Topic: New version with same old driver issues v6.5Beta1

[nemtex]

Yes I realise that I should have bought a 3ware, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. In the meantime, how do I install the driver so when I recompile the kernel it is modified correctly. If this cant be done where should I put the fasttrak.o file so it is changed?

When I try to install the driver from any of the promise driver disks, it doesn't install because it says its the wrong version.

I hope this makes sense.

[nemtex]

Well I tried and failed.

When I run

'make dep modules modules_install'

It does not create a Fasttrak.o file in /lib/modules/2.4.20.........

How can I force this to be done? anyone?

I tried just copying the original file into the boot disk on the pathetically slim chance it would work.....

The disk boots but then returns an error saying

'isofs_read_super: bread failed, dev=09:03, iso_blknum=16, block=32'
'Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 09:03'

Then the install halts (strangely enough).

How I see it, I have several options

1: flog the SX4000 or speak nicely to the supplier and see if they will swap it for a 3ware card. (incidentally will the 4 channel version definitely work out of the box??).

2: try running RH9 - which does see the card/drivers

3: jump under a bus.... as the thought of going back to win2000 fills me with dread.

4: is there anyway to do a single disk install, install the drivers and then 'transplant' the install onto the RAID? I'm guessing a rework of things like the lilo config would need to be done but surely this isn't impossible?

In the meantime I'm off to drink large amounts of Alcohol.

[gregswallow]

I didn't want you to jump under a bus so I looked a little more for you... I didn't realize the drivers on promise's website were for such specific kernels.  I found a site below that has the source code...not sure how legally it was obtained, but I'm guessing you don't care.

http://majestic.lugh.de/~fs/promise/

If it works you can buy me a

[nemtex]

Thanks ur a star. Instructions as well - even better!

I hope this works but being a newbie to this side of linux I am a bit nervous, but hey, it can't get any worse. As for the drink, its a deal! If your ever in Guildford, UK drop me a message and I will buy you that   .

The post couldn't have come at a better time actually. I was just about to give my supplier a ring and see if I could beg them to swap it for a 3ware card....

Thanks again

James

[nemtex]

gregswallow,

You don't work for promise do you???

I got an e-mail with exactly the same link from them about 2hrs ago..... spooky  

James

[ruggiero]

insert sme install cd into your computer and boot as normal. As soon as it starts booting from the cd press and hold the left shift button

when the boot: prompt appears, type: accept dd

the installer will ask you to insert driver disks

put your new image disk in and it will install the drivers

Robert is your mothers brother.

Hope that helps.

Patrick

Hi Guys, I am also having problems with the installation using additional drivers.  I tried holding down the "left shift key" and many other alternate key option and nothing happens, the boot disc just continues on its merry way.

I am installing the system for a friend, the mother board is an Intel Server Board (SE7501BR2) with an integrated Adaptec UItra320  RAID controller.  I installed Red Hat 9 on the system with no difficulties (once driver disks were loaded), but I just cant interrupt the boot process and specify the "accept dd" boot bommand.

Is there some other way of making this work, I really cant replace the motherboard or the
hardware being used.

Sorry I forgot to mention, the biit disc is built from the smeserver-6.5beta image file.

Thank in advance

Rick

[patrick]

That is weird. Admittedly I havent tried with 6.5beta but on 6.0.1 left shift as the cd starts beign read works every time on various machines from HP, Dell, NEC and in VMWare.

Will try 6.5beta tomorrow (have to d/l it over night).

patrick.

[nemtex]

ruggiero,

Try ALT + F2, this works for me, but so does left shift.

-----------------------------------------------------
Update

Hi all,

I have successfully managed to compile a 2.4.20-37.7.legacyBOOT compatible driver. I have then followed the Boot disk tutorial but this time the system hangs with no errors.

After reading some more info about the subject, I had come to the conclusion that the drivers are being loaded and are actually stopping the CD-ROM IDE drivers from loading. Apparently a bug with IDE RAID.

With this in mind I decided to try and make a driver disk. So far failing miserably.

I did discover however, when I tried to open/unpack initrd.img from the boot disk I made, gunzip says unexpected end of Achive, meaning I my eyes that all is not well with the process I have used.

Does anyone out there have any ideas what I can do? Has anyone actually got this controller to work with SME?

It's quite weird but I have actually enjoyed going through this extremely annoying process. I really don't want to give up but I don't have the linux knowledge to work this one out without help. From what I read this is something that is hardly ever done by end users anymore.

It looks like the 3ware card may win afterall, so I ask again, has anyone actually got a 4pot IDE RAID 3ware card to run with SME? please could you also confirm the model number. I really don't want to fork out £200 + for something that may not work either.

[gregswallow]

I have successfully managed to compile a 2.4.20-37.7.legacyBOOT compatible driver. I have then followed the Boot disk tutorial but this time the system hangs with no errors.

Did you ever try that bios update?

[nemtex]

Yeah I did. I believe there may have been errors when I compiled the drivers.

I have managed to create a linux-2.4.20-37.7.legacy driver and install it on a system booting from a standard IDE disk. I have managed to mount the drive and partition it as well. The driver throws up an error about not being validated or something but it does work.

This was using the source that is marked with a warning on the website you gave me though. The other one just throw up errors when I try to compile it.

Somewhere along the lines, when I make a boot disk something is messing up. the initrd.img file is not unpackable, I get an unexpected end of achive error, this is probably why the system hangs on install.

As much as I have hated    and enjoyed    this proceedure, I have now decided to call it a day.  The supplier of the card has agreed to let me swap it out for a 3ware card. Unfortunately I have found a US supplier on ebay who is selling the 4, 8 and 12 port versions for $220, $320 and $420 respectively. If I could get a refund instead of a swap, I could probably buy a 12 port version of the card for the same price the supplier is selling the 4 port version. The only difference is the ebay version is Bulk and therefore has no drivers, manual or cables but for a £300 - £400 saving I think I can live with that. Not sure what to do..... more issues! The supplier has been very good and I would feel a bit cruel to stab them in the back like this.... and there is the obvious problems/worries with buying on ebay....

Arghhhhhh! Why is life never simple!!!

Thanks for everyones help with this especially greg.  

[nemtex]

Just got a 3ware 7506 -4lp.

Had to swap the mobo in the Server to get it working but I am now a happy and content SME user again Hurray.

For anyone interested I will upload all the information that I have gathered during the last few weeks. I did finally manage to compile drivers for v6.5b1 for both .legacy and .legacyBOOT. Turns out the info given with the source files was missing one tiny line which made all the difference.

anyone wanting info please mail me.

Thanks again to everyone for help, guildance, advice etc.

James