dock 1 scsi, linux, and recovery pack

[phr@netcom.com (Paul Rubin)]

I'm trying to install linux via an external scsi cd-rom and a dock 1
on my 755cx.

I tell Linux to look for the 8-bit Future Domain host adapter
(is that right?) and the boot message indicates the adapter is
found, but the CD-rom drive itself doesn't get noticed.  On the
other hand, the CD drive *does* get initialized properly
(makes thunking noise) when the system is first booted.
So at least the adapter knows it's there.

The Dock 1 manual doesn't have any instructions about turning
the scsi bios  (if there is one) on and off and it's even confusing
about scsi bus termination.  For example it mentions an internal
active terminator but says nothing about how to turn it on or off.
And the dock is normally shipped with no external terminator.

Finally I tried re-installing the Thinkpad sw from the recovery
pack and that lost too, saying IBMCD.SYS missing or something
like that.  This was using the boot floppy that came with the pack,
but I messed up the first attempt and had to try again; and the
aborted first attempt apparently changed some files on the floppy
which I restored from a copy I had previously made on my HD.

The Dock 1 is looking like a bigger and bigger kludge to me all
the time.  I bought the thing because I expected no trouble finding
a low profile (1" high) CD drive to install in it, but these doesn't
seem to exist any more (except the very expensive 2x model from IBM)
so I had to resort to an external drive.  I'm also disappointed
that it has an 8 bit scsi controller since it will give lower speed
than a PC card adapter would.

Anyone know if there's any problems using an Adaptec 1542CF in the
Dock 1's ISA slot?  I know some other vendors' docks have trouble
with bus mastering cards.

Anyone want to buy a Dock 1 with the external scsi cable, relatively cheap?

Sorry for the rant.  Any advice appreciated.