[cooker-amd64] Re: SATA problem

[Duncan]

Rui Pimenta posted <200401250132.38617.rpimenta@runbox.com>, excerpted
below,  on Sun, 25 Jan 2004 01:32:37 +0100:

> I am trying to install Mandake 9.2 amd64 RC1 but the system does not seem
> to recognize both SATA hard disks :
> 
>  WD-360GD   	  Western Digital, 36Gb, 5.2ms, 10000 rpm, 8Mb - on SATA1
>  WD-1200JD   	  Western Digital, 120Gb, 8.9ms, 7200 rpm, 8Mb - on SATA2
> 
> Both are recognized by the BIOS and the SATA is activated, but mdk
> installation does not recognized them. I chose (Promise SATA low-level
> driver) and it reports that loading the module failed and asks for other
> parameters (I do not know what to put). Also tried with pdc-ultra(Promise
> SATA150 Series Linux driver) but I get the same thing.
> 
> Can anyone please help me....
> 
> My System is:
> 
> Tyan Thunder k8w
> 1 opteron 242
> 2x 512 MB memory

Welcome!  I have the same board, but with dual Opteron 242s, and with
standard PATA drives, not SATA, yet.  (I can never remember the name, so
always have to check, tho Tyan s2885, the model number, is easy for me to
remember, for some reason.)

Since I'm not yet running SATA, I can't help you with the details or say
how well it works, but I **DO** know that the SATA on this board is
**NOT** Promise, as both of the drivers you tried, but Silicon Image.  Try
those drivers.

I also know that the state of SATA support under Linux, with both the
Promise and Silicon Image drivers, is there, but not yet fully stable. 
There are still some kinks, the details of which I am unsure, but that's
one of the reasons I didn't upgrade to SATA drives yet -- saving me
worrying about those details.

As best I know, and again, this might not be quite accurate, SATA support
works, but the SATA RAID does not.  However, it doesn't look like you
would be using RAID anyway, with differently sized drives, so if that's
correct, you SHOULD be OK -- once you get the right drivers.  <g>

BTW, it probably won't help you for install, but I just recompiled
my kernel, and SATA support is under SCSI, NOT under IDE, in the kernel
options.  That's something to keep in mind..

This might be of help..  Tyan certifies this board as Linux
(Red Hat and SuSE, IIRC) compatible, and you may be able to get help off
their site, or from wherever you purchased the board. 

(I purchased mine online thru Monarch Computers, found thru
Pricewatch.com, and was quite happy with both.  It's my first duali, and
my first Tyan board.  It was also my first time doing business with
Monarch, but I was impressed enough to be a repeat customer and to
recommend them to others.  I've been using Pricewatch.com for years.)

Also note that the full 9.2 for AMD64 release may manage this better than
the RC, as driver status was still very unstable at the time the RC was
released, and I'm not sure it was included.  GB would be able to tell you
for sure.  

Again, I verified SATA drivers were available, but knew status wasn't
quite stable yet, from following this group (BEFORE I bought the board
<g>), so didn't go with SATA here, so I can't say for sure.  I figured by
the time I decide to upgrade drives again, SATA support will be much
better, and SATA drives cheaper as well, so waiting wasn't a bad decision.
(Looking at the trade-off, older technology PATA drives and the second
CPU, here, against unstable technology SATA drives but only a single CPU,
there, same 2x512 memory, I'm comfortable with my decision. =:^)

Good luck.  Be sure and post on how the Silicon Image drivers do
for you, as I'll be needing the info eventually myself, and others may
post here needing it b4 then.

-- 
Duncan - List replies preferred.   No HTML msgs.
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." --
Benjamin Franklin