Network Errors with CDROM.NLM ver 4.10j

Novell have recently released a new CD-ROM support module (CDROM.NLM ver 4.10j) for NetWare 3.12 and 4.01, that has fixed a number of problems with the initial version of the driver, and has sped up dramatically the re-mounting of CD-ROMs on the server by correctly implementing the use of index files.

We have however had a number of calls from users with NetWare 3.12 on FT//e and FT//s servers with BusLogic SCSI cards who were finding that they were getting network errors when trying to access files on a CD-ROM when using the new version of CDROM.NLM driver (ver 4.10j as shipped in the CDROM2.EXE update from Novell). The users reported that the initial version of CDROM.NLM that is supplied with NetWare v3.12 worked OK with the same configuration.

We have investigated the problem here and have found that it is caused by the use of the NetWare CDNASPI.DSK driver with the new CDROM.NLM module. If ASPICD.DSK is loaded in place of the CDNASPI.DSK driver, the problem does NOT occur. Also, users with Adaptec based systems have not seen this problem, as an Adaptec based system uses ASPICD.DSK anyway.

The solution for BusLogic based systems therefore is to use the following configuration. Note that this example assumes a single BusLogic card with the CD-ROM on SCSI ID 5, and may need modification for multiple card configurations.

STARTUP.NCF

LOAD BT312 PORT=330 EXCLUDE_IDS=5
LOAD BTASPI

AUTOEXEC.NCF

LOAD ASPICD
LOAD AFTER311
LOAD NPA312
LOAD CDROM

Note: When loading ASPICD, the following message will be displayed.....

	Loading module ASPICD.DSK
	Auto-loading module ASPITRAN.DSK
	  Adaptec NetWare 386 ASPI Transport Layer v1.0
	  Version 4.00    February 11, 1993
	  Public variables exported by this auto load file have already been defined.
	  Module ASPITRAN.DSK NOT loaded

This error is informational and should be ignored, as the BusLogic ASPI Manager BTASPI.DSK is already loaded.

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