Re: OpenBSD Blade 100, SATA, sili(4), and 'break' or 'STOP-A' from Linux or OS X [Semi-summary]

Firstly, thanks to all who replied:

Neill G, Alexander F, Ronald C, der Mouse, Ethan D, Andrew H, and any
others I may have forgotten.

Subsequent to replies and based in part upon them, I have acquired a
"USBgear USB to RS-232 Adapter (USBG-232MINI)" via usbgear.com which has
worked quite nicely for Mac-USB to Sun serial console work with ZTerm,
and no difficulty.

I can break with the best of them!

Additionally it appears to work with the Cisco device at the top of the
pile as well.  The Linux side is being obstinate at the moment, but I'm
sure a well-placed *mumble* will see it sorted.  On the whole so far I
am quite pleased with it.

The Belkin USB-serial as sold in Staples, which is logo'd with and
claims Mac compatibility, is only OS 9.x and lower compatible.  Bit
disturbed about that, but my problem of the moment has been solved.
This was the first time I paid full retail for a Belkin product, and the
first time I bought a Belkin product that wasn't a cable.  There may be
a lesson in that.

The sili(4) issue is a bit of a sticking point still sadly.  All
implentation advice or experience of this or similar devices remains
much appreciated.

I am aware of the ~120G limit in Suns of this era, hence my question
about large disk support and pursuit of this (sili(4)) or like hardware
working.  And by large disk, I'm looking to break that 120G limit by 1,
2, 300% or more.  Preferably more, much more: 2T SATA disks are
comparatively cheap.

I'm now considering a SCSI controller and a SATA-SCSI adapter, though
I'd much prefer a native SATA if only for smaller cables blocking less
airflow within the box.

I've played about with a SYM2801 that is not a Sun part, and a PCI wide
(ultra ?) SCSI and HME card sporting a Sun chip, but which doesn't
appear to carry a Sun P/N instead being an IntraServer (Corp) part.  The
results with variously each card and a Seagate WU 4.5G, a Compaq
(Adaptec chip'd) U3, and a Fujitsu U320 have been varied and
inconsistent.  On the gripping hand the cards (and some of the drives)
were trash picked: I'm not proud.  Or up and running. <g>.



Thank you all once again, and should things change I will send another
summary or update.


-- 
The same thing we do every night Pinky: try to stuff terabytes of DASD
in an outdated Sun desktop!