Ok, this is a well documented issue but I still can't manage to mount my external parallel zip 100. I've looked at the zip how to at:

http://en.tldp.org/HOWTO/ZIP-Drive-4.html#ss4.1

My drive is the older version (no plus on the front although I did try the imm module too) so I am using ppa and lp. One thing I noticed was that rc.modules is lp listed in the file before the commented out modprobe ppa. I left ppa commented left lp if statement alone and added:

modprobe ppa
modprobe lp

in that order to my rc.local. However, rc.modules may be loading lp first which apparently is a common mistake so I may comment out lp in rc.modules. My dmesg output shows nothing about sda_ or sr_ devices. There is never a sdax or sr_ in my /dev.

When I try to mount I get a bad fs type or block device error. However, I think until sda_ or sr_ is in /dev and sda_ or sr_ is in dmesg these errors are not helpful...not sure though.

1) What modules other than ppa and lp (and in that order) or required for an older style zip?

2) What kernel configs do I need for an external ZIP 100?

3) Any other ideas for troubleshooting?

Thanks!

Use the kernel from ZipSlack and you should have no problems, even to boot from there.

Ok, I used the linux instructions from iomega.com located here:

https://iomega-na-en.custhelp.com/cg...ZT0x&p_li=#one

Go to step 2 and look for: "Answer ID 688 How do I install Iomega parallel port drivers for Linux Kernel 2.2.14 or higher?"

and some information from other threads.

______________________________

Summary:

I didn't have the last of these set in my kernel (2.6.7) I activated it and recompiled my kernel
CONFIG_SCSI_PPA=m
CONFIG_SCSI_IMM=m
CONFIG_SCSI_IZIP_EPP16 is not set

*** I think this was the important step to get /dev to contain a /dev/sda4.

In rc.modules I modprobe ppa and lp (in that order). I had to move ppa by default as it comes after lp AFAICT. I also modprobed imm (I may try to take that out as I think only Zip Plus uses it).

Now, I can mount the zip!