In most respects, IDE/ATA devices are relatively easy to install and configure,
especially if you are only using one, or maybe two. However--you knew it was coming--the
issues get more involved when many devices are to be used, when older drives are being
configured, when mixing hard disks and ATAPI devices like CD-ROMs, or when using advanced
transfer protocols like bus mastering DMA. The rise to
prominence of Ultra DMA in the last few years has also made configuration and cabling just
a bit much more complex, particularly with the introduction of a new 80-conductor IDE/ATA
interface cable.
This section discusses issues relating to how IDE/ATA devices are set up and
configured. This includes a complete look at how IDE/ATA hard disks are set up and
configured, a discussion of IDE/ATA channels and resources, descriptions of the interface
signals and cables used, and a look at software driver issues. I discuss various issues
and options related to configuring multiple devices; choosing a better IDE/ATA hard disk
configuration can result in performance improvements for the system, something that many
people don't realize. I also talk a bit about notebook hard disks.
Next: IDE/ATA Controllers
