This is my computer specs:
1- 2 processors xeon 1.8 ghz
2- 1050 gb memory
3- Intel Server MotherBoard (SE7500CW2)
4- 2 HD 80Gb

i install rh8 server on the box and every just went smooth, but when i reebot the computer after a succefull instalation it just stops after the configuring Kernel Parameters.
The last mensage is
configuring Kernel Parameters [OK]

that's it.

What kind of system is this? Sounds like a server. Your linux installation is probably running the SMP kernel. Make sure that the BIOS/NVRAM setup of your computer is set properly to support the correct APIC mode.

-Kevin

thanks for answer.
yes, i'm installing a linux file server for a windows network. this is the first time i use a dual processor on a linux machine with this type of hardware. i've donne all right with some olders machine and everything went smooth.

What do u mean with the BIOS/NVRAM setup of your computer is set properly to support the correct APIC mode ?

What brand of server is this? For instance, Compaq Proliants have a setup utility called SmartStart, that you boot to when installing. It asks you a few questions and checks your hardware and sets things like the APIC mode to support multiple processors and other stuff. I believe Dell and IBM have something similar. If this is a white box, then you will have to do it manually I guess.

Another you might try is booting into single user mode as a test, perhaps we can look around a bit then. Or else with the RH cd and that can give us a rescue mode to poke around as well.

How many times have you attempted this installation?


-Kevin

ok, this is a white box and everything seens ok on the hardware diag.

already tryed to boot in both modes, but couldn't go any where. always got the some result.

i've also installed this more than once but also got the same results.

so that leaves us only the rescue mode on boot. i can do that. what do i have to look after doing so?

One thing that would be nice to know.. is which version of the kernel you are booting. Is it the SMP or regular or Bigmem version? It should be the SMP version.

It would be nice to see what your grub.conf or lilo.conf looks like.

check /var/log/messages and dmesg for anything that looks like it might indicate what the problem might be.

-kevin

my kernel: 2.4.18-14.
tryed to start with or without the smp version.

also used grub or lilo, but got the same result.

my lilo.conf is nornal:
just to wrap it up, all my /var/log/ files from today are 0 lengh, so...

the dmesg is too big.... not sure what to look..

ok, got this on the log file:
not sure what else... do u want me to post all the file here?

Check your bios for a setting called "MP" or something like that.

It may currently have a setting of "1.4" and you should change that to '1.1". Also, some servers have an "apic mode" BIOS setting or something similiar that shoud be set to "full table" or "full table mapped".

You may also need to boot with the "noapic" kernel option like this:

linux noapic


Try one or all of those. If none of that works, I would try removing first one and then the other of your processors and reinstalling a quick stripped down version of RH. Just to see if that makes a diff.

-Kevin

ok, starting with the 1st options:
i don't have anything like that on my bios. but i do have this on my dmesg output:
then i got this mapped table, and it goes with the other's IO APIC
....

so i think i got the right anwser on the io apic full mapping of irq's, right?

already started with the noapic option but got the same result.

Well... I don't know what to say now.

I have searched the internet and SEVERAL people with Xeon machines have reported that changing that "1.4" to "1.1" has fixed the problem for them... but you can't find it.

I suggest two things... one, check again.... and two, contact the MB manufacturer through their support site.

Good luck,

Kevin

ok, thanks for trying to help me.
regards