ZULU SCSI Install process

What's up guys I'm back!

I sold my 2k classic a couple of years ago and couldn't resist and have returned with a 2kxl that I picked in mint condition for a bargain.

I've got a Zulu scsi2d to put in it and it's been difficult to sort of piece together what exactly it is I need to do to install it. I'm just waiting on my ribbon cables to arriveand I was wondering if there is anything in particular I need to do? Bouncing around different posts is getting kinda confusing.

This 2kxl is still running 1.14. I've read 1.14 works with larger partitions which sounds good to me as it saves me the hassle of trying to get 1.2 installed. I've also read that I have to have the 1.2 OS (but I still don't know why)

Can I just mount it, run it to the scsi port on the motherboard with my 50 pin ide cable and that's it? I've heard I need to flash the zuluscsi with new firmware but I don't even know if that is certain as I've also read it's plug and play?

Then I'm assuming I just format the sd card into a a few partitions on fat 32? If it's that simple is there a certain amount of partitions I need to do?

Any clarity from someone who's done this would be super appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan

Did you find out? I have the same questions.

- on the sd card no need to have multiple partitions, simply create an HD0.img of a size of 1Gb (this is going to be the virtual drive seen by your gear). size matter !
- back to the mpc, it will be mounted as scsi 0
- format from the mpc this drive. you now have an mpc formated drive (AKAI FAT, beware of the 8.3 filename convention, etc..)
- back to your computer, duplicate HD0.im into HD1, HD2... (you have basically save a lot of time instead of individually format them)
you now have up to 7 virtual hard drives to be used by your mpc

if your card is large (i use a 64G), it can be used into several others gears. it's all about your layout. i usually have something like /drives/<gear_name>/HD0.img ...

the trick is to update the zuluscsi.ini file to point the zulu into the right subfolder (the Dir directive) and settings when relevant. You can have multiple pre-configured copies of the zuluscsi_<gear_name>.ini file in a config folder let say. Before inserting into a particular gear, simply swap the file zulusci.ini at the root level with the right one)

yes it's plug and pray. when the zulu boot up, it emulates an scsi drive (CD, HDD,...)

i have the zuluscsi mini form factor, so i can "travel" with whenever it's needed.

you need to be careful with termination, id conflict, but beyond that it works pretty well. daisy chaining is supported as well.
SCSI is not IDE
if you wish to have this inside your mpc2kxl you need to route the scsi port back into the the mpc case, so either cut a hole on the back panel, connect a ribbon from the external port back in, or pick the beige thing between the scsi port and the back panel. i believe people are selling kits for just that.
Dig the forum, it has been explained here and there. beware of some old thread, the zulu has evolved since. it's easier these days