I have an MSI K9A2 Platinum Motherboard installed in a new build and want to install RHEL 5.1, for which I have the installation CDs.

Two questions:

1) I configured the two hard drives into a RAID 1, using the RAID configuration utility, but then on a reboot I am getting a message that no array is detected. Does anyone know what the issue is?

2) When I put the first installation CD into a CD/DVD drive, it somehow does not get recongnized as a bootable drive. Would you know how to get to install RHEL 5.1 from the installation CDs using one of the CD/DVD drives, while the two hard drives are configured in RAID 1?

Thank you so much!

Be aware that the raid on the motherboard is not true hardware raid. It is fake raid or 1/2 hardware raid + 1/2 software raid. If you want to use non-hardware raid you are usually better off using Linux's pure software raid(dmraid?).

The CD/DVD problem sounds like a hardware issue. Bios firmware is one possibility, bad motherboard, bad drive, bad DVD, etc.

Since you will need your RHEL registration to update anyway I would also contact RH and see what they have to say.

I made progress based on your reply and started installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5.1.

However, the installation stopped with the following message:

powernow-k8: Found 1 AMD Phenom 9850 Quad-Core processor
powernow-k8: MP systems not supported by PSB BIOS structure
ACPI: (supports S0 S1 S3 S4 S5)
md: Autodetecting RAID array
md: autorun
md: ... autorun DONE
RAMDISK: Compressed image found at block 0
invalid compressed format (err=1)
EXT2-fs: unable to read superblock
isofs_fill_super: bread failed, dev=md1, iso_blknum=16, block=32
No filesystem could mount root, tried: ext2 iso9660
Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(9.1)

Questions:

1) how could I fix the issue?

2) based on the error message in the second line (MP systems not supported by PSB BIOS structure), is there an issue with the BIOS v1.3 that the motherboard came with and the AMD Phenom 9850? According to the BIOS settings screen, the processor was recognized correctly.

3) How could I update the BIOS to v1.4 without installing MS Windows?
I do not have a floppy drive, but only 2 optical DVD/CD drives.
Is an update of the BIOS needed to v1.4?

If possible, please reply today, Friday, May 30.

Thank you very much!

What did RH have to say?

I'm not a Linux expert, but can answer some of your questions.

1) how could I fix the issue?
I have the same MB and processor that you have, and have not been able to install Fedora 9, Ubuntu 8.04, and Sabayon linux to the Promise Controller. Have not tried the AMD Controller as the drives on there have other OSs running.

2) based on the error message in the second line (MP systems not supported by PSB BIOS structure), is there an issue with the BIOS v1.3 that the motherboard came with and the AMD Phenom 9850? According to the BIOS settings screen, the processor was recognized correctly.
To eliminate this message just go into your BIOS, enable Cool & Quiet. Have had this with every AMD 64 processor MB that I have owned. (AN85X, M2NE-SLI, and now K9A2)

3) How could I update the BIOS to v1.4 without installing MS Windows?
I do not have a floppy drive, but only 2 optical DVD/CD drives.
Is an update of the BIOS needed to v1.4?

The v 1.3 BIOS is just fine with the 9850. If you want to overclock then you can Install V 1.4. At least to me, 1.4 seems more stable, and has fewer problems using PC 8500 memory. To update the BIOS there is no need to install windows. Just get a Bootable flash drive with DOS on it, and copy the BIOS flash program and the 1.4 bios file to it. At the DOS prompt you would type "AFUD412.EXE A7376AMS.140".

Good luck to you in getting your RHEL 5.1 installed.