now produces the desired
- result: it verifies the last written volume, not the pre-last
- written volume.
-
-- The compression map has vanished --> no need for `mt erase' any
- more. Fast seeking in a compressed volume is still be possible, but
- takes slightly longer. As a side effect, you may experience an
- additional volume showing up in front of all others for old
- cartridges. This is the tape volume that holds the compression map.
-
-- The compression support for zftape has been moved to a separate
- module `zft-compressor'. DON'T forget to load it before trying to
- read back compressed volumes. The stock `zftape.o' module probes for
- the module `zft-compressor' using the kerneld message channel; you
- have to install `zft-compressor.o' in a place where modprobe can
- find it if you want to use this.
-
-- New experimental feature that tries to get the broken down GMT time
- from user space via a kernel daemon message channel. You need to
- compile and start the `kdtime' daemon contained in the contrib
- directory to use it. Needed (?) for time stamps in the header
- segments and the volume table.
-
-- variable block size mode via MTSETBLK 0
-
-- keep modules locked in memory after the block size has been changed
-
-sftape specific:
-----------------
-
-- end of tape handling should be fixed, i.e. multi volume archives
- written with `afio' can be read back now.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.02a, 09/01/97 =====
-
-No big news:
-- call zft_init() resp. sft_init() when compiling the entire stuff
- into the kernel image.
-- fix bug in ftape-setup.c when NO_TRACE_AT_ALL was defined.
-- fix bug in sftape-eof.c/zftape-eof.c for old kernels (1.2.*)
-- add support for new module interface for recent kernels
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.02, 16/12/96 =====
-- Fixed the `FDC unlock command failed' bug in fdc-io.c. When the FIFO
- was already locked when ftape was loaded, ftape failed to unlock it.
-- Fixed compilation of `contrib/gnumt'. It now finds `mtio.h' even if
- ftape is NOT included into the kernel source tree.
-- fc-10.c: include <asm/io.h> for inb() and outb().
-- ftape/sftape/zftape: all global variable now have either a `ftape_',
- a `ft_', `sft_', `zft_' or `qic_' prefix to prevent name clashes
- with other parts of the kernel when including ftape into the kernel
- source tree.
-- Kerneld support has changed. `ftape' now searches for a module
- `ftape-frontend' when none of the frontend (`sftape' or `zftape') is
- loaded. Please refer to the `Installation/Loading ftape' section of
- the TeXinfo manual.
-- Add load resp. boot-time configuration of ftape. There are now
- variables ft_fdc_base, ft_fdc_dma and ft_fdc_irq corresponding to
- the former FDC_BASE etc. compile time definitions. One can also use
- the kernel command line parameters to configure the driver if it is
- compiled into the kernel. Also, the FC-10/FC-20 support is load-time
- configurable now as well as the MACH-II hack (ft_probe_fc10,
- resp. ft_mach2). Please refer to the section `Installation/Configure
- ftape' of the TeXinfo manual.
-- I removed the MODVERSIONS option from `Makefile.module'. Let me alone
- with ftape and MODVERSIONS unless you include the ftape sources into
- the kernel source tree.
-- new vendors in `vendors.h':
- * HP Colorado T3000
- * ComByte DoublePlay (including a bug fix for their broken
- formatting software, thanks to whraven@njackn.com)
- * Iomega DITTO 2GIG. NOTE: this drive cannot work with ftape because
- the logical data layout of the cartridges used by this drive does
- NOT conform to the QIC standards, it is a special Iomega specific
- format. I've sent mail to Iomega but didn't receive an answer
- yet. If you want this drive to be supported by ftape, ask Iomega
- to give me information about it.
-- zftape:
- * re-introduced the MTIOC_ZFTAPE_GETBLKSZ ioctl for compatibility
- with zftape 1.06a and earlier. Please don't use it when writing
- new software, use the MTIOCVOLINFO ioctl instead.
- * Major overhaul of the code that updates the header segments. Never
- change the tape label unless erasing the tape. Thus we almost
- never need to write the header segments, unless we would modify
- the bad sector map which isn't done yet. Updating of volume table
- and compression map more secure now although it takes a bit
- longer.
- * Fixed bug when aborting a write operation with a signal: zftape
- now finishes the current volume (i.e. writes an eof marker) at the
- current position. It didn't before which led to somehow *strange*
- behavior in this cases.
- * Keep module locked in memory when using it with the non-rewinding
- devices and the tape is not logical at BOT. Needed for kerneld
- support.
-- sftape:
- * Keep module locked in memory when using it with the non-rewinding
- devices and the tape is not logical at BOT. Needed for kerneld
- support.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.01, 14/11/96 =====
-
-- Fixed silly bugs in ftape-3.00:
- * MAKEDEV.ftape: major device number must be 27, not 23
- * sftape/sftape-read.c: sftape_read_header_segments() called
- itself recursively instead of calling ftape_read_header_segment()
- * zftape/qic-vtbl.h: conversion of ftape's file marks to zftape's
- internal volume table was broken.
- * patches/2.x.x/linux-2.0.21.dif: my RCS (resp. CVS) system replaced
- the `$Revison:' etc. macros in the `ftape.h' concerning part of the
- patch :-( Fixed.
- * info/ftape.info: Fixed misspellings (`cp' <-> `cp -r' etc.)
- * when ftape/sftape or ftape/zftape was compiled into the kernel the
- variable ftape_status was declared twice. Fixed.
- * removed reference to undeclared variable kernel_version when not
- compiling as module
- * fixed a bug introduced by the use of bit-fields for some flags
- (i.e. write_protected, no_cartridge, formatted)
- * flag `header_read' is now reset correctly to zero when tape is
- removed.
-- fixed a bug in sftape/sftape-eof.c that was already in the original
- ftape code. MTFSF/BSF was not handled correctly when positioned
- right before the file mark (think of tar)
-- Changed TRACE macros (following a suggestion of Marcin Dalecki) to use
- the predefined __FUNCTION__ macro of GCC. Spares about 4k of code.
-- added new vendor id for Iomega DITTO 2GIG
-- fixed a bug already present in zftape-1.06 when aborting a write
- with a signal: we now finish the current volume at that
- position. Header segments remain NOT up to date until an explicit call
- to MTREW or MTOFFL is done.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-3.00, 14/10/96 =====
-
-- Merged ftape with zftape. There are three modules now:
- ftape for the hardware support, sftape for the implementation of the
- original ftape eof mark stuff and zftape that implements zftape's way
- of handling things (compression, volume table, tape blocks of
- constant length)
-- Documentation in TeXinfo format in the `info' subdirectory.
-- New ioctls for zftape. See zftape/zftape.h
-- Dummy formatting ioctl for ftape. See ftape.h
-- Kernel patch files for the 2.*.* series to include ftape-3.00 in the
- kernel source tree. These includes a kernel compatible Config.in
- script and fairly large online information for the kernel configure
- script.
-- Support for compiling with Linux-1.2.13.
-- Modified GNU mt from their cpio package that can handle the new
- ioctls.
-- ftape/sftape/zftape is kerneld save now!
-
-Notes on sftape:
-- sftape implements the eof handling code of the original ftape. If
- you like to stick with the original ftape stuff, you have to use
- this module, not zftape.
-- sftape is kerneld save, unlike the original ftape.
-- we keep the entire header segment now in memory, so no need to read
- it before updating the header segments. Additional memory
- consumption: 256 bytes.
-
-Notes for zftape:
-- zftape has support for tapes with format code 6 now, which use a
- slightly different volume table format compared with other floppy
- tapes.
-- new ioctls for zftape. Have a look at zftape/zftape.h
-- The internal volume table representation has changed for zftape. Old
- cartridges are converted automatically.
-- zftape no longer uses compression map segments, which have vanished
- from the QIC specs, but creates volume table entry that reserves
- enough space for the compression map.
-- zftape is kerneld save now.
-- we keep the entire header segment now in memory, so no need to read
- it before updating the header segments. Additional memory
- consumption: 256 bytes.
-
-Notes for contrib/gnumt:
-- modified mt from the GNU cpio package that supports all the new
- ioctls of zftape.
-Notes for contrib/swapout:
-- This contains the swapout.c program that was written by Kai
- Harrekilde-Pederson. I simply added a Makefile.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.10, 14/10/96 =====
-
-The ftape maintainer has changed.
-Kai Harrekilde-Petersen <khp@dolphinics.no>
-has resigned from maintaining ftape, and I,
-Claus-Justus Heine <claus@momo.math.rwth-aachen.de>,
-have taken over.
-
-- Added support for tapes with `format code 6', i.e. QIC-3020 tapes
- with more than 2^16 segments.
-- merged changes made by Bas Laarhoven with ftape-2.09. Refer
- to his release notes below. I've included them into this
- file unchanged for your reference.
-- disabled call stack back trace for now. This new feature
- introduced by the interim release 2.0.x still seems to
- be buggy.
-- Tried to minimize differences between the ftape version
- to be included into the kernel source tree and the standalone
- module version.
-- Reintroduced support for Linux-1.2.13. Please refer to the
- Install-guide.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.09, 16/06/96 =====
-
-There aren't any really big news in this release, mostly just that I
-(the maintainer) have changed my email address (due to a new job). My
-new address is <khp@dolphinics.no>
-
-- The CLK_48MHZ and FDC_82078SL options has gone (all 2Mbps cards seem
- to use a 48MHz oscillator anyway and I haven't heard of an 'SL
- chip out there).
-- The S82078B has been `downgraded' to i82077AA compability.
-- TESTING option revived. Right now, it'll enable the (seriously broken)
- 2Mbps code. If you enable it, you'll experience a tape drive that's
- *really* out to lunch!
-- Some (bold) changes in the init code. Please notify me if they
- break things for you.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.08, 14/03/96 =====
-
-If you correct a problem with ftape, please send your patch to
-khp@dolphinics.no too.
-
-- Updated to reflect that NR_MEM_LISTS is gone in 1.3.74
-- Teac 700 added to list of known drives.
-- The registered device name is now "ft" rather than "ftape".
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.07a, 14/03/96 =====
-
-Bugfixes by Marcin Dalecki <dalecki@namu03.gwdg.de>:
-- In the last release it just compiled against 1.3.70;
- now the params to request_irq() and free_irq are() are fixed, so it also
- works in 1.3.73 :-)
-- Support for modules is now correct for newer kernels.
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.07, 04/03/96 =====
-
-
-- ftape updated to compile against 1.3.70.
-- Iomega 700 and Wangtek 3200 recognised.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.06b, 13/02/96 =====
-
-Another simple bugfix version.
-
-- Jumbo 700 recognised.
-- Typo in vendors.h fixed.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.06a, 10/02/96 =====
-
-This release is a simple bugfix version.
-
-- Linux/SMP: ftape *should* work.
-- FC-10/20: Only accepts IRQs 3-7, or 9. If IRQ 9, properly tell the card
- to use IRQ 2. Thanks to Greg Crider (gcrider@iclnet.org) for finding and
- locating this bug and testing the patch.
-- Insight drive recognised correctly again.
-- Motor-on wakeup version of the Iomega 250 drive added
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.06, 28/01/96 =====
-
-Special thanks go to Neal Friedman and Steven Sorbom for their
-help in producing and testing this release.
-
-I have continued to clean up the code, with an eye towards inclusion
-of ftape in Linus' official kernel (In fact, as I type this, I am
-running on a kernel with ftape support statically linked). I have
-test-compiled ftape against my 1.2.13 tree without problems.
-Hopefully, everything should be OK for the v1.2.x people.
-
-WARNING! Alan Cox has mailed me that ftape does *NOT* work with
-Linux/SMP. If you try to run ftape under Linux/SMP, it will cause a
-kernel deadlock (which is worse than a panic).
-
-- QIC-3020/TR-3: 1Mbps support works. Neal is capable of reading and
- writing data to a tape. ftape will automatically detect the type of
- tape (e.g. TR-3 vs QIC-80) and move the fdc in and out of
- "perpendicular mode" as necessary.
-- 2Mbps support is disabled by default, since it is not fully
- debugged. If you are adventurous, remove -DFDC_82078SL in the
- Makefile and see what happens :-)
-- fdc detection: silly bugs removed (Only 2Mbps fdcs were affected)
- and added detection of the National Semiconductors PC8744 fdc chip
- (used in the PC873xx "super-IO" chips).
-- Removed warning about incompatible types when compiling with Linux
- 1.2.x.
-- README.PCI updated with info about the DELL Dimension XPS P90.
-- Connor TST3200R added to detected drives.
-- `swapout' utility added to distribution. It will dirty 5Meg of
- memory, trying to swap out other programs. Just say `make swapout'
- to build it. ftape will do this automatically Real Soon Now (ie:
- when I have found out which kernel memory alloc function to call).
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.05, 08/01/96 =====
-
-- For v1.2.x Kernels, you must apply the patch linux-1.2/ksyms.patch to
- the kernel and rebuild it (it adds the __get_dma_pages symbol to
- ksyms.c).
-- Included new asm-i386/io.h file from v1.3.x kernel series, to enable
- gcc v.2.7.[12] to compile v1.2.x kernels (linux-1.2/io.h).
-- Module versions: If you wish to compile ftape as a versioned module,
- you must first compile your kernel with CONFIG_MODVERSIONS=y.
- Otherwise, you will get complaints that <linux/modversions.h> does not
- exist (if that happens, a `touch modversions.h' will help you out).
-- CLK_48MHZ: new define in the Makefile (default: non-zero). If you have
- a tape controller card that uses the i82078(-1) chip, but cannot get
- it to work with ftape, try set it to 0 (and please report this).
-- QIC-3010/3020: Complete support is still missing, but will hopefully
- come soon. Steven Sorbom has kindly provided me with hints about
- this. Writing of QIC-3020 tapes definitely does NOT work (do not try
- it! - the drive will not be in "perpendicular mode" and this will ruin
- the formatting info on the tape).
-- ftape_num_buffers is out of fashion: use NR_BUFFERS instead (and
- recompile if you want to change it :-).
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.04, 01/01/96 =====
-
-This version by Kai Harrekilde-Petersen <khp@dolphinics.no>
-
-- ALERT! Support for Kernels earlier then v1.1.85 is about to go away.
- I intend to clean up some of the code (getting rid of an annoyingly
- large numbers of #ifdef mostly), which means that support for
- pre-1.1.85 kernels must go as well.
-- NR_FTAPE_BUFFERS is gone; You can instead select the number of dma
- buffers by saying `insmod ftape.o ftape_num_buffer=<n>' instead.
-- Configure script gone. ftape will now automagically determine your
- kernel version by /usr/include/linux/version.h instead.
-- CONFIG_MODVERSIONS now work. All combinations of versioned /
- unversioned kernel and ftape module works (at least with my 1.3.52
- kernel).
-- If you have problems with inserting ftape into an old (1.2.x)
- kernel (e.g. insmod says "1.2.8 does not match 1.2.8), recompile
- your modules utilities with your new compiler.
-- Reveal TB1400 drive added to vendors.h
-- Support for the i82078-1 (2Mbps) chip is coming along. The
- biggest problem is that I don't have such a card, which makes
- testing / debugging somewhat problematic. The second biggest
- problem is that I do not have the QIC-3010/3020 standards either.
- Status right now is that the chip is detected, and it should be
- possible to put it into 2Mbps mode. However, I do not know what
- "extras" are needed to complete the support. Although putting the
- i82078 into 1Mbps mode ought to work out of the box, it doesn't
- (right now, ftape complains about id am errors).
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.04beta5, 29/12/95 =====
-
-Bas offline linux-tape
-----------------------
-For reasons only known to the majordomo mail list processor, Bas was
-kicked off the linux-tape list sometime during the summer. Being
-overworked at his for-pay job, he didn't notice it much. Instead I
-(Kai, khp@dolphinics.no) has worked on ftape to produce the 2.04(beta)
-version.
-
-zftape
-------
-Note that there exists a much improved version of ftape, written by
-Claus-Justus Heine <claus@willi.math.rwth-aachen.de> which is named
-zftape, which conforms to the QIC-80 specs on how to mark backups, and
-is capable of doing automatic compression. However, zftape makes
-substantial changes to ftape, and I (Kai) have therefore declined to
-integrate zftape into ftape. Hopefully, this will happen soon.
-
-CONFIG_QIC117 removed from the kernel
--------------------------------------
-The biggest change of all is that ftape now will allocate its dma
-buffers when it is inserted. The means that the CONFIG_QIC117 option
-has disappeared from the Linux kernel as of v1.3.34. If you have an
-earlier kernel, simply answer 'no' to the question will do the trick
-(if you get complains about __get_free_pages() missing, contact the
-linux-tape mailing list).
-
-Note that ftape-2.04beta will work equally well on kernels with and
-without `ftape support'. The only catch is, that you will waste
-around 96-128Kb of precious DMA'able memory on a box that has ftape
-support compiled in.
-
-Now for the real changes:
-
-- FC-20 can now use DMA channels 1, 2, and 3. Thanks to Daniel
- Cohen, catman@wpi.edu.
-- ftape no longer requires a (gigantic) 96Kb buffer to be statically
- allocated by the kernel.
-- Added new Iomega drive (8882) to vendors.h
-- -fno-strength-reduce added to Makefile, since GCC is broken.
-- i82078-1 (2Mbps) FDC support started.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.03b, 27/05/95 =====
-
-- Prevented verify_area to return error if called with zero length.
-- Fixed a bug in flush_buffers that caused too much padding to be
- written when a final segment had bad sectors.
-- Increased maximum fast-seek overshoot value from 5 to 10 segments.
-- Breaking loop after 5 retries when positioning fails.
-- Fixed wrong calculation of tape length for QIC-3010 and QIC-3020
- tapes (densities were swapped).
-- Fixed wrong calculation of overshoot on seek_forward: Wrong sign
- of error.
-- Suppress (false) error message due to new tape loaded.
-- Added two new CMS drives (11c3 and 11c5) to vendors.h.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.03a, 09/05/95 =====
-
-- Fixed display of old error (even if already cleared) in ftape_open.
-- Improved tape length detection, ioctls would fail for 425 ft tapes.
- Until the tape length is calculated with data from the header
- segment, we'll use worst-case values.
-- Clear eof_mark after rewinding ioctls.
-- Fixed wrong version message (2.03 had 2.02g id).
-- Fixed bug that caused the fdc to be reset very frequently.
- This shouldn't affect normal operation but the timing of the
- report routines has changed again and that may cause problems.
- We'll just have to find out....
-- Implemented correct write precompensation setting for QIC-3010/3020.
-- Cleaned up fdc_interrupt_wait routine. Hope it still works :-)
-- Finally removed (already disabled) special eof mark handling for
- gnu tar.
-- Changed order of get_dma_residue and disable_dma in fdc-isr.c
- because the current order would fail on at least one system.
- We're back to the original order again, hope (and expect) this
- doesn't break any other system.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.03, 07/05/95 =====
-
-(Changes refer to the first ftape-2.02 release)
-
-Support for wide and extended length tapes
-------------------------------------------
-The Conner TSM 420 and 850 drives are reported to be working.
-I haven't received any reports about other brands; the TSM 420
-and 850 seem to be the most widely used wide drives.
-Extended length tapes (425 ft) with normal QIC-80 drives
-are operating too (At least I've had no reports stating otherwise).
-_Not_ yet completely supported (although they may work) are
-QIC-3020 drives and 2 Mbps floppy disk controllers won't work at
-the highest speed.
-If someone is kind enough to send me one of these, I'll include
-support for it too ;-)
-
-Easier configuration
---------------------
-Problems due to wrong settings in the Makefile are prevented
-by using a configuration script that sets the necessary (kernel
-version dependent) compile time options.
-This kernel version is now determined from the sources found
-at /usr/src/linux, or if not found, the old way using
-/proc/version.
-Versioned modules will be used automatically when supported
-by- and configured in- the kernel.
-Note that the current modules code (1.1.87) is still broken
-and _needs_ the fix included in the insmod directory.
-Please don't send me any more Oops reports caused by insmod :-(
-
-Reduced module size
--------------------
-The standard module size is much reduced and some compile time
-options can even reduce it further. (I don't recommend this
-for normal use but it can be handy for rescue diskettes)
-
-Option: Approx. module size:
-
-<standard> 150 Kb
-NO_TRACE 125 Kb
-NO_TRACE_AT_ALL 67 Kb
-
-
-Much improved driver interruption
----------------------------------
-Most possible loops have been broken and signal detection
-has been improved.
-In most cases the driver can be aborted by ^C (SIGINT) and
-SIGKILL (kill -9) will generate be a sure kill.
-(Note that aborting a tape operation may damage the last
-data written to tape)
-
-Improved error recovery
------------------------
-Ftape now returns an error (ENODATA) to the application if
-a segment proves to be unrecoverable and then skips the
-bad segment.
-This causes most applications to continue to work (tar
-and afio) loosing only a small amount (up to 29 Kb) of data.
-Retried read operations will now be done slightly off-track
-to improve the chance of success. Serious head off-track
-errors will be detected.
-
-FC-10 and FC-20 controllers
----------------------------
-Ftape now supports both the old CMS FC-10 and the newer FC-20
-controllers.
-Because the operation of these cards is still undocumented,
-thus far they will only work with the default settings (See
-Makefile). Any feed-back on how to use them with other settings
-will be welcome !
-Compilation will fail if one changes the settings to illegal
-values.
-
-Kernels and compilers
----------------------
-Ftape is currently being developed using the 2.5.8 compiler.
-The older 2.4.5 probably works too (Set option in Makefile!).
-I have no experience with any later compilers nor Elf support.
-Any information on this is welcome.
-The latest kernel I have tested ftape with is 1.2.6.
-
-Compression
------------
-An impressive collection of changes for ftape including
-on-the-fly compression is still lying on my desk.
-If 2.03 proves to be reliable I might start integrating these
-but as usual, I'm short in time :-(
-
-Formatting
-----------
-There is still no way to format tapes under Linux. As far as
-I know all attempts to write such a program have died now.
-Since formatted tapes are rather common now, I think all we
-need is a utility that writes a worst case pattern and verifies
-that with the drive put in verify mode, reducing margins.
-Any takers ?
-
-Furthermore
------------
-Cleaned up messages.
-Prepared to support multiple tape drives on one fdc.
-Thanks to all the people who sent bug reports and helped me
-improve the driver. Without trying to be complete I'll mention
-Gary Anderson (without his accurate reports and unreliable
-hardware there wouldn't be a 2.03), Stefan Kneifel (FC-20),
-Robert Broughton (FC-20, you were almost there ;-), Bjorn
-Ekwall (for the versioned modules and buggy insmod ;-), Peter
-Fox, Christopher Oliver, Ralph Whittaker and not the least
-Linus Torvalds (for Linux and keeping me busy because of
-changes to the kernel ;-)
-Thanks to anyone I forgot, for the bug reports, the ftape
-bashing and the mental support...
-
-
-That's it for now. Have Fun,
-
-Bas.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.02g, 06/05/95 =====
-
-- Added extra test to break read-id loop with signal.
-- Changed rewind code to handle negative overshoot for drives
- that take very long to start or stop.
-- Let use of get/set i/o-regions depend on kernel version.
-- Changed code to use a more general test for conditional
- compilations depending on kernel version.
-- Improved micro-step functionality to go off-track only
- while reading (id & data).
-- Added failure on tape-not-referenced bit in ftape_command.
-- Added FOREVER option to read-wait routine.
-- Changed read-id to use shorter timeout causing smaller
- rewinds on timeout.
-- Made kernel-interface functions static.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.02f, 03/05/95 =====
-
-- Added support for dual tape drives on my system, extended Configure
- script to detect host 'dodo'.
-- Log media defect in history if ecc failed and no data was returned.
-- Fixed Configure script that was failing for kernel versions with
- double digit version or revision numbers.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.02e, 01/05/95 =====
-
-- Fixed reposition loop at logical eot (failing read_id).
-- Fixed 34 segment offset when rewinding.
-- Added fast seek capability for more than 255 segments.
-- Fixed wrong busy result from ftape_command causing reverse
- seek to fail.
-- Added breakout from infinite rewind loop (if something fails).
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.02d, 30/04/95 =====
-
-- Improved abortion on signals: Interrupt will make a graceful
- exit, Kill will be less nice and should be used if everything
- else fails.
-- Included check for tape-head off track.
-- Implemented exit from tape-start loop.
-- Added kernel io-port registration.
-- Implemented skip of failing segment (ENODATA) on ecc failure.
- This allows afio and tar to continue when the tape is damaged.
-- Made distinction between drive names with different codes.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.02c, 22/04/95 =====
-
-- Fixed too tight command queueing after tape stop/pause command
- issued from within interrupt service routine (Showed as timeout
- on Acknowledge errors during retries on some systems)
-- Tried to fix timeouts when using 425 ft tape because the extended
- length doesn't seem to be detected by the hardware.
- We now use the format code from the header segment so adjust the
- timing after reading the header segment.
-- Fixed some messages stating 'unexpected something...' being not
- unexpected anymore.
-- Started preparations for merge of dynamic buffer allocation and
- compression code.
-- Changed some debug messages to include relevant segment information
- at level 4.
-- Included early bail-out when drive offline, preventing a lot of
- false messages.
-- Moved ftape_parameter_xxx() offsets into function instead of in calls.
-- Removed 'weird, drive busy but no data' error when caused by
- an error during a read-id.
-- Improved 'timeout on acknowledge' diagnostics.
-- Moved MODULE option into Configure.
-- Reduced code size when no tracing at all was set (Claus Heine).
-- No longer log error code 0 (no error) as an error.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.02b, 09/04/95 =====
-
-- Relaxed timing for status operation and displaying
- abnormal results. Hopefully this shows what's going
- wrong with the Conner TSM850R drives.
-- Created script for configuration, using version number
- of kernel source if available, otherwise /proc/version.
-- Fixed conditionals in kernel-interface.c.
-- Removed unavoidable TRACE output.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.02a, 01/04/95 =====
-
-- Implemented `new-style' (versioned) modules support for new
- kernels.
-- Reduced size of module by moving static data to bss.
-- Now using version number of kernel source instead of running
- kernel for kernel versions >= 1.1.82
-- Added feedback on drive speeds to vendor information.
-- Included fixed insmod sources to distribution (Let's hope
- the modules distribution get fixed soon :-/).
-
-Note that I haven't yet implemented any of the code extension I
-received. I hope to find some time to do this soon.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.02, 15/01/95 =====
-
-
-- Fixed failing repositioning when overshoot was incremented.
-- Fixed rate selection: Because of a deficiency in the QIC-117
- specification one cannot distinguish between a not implemented
- and a failing command. Therefor we now try to find out if the
- drive does support this command before usage.
-- Fixed error retry using wrong offset in fdc-isr.
-- Improved retry code to retry only once on a single no-data
- error in a segment.
-- Validate sector number extracted from eof mark because an
- invalid file mark (due to ???) could cause kernel panic.
-- Split ftape-io.c into ftape-io.c and ftape-ctl.c files.
-- Corrected too high media error count after writing to
- a bad tape.
-- Added #include <asm/segment.h> again because old kernel versions
- need it.
-- Fixed fdc not being disabled when open failed because no tape
- drive was found.
-- Fixed problem with soft error in sector 32 (shift operator with
- shiftcount 32 is not defined).
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.01, 08/01/95 =====
-
-
-- Removed TESTING setting from distributed Makefile.
-- Fixed `mt asf' failure: Rewind was deferred to close which
- overruled the fsf ioctl.
-- Prevented non-interruptible commands being interrupted.
-- Added missing timeout.pause setting.
-- Maximum tape speed read from drive type information table.
- If the information is not in the table (0) the drive will
- determine the speed itself and put a message in the logfile.
- This information should then be added to the table in the
- vendors.h file (and reported to me).
-- Added call to ftape_init_drive after soft reset for those
- (antique) drives that don't do an implicit seek_load_point
- after a reset or power up.
-- Don't try to set data rate if reset failed.
-- Prevent update of seek variables when starting from the
- beginning or the end of the tape.
-- Fixed wrong adjustment of overshoot in seek_forward().
-- Added sync to Makefile (again).
-- Added code to diagnose timer problems (calibr.c).
-- Replaced time differences by timediff calls.
-- Removed reference to do_floppy from object for recent kernels.
-- Fixed wrong display of 'failing dma controller' message.
-- Removed various no longer used #include statements.
-- Added max. tape speed value to vendor-struct.
-- Changed ftape-command to check pre-conditions and wait
- if needed.
-- Further updated qic117.h to rev G.
-- Combined command name table and restrictions table to one.
- Extended this table with some new fields.
-- Increased timeout on Ack timer value and included code to
- report out of spec behaviour.
-- Increased rewind timeout margin to calculated + 20%.
-- Improved data rate selection so it won't fail on some
- older (pre standard) drives.
-- Changed initialisation code so drive will be rewound if the
- driver is reloaded and the tape is not at bot.
-- Moved some of the flush operations from close to the ioctls.
-- Added exit code value to failing verify area message.
-- Loop until tape halted in smart-stop.
-- Fast seek handled specially if located at bot or eot.
-- Being more conservative on overshoot value.
-
-
-===== Release notes for ftape-2.00, 31/12/94 =====
-
- The Install-guide is completely rewritten and now also includes
-some information on how to use the driver. If you're either new
-to ftape or new to Unix tape devices make sure to read it !
-
- If you own a pci system and experience problems with the
-ftape driver make sure to read the README.PCI file. It contains
-some hints on how to fix your hardware.
-
- For anybody who hasn't noticed: The version number of the
-driver has been incremented (The latest released version has
-been version 1.14d).
- This has been done for two major reasons:
-
- o A new (better) error recovery scheme is implemented.
- o Support for new drive types has been added.
-
- All these improvements/changes will probably include a couple
-of new (and old?) bugs. If you encounter any problems that you think
-I'm not yet aware of, feel free to send a report to <bas@vimec.nl>.
- I recommend keeping a version of ftape-1.14d available, just
-in case ;-)
-
- This version should work with all kernel versions from 1.0.9 up
-to 1.1.72 (and probably earlier and later versions too).
-
-
-Major new features:
-
-- Better handling of tapes with defects: When a sector repeatedly
- (SOFT_RETRIES in ftape.h) cannot be written to or read from it is
- marked as an hard error and gets skipped.
- The error correction code can handle up to three of these hard
- errors provided there are no other errors in that segment (32 Kb).
-
-- Allows writing to tapes with defects (although the risk of loosing
- data increases !)
- Look for the media-defects entry printed with the statistics when
- the tape is closed. A non-zero value here shows a bad tape.
- [the actual count is wrong (too high), this is a known bug].
-
-- Use of backup header segment if first one is failing.
-
-- Support for extended length tapes with QIC-80: both 425 and 1100 ft.
- 0.25 inch tapes are now recognized and handled.
-
-- Support for new QIC-80 drives with 8 mm `wide' tapes (e.g. Conner
- TSM 420).
-
-- Support for new QIC-3010 and QIC-3020 drives (experimental) with
- both 0.25 inch and 8 mm tapes.
-
-Some minor features were added, a couple of small bugs were fixed and
-probably some new ones introduced ;-).
-
-[lseek() didn't make it into this version]
-
-Have fun,
-
-Bas.
-----
- LocalWords: ftape MCONFIG mt VFS zftape resp sftape proc subdir MTIOCVOLINFO
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