1 =============
2 Floppy Driver
3 =============
4
5 FAQ list:
6 =========
7
8 A FAQ list may be found in the fdutils package
9 at <https://fdutils.linux.lu/faq.html>.
10
11
12 LILO configuration options (Thinkpad users, re
13 ==============================================
14
15 The floppy driver is configured using the 'flo
16 lilo. This option can be typed at the boot pro
17 lilo configuration file.
18
19 Example: If your kernel is called linux-2.6.9,
20 at the lilo boot prompt (if you have a thinkpa
21
22 linux-2.6.9 floppy=thinkpad
23
24 You may also enter the following line in /etc/
25 of linux-2.6.9::
26
27 append = "floppy=thinkpad"
28
29 Several floppy related options may be given, e
30
31 linux-2.6.9 floppy=daring floppy=two_fdc
32 append = "floppy=daring floppy=two_fdc"
33
34 If you give options both in the lilo config fi
35 prompt, the option strings of both places are
36 prompt options coming last. That's why there a
37 restore the default behavior.
38
39
40 Module configuration options
41 ============================
42
43 If you use the floppy driver as a module, use
44
45 modprobe floppy floppy="<options>"
46
47 Example::
48
49 modprobe floppy floppy="omnibook messa
50
51 If you need certain options enabled every time
52 you can put::
53
54 options floppy floppy="omnibook messag
55
56 in a configuration file in /etc/modprobe.d/.
57
58
59 The floppy driver related options are:
60
61 floppy=asus_pci
62 Sets the bit mask to allow only units
63
64 floppy=daring
65 Tells the floppy driver that you have
66 This allows more efficient and smoothe
67 certain controllers. This may speed up
68
69 floppy=0,daring
70 Tells the floppy driver that your flop
71 with caution.
72
73 floppy=one_fdc
74 Tells the floppy driver that you have
75 (default)
76
77 floppy=two_fdc / floppy=<address>,two_fdc
78 Tells the floppy driver that you have
79 The second floppy controller is assume
80 This option is not needed if the secon
81 0x370, and if you use the 'cmos' optio
82
83 floppy=thinkpad
84 Tells the floppy driver that you have
85 inverted convention for the disk chang
86
87 floppy=0,thinkpad
88 Tells the floppy driver that you don't
89
90 floppy=omnibook / floppy=nodma
91 Tells the floppy driver not to use Dma
92 This is needed on HP Omnibooks, which
93 DMA channel for the floppy driver. Thi
94 if you frequently get "Unable to alloc
95 Indeed, dma memory needs to be continu
96 and is thus harder to find, whereas no
97 allocated in virtual memory. However,
98 you have an FDC without a FIFO (8272A
99 later are OK. You also need at least a
100 If you use nodma mode, I suggest you a
101 threshold to 10 or lower, in order to
102 transfer interrupts.
103
104 If you have a FIFO-able FDC, the flopp
105 falls back on non DMA mode if no DMA-a
106 If you want to avoid this, explicitly
107
108 floppy=yesdma
109 Tells the floppy driver that a workabl
110 (default)
111
112 floppy=nofifo
113 Disables the FIFO entirely. This is ne
114 master arbitration error" messages fro
115 from other devices) while accessing th
116
117 floppy=usefifo
118 Enables the FIFO. (default)
119
120 floppy=<threshold>,fifo_depth
121 Sets the FIFO threshold. This is mostl
122 mode. If this is higher, the floppy dr
123 interrupt latency, but it triggers mor
124 imposes more load on the rest of the s
125 lower, the interrupt latency should be
126 processor). The benefit of a lower thr
127 interrupts.
128
129 To tune the fifo threshold, switch on
130 using 'floppycontrol --messages'. Then
131 disk. If you get a huge amount of "Ove
132 messages, then the fifo threshold is t
133 higher value, until you only get an oc
134 It is a good idea to compile the flopp
135 when doing this tuning. Indeed, it all
136 fifo values without rebooting the mach
137 that you need to do 'floppycontrol --m
138 re-insert the module.
139
140 Usually, tuning the fifo threshold sho
141 the default (0xa) is reasonable.
142
143 floppy=<drive>,<type>,cmos
144 Sets the CMOS type of <drive> to <type
145 you have more than two floppy drives (
146 described in the physical CMOS), or if
147 non-standard CMOS types. The CMOS type
148
149 == ===========================
150 0 Use the value of the physic
151 1 5 1/4 DD
152 2 5 1/4 HD
153 3 3 1/2 DD
154 4 3 1/2 HD
155 5 3 1/2 ED
156 6 3 1/2 ED
157 16 unknown or not installed
158 == ===========================
159
160 (Note: there are two valid types for E
161 initially chosen to represent floppy *
162 AMI ignored this, and used 5 for ED dr
163 driver handles both.)
164
165 floppy=unexpected_interrupts
166 Print a warning message when an unexpe
167 (default)
168
169 floppy=no_unexpected_interrupts / floppy=L40S
170 Don't print a message when an unexpect
171 is needed on IBM L40SX laptops in cert
172 to be an interaction between video and
173 interrupts affect only performance, an
174
175 floppy=broken_dcl
176 Don't use the disk change line, but as
177 changed whenever the device node is re
178 boxes where the disk change line is br
179 This should be regarded as a stopgap m
180 floppy operation less efficient due to
181 flushings, and slightly more unreliabl
182 cable, connection and jumper settings
183 problems. However, some older drives,
184 are known not to have a DCL.
185
186 floppy=debug
187 Print debugging messages.
188
189 floppy=messages
190 Print informational messages for some
191 notifications, warnings about over and
192 autodetection).
193
194 floppy=silent_dcl_clear
195 Uses a less noisy way to clear the dis
196 doesn't involve seeks). Implied by 'da
197
198 floppy=<nr>,irq
199 Sets the floppy IRQ to <nr> instead of
200
201 floppy=<nr>,dma
202 Sets the floppy DMA channel to <nr> in
203
204 floppy=slow
205 Use PS/2 stepping rate::
206
207 PS/2 floppies have much slower step
208 It's been recommended that take abo
209 in some more extreme cases.
210
211
212 Supporting utilities and additional documentat
213 ==============================================
214
215 Additional parameters of the floppy driver can
216 runtime. Utilities which do this can be found
217 This package also contains a new version of mt
218 access high capacity disks (up to 1992K on a h
219 It also contains additional documentation abou
220
221 The latest version can be found at fdutils hom
222
223 https://fdutils.linux.lu
224
225 The fdutils releases can be found at:
226
227 https://fdutils.linux.lu/download.html
228
229 http://www.tux.org/pub/knaff/fdutils/
230
231 ftp://metalab.unc.edu/pub/Linux/utils/disk-ma
232
233 Reporting problems about the floppy driver
234 ==========================================
235
236 If you have a question or a bug report about t
237 me at Alain.Knaff@poboxes.com . If you post to
238 comp.os.linux.hardware. As the volume in these
239 be sure to include the word "floppy" (or "FLOP
240 line. If the reported problem happens when mo
241 sure to mention also the type of the filesyste
242
243 Be sure to read the FAQ before mailing/posting
244
245 Alain
246
247 Changelog
248 =========
249
250 10-30-2004 :
251 Cleanup, updating, add referen
252 James Nelson <james4765@gmail.c
253
254 6-3-2000 :
255 Original Document
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