Topic: Pre-Warning : pb with Intel chipsets and/or Maxtor SATA-2

[RvLardin]

I don't have, for the moment enough informations to feed the bug tracker (allready open), but I give this early report to inform everyone :

1) I delivered a RC2 server based on a Intel D945Gnt motherboard (SATA-2), with a RAID 5 array of 4 SATA-2 Maxtor 250 G0.
After about a week of good running, the server went down with a kernel-panic.

2) Yesterday, i had to change a broken (overheated) motherboard+cpu on an other server with a (non-raid) maxtor SATA-2 500 Go, i didn't find my favorite MB and I tried an Asus P5GPL-X (SATA-2) based on an Intel 915 PL. The kernel panic was *exactly* the same. Today I've changed this MB by a MSI based on the VIA chipset that I usually use (SATA-1). Everything went fine without any modifications.

I'm going to do more tests on the first system, trying different motherboard and I will report here. If you have ideas about good test to do, don't hesitate.

This first msg is just to invite you to be very carrefull in the choice of your chipset (and disk ?).

I'll give fearther more informations on this.

If you use one of those motherboard/HD without pbs, please report here too.

RV.

[p-jones]

Interesting comments. What CPU were you using ??

I have an Intel 845 Board (Gigabyte) with WD Sata Drive which throws temperature errors quite often with a 2.8Ghz P4. I changed the CPU fan and applied a generous layer of heatsink compound but it didnt help. I have been a bit perplexed by this as the cooling systems all seemed just fine.

I Figured I had a problem somewhere else (but not sure where - maybe a sensor perhaps ) until I just read your post.

In the end, I robbed the CPU for another project and replaced it with a 2.2Ghz Celeron. There is absolutely minimal difference in performance and this problem seems to have gone also.

Just coincidence perhaps ??

Peter

[RvLardin]

Interesting comments. What CPU were you using ??

Sorry, I use a Celeron 2.66 (Socket 775) witch was the lowest speed avalaible in the shop. The over-heat was due to a wrong installation of the cooler.

In the end, I robbed the CPU for another project and replaced it with a 2.2Ghz Celeron. There is absolutely minimal difference in performance and this problem seems to have gone also.

For monthes I allways try to get the minimal speed for CPU - and I add the largest cooler avalaible (in this case the big Zalman Cu). I put more money in cooling than in CPU's.
Not to start a Troll here (it wasn't the initial subject), I have quite good perf on my 2 last servers with P100 CPU  (charge = 5-10%), I'm so sad that we can't find anymore  those Celeron 800Mhz that I loved (last ones with no need for fan if large cooler).

Just coincidence perhaps ??

I think so, thanks for your comments.

 

RV.

[Franco]

I hope you're OK
I just got myself one of these boards and set a SATA Raid on 02 200giga disks, P4 3.2 with HT and 64bits.

[JonB]

I had no end of problems with Seagate SATA-II drives. I had the same issues. Would work fine for a week or so then the server would no longer boot with kernel panics or corrupt file systems. I had it also fail while transfering a large amount of data - 90GB off the server.

In the end I jumpered the drives to work at 150MB i.e SATA-I speed and all has been sweet since.

Jon

[sonoracomm]

When you get into issues like these, particularly with newer technologies, I recommend updating the BIOS of the mainboard and SCSI/RAID controller to the latest versions.  If you still have problems, call the hard drive manufacturer and ask for firmware updates for the exact model and revision of hard drives you have.

Be careful!  It's easy to mess up.

I just went through this with some Maxtor SATA drives in a hardware RAID configuration with a LSI Logic controller...I wasted a lot of time before I called Maxtor.  The hard drive companies aren't overly willing to do this either...I think they are afraid of making coasters.

G