would appreciate some help in getting ibm x3550 with sas controller working. i did try 2.6.19.3 with the adapetec sas driver, ibm serveraid drivers, but doesn't recognize the drives. i need to build a monolithic kernel.

thanks

A quick search at IBM shows nothing unusual about the x3550. What version of Debian did you try to install? If you went with Sarge, that will most likely fail to install. Etch stands a much better chance of working, but I believe it comes with 2.6.18, not the 2.6.19-3 you mentioned. You really don't need to build your own install kernel in Debian, you could simply add any necessary modules (for the hardware RAID controller) to the install CD, and go from there.

So in any case, please let us know specifically which version of Debian you tried to install. Since IBM claims this device supports all the rpm enterprise versions of linux, if anything you'll just need to grab the right modules.

Peace,
JimBass

i am using sarge and a custom compiled kernel. the installation is done by fai http://www.informatik.uni-koeln.de/fai/ . so i need a kernel with drivers compiled in or use an initrd image with the drivers. i did look at the driver files on ibm's site and they indicate using mpt fusion driver and i have that compiled in.

Ok, so the problem lies in your kernel. Since you seem to be having issues getting the modules correct, I would use a live cd to start the computer, then check if it can read the drives. If it can, then the modules it is using has to be correct. Issue the command and see what modules it used. Then build your kernel with those modules enabled, and you should be set.

Peace,
JimBass