strange ubuntu 8.04.2 + 9.1 behaviour

michaeldobrovitsky · 11-15-2009, 06:47 AM

hi guys and girls,
this is my first time here so please be gentle with me.
i'm trying to figure out what distro to use but i'm experiencing strange behaviour, recently i purchased a new computer (this is my setup): q9400, xfx 790i sli ultra mobo, gtx 285, esi juli@ - soundcard, 3 raptors as main with raid0, 2 wd blue 640gb as programs - raid 0, 1tb wd green as time capsule.

i'm already runing vista 64 on this setup and it works like a charm for gaming, i decided to add a second operating sysytem and decided to try ubuntu as i'm familiar with it and i use it on my other 2 computers (msi wind u100 and pentium d 945).

while trying to install the new ubuntu 9.1, i manage to get to the boot menu on the cd. in the menu what every option i try (try before install, check cd for errors, memory check) seems to hang my computer with no ctrl+alt+del response.
after that i press the reset button and the computer doesn't seems to pass the post mem test (just stucks in middle of count and hangs). second reset or power off doesn't seems to help, the only remedy i found is that i have to disconnect the computer from power and after it will pass post test as normal.

after that i installed ubuntu 9.04 in parallel with vista using dm raid and managed to set my triplehead2go using resolution of 5040x1050 with no major issues. after compiling mplayer i saw that the sound system is oss and i completly don't like it just because i am more familiar with alsa and i like it's versatility alot more so i decided to move back to the version that i use on my other systems (ubuntu 8.04.2) and experience same strange behaviour all-over again as with ubuntu 9.1.

please help me to find remedy for this behabiour?

p.s

i checked the memory, changed the memory timings for less aggressive timings, doesn't seems like memory or cpu issue (primed it for days with no errors).

irishbitte · 11-15-2009, 09:08 AM

A big problem I would think is

Quote:

...3 raptors as main with raid0...

I'm presuming you mean hardware RAID. Linux in general does not play nice with hardware RAID.

michaeldobrovitsky · 11-15-2009, 09:47 AM

how's that?
and why 9.04 installs without any issues?
and no it's not hardware raid it's fakeraid.

Wim Sturkenboom · 11-15-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishbitte

Linux in general does not play nice with hardware RAID.

I have not experienced issues on a DL380 server with hardware raid. Can you elaborate a little which issues I might experience in future?

irishbitte · 11-15-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

I have not experienced issues on a DL380 server with hardware raid. Can you elaborate a little which issues I might experience in future?

I would be very interested to know what RAID card you're using, also, do HP provide open source drivers for that RAID card? I'm assuming it's HP since you're talking about a DL380?

irishbitte · 11-15-2009, 01:57 PM

Take a look at this: http://www.ram.org/computing/linux/dpt_raid.html It's a howto/FAQ for hardware linux RAID. The main problem I had was finding linux drivers for an IBM RAID card. I ended up going with no RAID, and it works great. Obviously, I maintain images of my servers, and complete backup offsite for reinstalling. I ended up not believing in RAID, since when a HDD goes, generally you can expect the other HDD's in a RAID array to go fairly quickly. A good backup policy seems to me to be a better idea. The OP of course is looking at a different situation, wanting performance.

michaeldobrovitsky · 11-15-2009, 04:02 PM

ok guys, it seems like you've drifted off topic.
also if the case is the raid setup, why does ubuntu 9.1, ubuntu 8.04.2 doesn't boot into live cd while ubuntu 9.04 boots and installs?
what is the diffrence?

irishbitte · 11-15-2009, 06:39 PM

Ok, I noticed that you installed 9.04 using dmraid. Can you try following the directions here: http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/0...sata-fakeraid/ for 8.04.2 or/and 9.10? I'm interested to know your success.

irishbitte · 11-15-2009, 06:41 PM

Here is another interesting post: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1271660

michaeldobrovitsky · 11-16-2009, 03:42 AM

hey dude,
i think u misunderstand me, i have no issues with raid setup i'm pretty familiar with them.
the issue is that ubuntu 9.1 and ubuntu 8.04.2 live cds doesn't boot at all. the systems hangs after i choose one of the options at the live cd boot menu (please read carefully the first post).
ubuntu 9.04 live cd does boot and installs without major issues except that the sound system of 9.04 is oss and i prefer alsa for my work (thats why i tried to move back to 8.04.2).
can u think why that happens? what's the diffrence between those 3 versions? why the computer hangs dead? until now i thought 8.04 + 9.1 are stable versions but it seems like they're not. maybe it's time to evolve to gentoo or even lfs?