First written on Dec 10, 2000
Last update: Feb 6, 2008

SCSI Card Compatibility List

Graphics | SCSI | GbE

This list aims for providing Alpha enthusiasts with some information on how to use SCSI cards designed for PC (with x86) on Alpha systems.

Notes

• The list here does not ensure that a SCSI Card surely works or does not work with the listed Alpha systems and OSs. The list is provided ``AS IS.''
• If a card is rejected in 64bit slot, try 32bit slot instead. And vice versa.
• Even if a card is marked as ``OK'' in this list, the card might not work correctly due to the difference of the revision of SCSI Controller.
• Cards marked with * are probably domestic models.
• This page may contain links to some companies and shops. They are here just for your convenience, but not for promotions.

Tru64 UNIX (formerly Digital UNIX)

Special notes under Tru64 UNIX:

• Don't forget to update the SRM console to the latest version.
• Compaq sometimes provides drivers for new SCSI cards with the patches for Tru64 UNIX.

Vendor&Name of Card	Controller	Type of SCSI	Vendor&Name of WS (or MB)	OS Ver.	Driver	Utilizable/Bootable	Tested devices and Notes	Tester
(unknown)	Symbios Logic 53C810	Narrow, Ultra	DEC PWS500au (enhanced model)	V4.0D	psiop	OK/OK	TEAC CD-R55S. IOMEGA ZIP100.	Franz Fischer (Mar 12, 2005)
(unknown)	Symbios Logic 53C810	Narrow, Ultra	DEC AlphaStation 255/233	V4.0G	psiop	OK/OK	IBM DDRS-39130.	Franz Fischer (Mar 12, 2005)
*I-O DATA, SC-UWPCI	Symbios Logic 53C875	Ultra Wide&Narrow	DEC PWS600au (early model)	V5.0	psiop	OK/OK	DEC RZ1CC-BA (Quantum Viking 4.5GB).	H.Goto (Dec. 10, 2000)
*I-O DATA, SC-UWPCI	Symbios Logic 53C875	Ultra Wide&Narrow	DEC Multia/UDB (VX42J-F2)	V5.0	psiop	OK/NG	Sun CD12. SRM Console does not recognize this card.	H.Goto (Dec. 10, 2000)
*I-O DATA, SC-UPCI	Symbios Logic 53C875	Ultra, Narrow	PC164LX	V5.1A	psiop	OK/OK	TEAC CD-532S. HITACHI DK329H-91WS(HDD).	N.Hayashi (Mar 23, 2002)
*I-O DATA, SC-UPCI	LSI Logic 53C875	Ultra, Narrow	PC164LX	V5.1A	psiop	OK/OK	TEAC CD-532S. HITACHI DK329H-91WS(HDD).	N.Hayashi (Mar 23, 2002)
*I-O DATA, SC-U2PCI	LSI Logic 53C895	Ultra2, Wide	PC164LX	V5.1A	itpsa	NG/NG	SRM Console can recognize SCSI devices connected to this card. However, boot fails.	N.Hayashi (Mar 23, 2002)
LSI LOGIC SYM8952U	LSI Logic 53C895	Ultra2, Wide	PC164LX	V5.1A	itpsa	NG/NG	SRM Console can recognize SCSI devices connected to this card. However, boot fails.	N.Hayashi (Mar 23, 2002)
*Logitec, LHA-521UA	Symbios Logic 53C875	Ultra Narrow	DEC Multia/UDB (VX42J-F2)	V5.0	psiop	OK/NG	Sun CD12. SRM Console does not recognize this card.	H.Goto (Dec. 10, 2000)
Caravelle, CI-4500UW	Symbios Logic 53C875	Ultra Wide&Narrow	DEC AlphaPC 164	V5.0	psiop	OK/OK	This card seems identical to Centos Inc. CI-4500W. (Comment by H.Goto, Jan. 13, 2001)	H. Akagi (Nov. 13, 2000)
Centos Inc., CI-4500UW	Symbios Logic 53C875	Ultra Wide&Narrow	DEC AlphaPC 164	V4.0G	psiop	OK/OK	Manual reconfiguration of the kernel is required after OS installation.	J.Kolbitsch (Jul 24, 2001)
Centos Inc., CI-4500UW	Symbios Logic 53C875	Ultra Wide&Narrow	DEC AlphaPC 164	V5.0A	psiop	?/NG	OS installer claims ``couldn't locate swap-device'' and fails.	J.Kolbitsch (Jul 24, 2001)
Centos Inc., CI-4500U2B	Symbios Logic 53C895	Ultra2 Wide	DEC PWS600au (early model)	V5.0	itpsa	NG/NG	SRM Console can correctly recognize SCSI devices connected to this card. itpsa driver seems appropriate for this card. However, it fails during the boot. psiop driver does not work with this card. (How about the new itpsa driver in V5.1?)	H.Goto (Jan. 17, 2001)
[ NEW ] QLogic QLA1040	QLogic ISP1040	Ultra Wide	DEC AlphaStation 600 5/333	V5.1B	isp	OK/OK	AlphaStation 600 5/333 boots from QLA 1040, and the card is recognized by SRM.	Petr B. (Feb. 6, 2008)
QLogic QLA1080	QLogic ISP1080	Ultra2 Wide	DEC PWS600au (early model)	V5.0	-	NG/NG	SRM Console does not recognize this card. No driver is available for this card.	H.Goto (Dec. 30, 2000)
Tekram, DC-390F	Symbios Logic 53C875	Ultra Wide	Information wanted!				Some people reported this card worked well, and others reported it did not work. Further information is welcome.	(?, 2001)
Sun, X5010A (LSI Logic, SYM8751SPE)	Symbios Logic 53C875JE	Ultra Wide&Narrow	DEC PWS600au (early model)	V5.0	psiop	OK/OK	DEC RZ1CC-BA (Quantum Viking 4.5GB).	H.Goto (Mar. 15, 2001)
Antares, PCI SCSI-U2WL	Symbios Logic 53C895	Ultra2 Wide	(unknown)	V5.1	itpsa	NG/NG	SRM can access and use the card. However, Tru64 5.1 will not recognize it, nor use it as an install device.	Tom (from minions.com) (Apr. 9, 2001)
Adaptec, AHA-2940U	Adaptec AIC-7860	Ultra Narrow	AlphaPC 164	V4.0	-	NG/NG	SRM Console does not recognize this card. No driver is available for this card.	J.Kolbitsch (Jul 2, 2001)
Adaptec, SCSI Card 29160	Adaptec AIC-7892	Ultra160, Wide	PC164LX	V5.1A	aha_chim	OK/NG	SRM Console does not recognize this card. The card can be attached to OS by aha_chim.	N.Hayashi (Mar 23, 2002)
Adaptec, SCSI Card 29160	Adaptec AIC-7892	Ultra160, Wide	Compaq DS10	V5.1A	aha_chim	OK/OK	SRM console V6.6. The card can be attached to OS by aha_chim.	N.Hayashi (Nov 26, 2004)
Adaptec, SCSI Card 29160	Adaptec AIC-7892	Ultra160, Wide	Compaq DS20E	V5.1A	aha_chim	OK/OK	SRM console V6.6. The card can be attached to OS by aha_chim.	N.Hayashi (Nov 26, 2004)
Adaptec, SCSI Card 29160N	Adaptec ?	Ultra160, Wide	DEC PWS433au	-	-	?/NG	SRM Console Software 7.2 which came from the lastest Firmware CD V6.3 was used. If the card is plugged into a 32bit slot, the card cannot be seen on SRM Console. If the card is plugged into a 64bit slot, SRM Console complains that an illegal card is attached. (Note that this is a SRM Console's issue rather than OS's.)	Juergen (Dec 13, 2002)
Adaptec, SCSI Card 19160	Adaptec AIC-7892	Ultra160, Wide	API UP2000+	-	-	?/NG	Not recognized by SRM 5.8-81.	Chris (Mar 26, 2004)
Adaptec, SCSI Card 39160	Adaptec AIC-7899G	Ultra160 2ch	PC164LX	V5.1A	aha_chim	OK/OK	SEAGATE ST39236LW. SRM Console V5.8-1 is used. SRM Console V5.8 or higher may be required, since it reports 39160 as ``KZPEA-DB''.	N.Hayashi (May 4, 2002)
Adaptec, SCSI Card 39160	Adaptec AIC-7899G	Ultra160 2ch	API UP2000+	V5.1A	aha_chim	OK/OK	SRM Console V5.8-81 is used.	N.Hayashi (Feb 13, 2003)
Compaq, 129803-B21	Adaptec AIC-7899G	Ultra160 2ch	PC164LX	V5.1A	aha_chim	NG/OK	SRM Console V5.8-1. This card looks like an Adaptec 39160, but it returns ``Compaq'' as sub vender. The card is recognized but scsi devices are not visible on SRM Console.	N.Hayashi (Nov 14, 2002)
Compaq, 129803-B21	Adaptec AIC-7899G	Ultra160 2ch	Compaq DS10	V5.1A	aha_chim	NG/OK	SRM Console V6.3-1. This card looks like an Adaptec 39160, but it returns ``Compaq'' as sub vender. The card is recognized but scsi devices are not visible on SRM Console.	N.Hayashi (Nov 14, 2002)
Compaq, 129803-B21	Adaptec AIC-7899G	Ultra160 2ch	Compaq XP1000	V5.1A	aha_chim	NG/OK	SRM Console V5.9-1. This card looks like an Adaptec 39160, but it returns ``Compaq'' as sub vender. The card is recognized but scsi devices are not visible on SRM Console. [Nov 16, 2006]   If you do a search for "adaptec seeprom.zip" you'll find a utility that can read and write the 39160's SEEPROM, allowing you to change the subvendor / sub- device info (along with everything else).	N.Hayashi (Nov 14, 2002)
Adaptec, ASC-39160	Adaptec AIC-7899G	Ultra160 2ch	Compaq DS10	V5.1A	aha_chim	OK/OK	SRM Console V6.3-1.	N.Hayashi (Nov 14, 2002)
Adaptec, ASC-39160	Adaptec AIC-7899G	Ultra160 2ch	Compaq XP1000	V5.1A	aha_chim	OK/OK	SRM Console V5.9-1.	N.Hayashi (Nov 14, 2002)
Adaptec, AHA-2940UW	-	Ultra Wide	PC164LX	V5.1A	-	NG/NG	SRM Console V5.8-1 is used. Recognized by SRM, not by Tru64 5.1A.	Evan (Jul 13, 2002)
Adaptec, AHA-2940AU	-	Ultra Narrow	PC164LX	V5.1A	-	NG/NG	SRM Console V5.8-1 is used. Not recognized by SRM.	Evan (Jul 13, 2002)
(genuine cards follow)
DEC, QLogic 1040B Wide Ultra SCSI Adapter (SN-KZPBA-CX)	QLogic ISP1040B	Ultra Wide	DEC PWS600au (early model)	V5.0	isp	OK/OK	DEC RZ1CC-BA (Quantum Viking 4.5GB).	H.Goto (Dec. 10, 2000)
DEC, QLogic 1040B Wide Ultra SCSI Adapter (SN-KZPBA-CX)	QLogic ISP1040B	Ultra Wide	DEC Multia/UDB (VX42J-F2)	V5.0	isp	NG/NG	SRM Console does not recognize this card. OS fails to initialize this card.	H.Goto (Dec. 20, 2000)
DEC, QLogic 1040B Wide Ultra SCSI Adapter (SN-KZPBA-CA)	QLogic ISP1040B	Ultra Wide	Compaq XP1000 (21264A/667MHz)	V4.0F	isp	OK/OK	SEAGATE ST136475LW.	H.Goto (Dec. 10, 2000)
DEC, QLogic 1040B Wide Ultra SCSI Adapter (SN-KZPBA-CA)	QLogic ISP1040B	Ultra Wide	Compaq XP1000 (21264A/667MHz)	V4.0F	isp	OK/OK	SEAGATE ST136475LW.	H.Goto (Dec. 10, 2000)
API (onboard)	Adaptec AIC-7891	Ultra2 Wide	API UP2000+	V5.1A	-	NG/NG	SRM Console V5.8-81. Boot fails if onboard_adaptec is enabled on SRM Console. The controller will not be attached when onboard_adaptec=disable.	N.Hayashi (Feb 13, 2003)

The list of Genuine SCSI Cards supported by Tru64 UNIX can be found at:

• Tru64 UNIX Operating System Version 4.0G (Software Product Descriptions)

Some information on the SCSI card compatibility can be found in the ML archive at:

• Tru64.org

Linux/Alpha

Linux/Alpha communities provide wide information on the supported cards. Please take a look at their sites first. Here is a link to the FAQ page in ``The AlphaLinux Homepage'' :

• Linux/Alpha Frequently Asked Questions

• SCSI Card Compatibility List :   Linux/Alpha

MS-WindowsNT

Ask Microsoft or Compaq...
(I don't like to support this OS.)

Related Links

• Software Patches (Compaq Services)
• Alpha Systems Firmware Updates

We need info...

If you have tested other combination(s) of WS, OS, and Card, I would be grateful to hear about it. Especially, information under Tru64 UNIX (Digital UNIX) is welcome. Famous SCSI cards with Ultra SCSI feature (or higher capability) are preferable. Even if a combination is unsuccessful, the information is valuable as well.

Please send the information to H.Goto at alpha-info4a@MOON_DOMAIN (guess the domain name). Acceptable languages are English and Japanese. Tester's name and/or hyperlink to tester's website can be omitted in the table if you hope so.