********************* Using the Host Adapter Flash Utility ********************

This document provides information for the PCI Flash Utility V1.08.00 for DOS.
It contains a feature and description section. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * Feature *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

o  Supports host adapter selection for updating with a specific BIOS image 


*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  Description *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

This utility allows you to update the Symbios PCI SCSI BIOS on a host 
adapter based on a SYM53C815, SYM53C825, SYM53C825A, SYM53C875, SYM53C876, 
SYM53C885, SYM53C895, or SYMC53C896 SCSI chip. New versions of the PCI 
SCSI BIOS are released periodically. Your host adapter must have a flash 
on board to use this utility.

The utility is labeled FLASH8X5.EXE and is located on your Symbios SDMS drivers
diskette. It is required that you place this utility on a DOS bootable diskette
and execute it from this diskette. Power down any hard disk drives attached to
the host adapter you are updating.

Using DOS 5.0 or higher, create a bootable diskette by formatting it with the 
/s option (for example, format a: /s). Do not install any memory managers or SCSI 
drivers on the diskette. A minimum of 200K of conventional memory is needed 
to execute the Flash Utility. Add the DOS mouse driver to AUTOEXEC.BAT for 
mouse control of the utility, if desired.

Insert the diskette into drive "a:". Boot the system to the DOS prompt a:\>. 
Type FLASH8X5 and press Enter.

The first screen displayed indicates what files are necessary to upgrade and 
general instructions to upgrade. Press Enter to continue to the next window.

This window is the main menu for the Flash Utility and contains these six
choices:

     1. Update the EEPROM.   
     2. Backup the current BIOS image.   
     3. View board summary.   
     4. Exit to DOS.   
     5. Reboot.   
     6. About Flash8x5.   

We recommend you do a view (option 3) and a backup (option 2) prior to 
updating the flash. The view identifies the SCSI controller, its Device ID, 
the Flash Chip, and the current BIOS version. The backup stores the old 
BIOS image currently residing in the flash ROM to the diskette. In the event
that there are problems with the new image, you can get back to the original
one.

Now you are ready to update the current SCSI BIOS (option 1). Choosing option 
1 gives you a summary of boards installed to choose from. You must mark at 
least one by pressing the spacebar, even if there is only one to choose from. 
This takes you to a new window where the BIOS file name is provided. After 
marking the board and pressing Enter, a new window appears asking for the 
file name of the BIOS to upgrade. Type the filename in manually at the a:\
prompt and press Enter or press F2 to view the available files on the diskette.
If you press F2, the available files should be: the BIOS file just backed up 
and 8XX_32.ROM. Highlight the file 8XX_32.ROM and press Enter. 

Next, the utility displays the file name and notifies you when the file is 
successfully read. Press Enter to continue, and the system prompts you whether 
or not to overwrite the BIOS that is currently flashed in. Select "Y" to 
upgrade. This causes the flash to get erased and updated.

The system then displays the card information and verifies that the new BIOS
is flashed. Press any key to get back to the main menu. Choose option 6 to
Reboot. Remove the floppy if you want to boot off your hard drive.

To verify the new BIOS installation, watch carefully during boot and look at 
the 3rd line of the SDMS banner when displayed. Or rerun the Flash utility from
the floppy and choose the view option to see the current BIOS version.

NOTE: Newer versions of the BIOS image will not be available in a size that will
      be compatable with earlier cards that have smaller flash parts.  The flash
      part size can be determined by the part's description displayed on the 
      summary of boards installed screen, flash chip column.  Part descriptions
      and corresponding sizes are shown below;

      Part description ending with: 256/256A  -  32K byte capacity
                                         512  -  64K byte capacity
                                     101/010  -  128K byte capacity
                                     201/020  _  256K byte capacity


Host adapters supported: 

     SYM8150SP      NCR8150S   
     SYM8250ASP     NCR8250S   
     SYM8251ASP     NCR8251S   
     SYM8251AD      NCR8251D   
     SYM8750SP   
     SYM8751SP      SYM8751D   
     SYM8951U       SYM22801
     SYM22802       SYM22910 (when available)
   
(Previous versions of the host adapters use the format NCR8150S, 
NCR8250S, ...)