Topic: Dell PowerEdge 600SC Server - Intel Gigabit NIC & RAID P

[James Shields]

I have a Dell PowerEdge 600SC Server. It is a Pentium 4 1.8Ghz with 2 x 40GB Western Digital Hard Drives & Embedded Intel Gigabit NIC.

1. When installing SME 5.5 I can get it to install RAID 1, but many errors occur with the mirror. I have read other posts about this problem. The drives are on an 80 conductor cable, both on Cable Select, both on the Primary IDE channel. I have tried setting as Master & Slave, but still no luck. I ended up installing as a single disk configuration. Can anybody advise if I put the 2nd Drive on the Secondary IDE channel will this solve the RAID 1 problems ?

2. I have used Darrell May's driver for the embedded Intel Gigabit NIC. I note however that another user advises that Update2 will effect this driver. Is anybody aware of a stable solution to use the Intel NIC ?

3. Finally, the motherboard has 1 x 32 bit PCI slot & 4 x 64 bit PCI slots. If I install another NIC, can it go in one of the 64 bit slots, or must it specifically be a 64 bit card ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Michael Arnold]

Try it with SME 5.6b7...
5.5 has probs with Pentium IV (kernel).
CERC IDE Raid-Controller works fine under 5.6b7
Michael

[Welsh]

As I know, Dell using cerc RAID controller. It is wise to check against the comparable list of redhat. I afraid you may encounter this problem.
Some other like promise IDE RAID won't work too.

For onbroad NIC, you can update your module at /etc for new driver from Darrell. It is better to upgrade to patch 2 before config your driver. I think so. Onbroad Intel NIC chipset for kernel 2.2.19 is always not my choice. That all I can say.

I believe kernel 2.2.19 has no problem with 32 bits but I am not sure you can use 64 bits on kernel 2.2.19. Even alpha version, it will need some tune up. Patch work will needed and you may need some nasty job to recompile the kernel to 2.4 or later to make it work. I suggest to play safe before waste money on 64 bits PCI card. Check with other fellows. I can be wrong. Check out redhat with topic 2.2.19 64 bits PCI

Welsh

[Paul T.C.Fung]

James,

I have a server running 5.5 with P4-1.8G on Intel 845G Chip set, I am using the software Raid 1 with 2 80G HD (Both as Master each on one IDE Channel, 1 CD Rom set as 2nd slave).

At first I can not use the Intel on board LAN, but with the advice from some helpful guy here, I have use the Intel e100 from Mary and get the machine running real fast and smooth.

I guess you must try to set the HD like me before getting into any additional Card, as I believe "simple is beauty".  Adding too many additional card will only make you busy beduging.

I would rather put that capital to buy more RAM, that will make you applications to run faster, by not getting on to the swap drive.

Best Regards,

Paul T.C.Fung