I am would like to migrate a file server (Dell Poweredge 2600) from Slackware 10.0 to Slackware 12.0. This file server has a LSI Logic MPT (BIOS MPTB-5.06.05) on-board scsi interface and an Adaptec AHA-3960D scsi card. When I try to boot from either of the huge kernels on the 12.0 CD, the Adaptec hardware seems to initialize properly but the LSI interface hangs the machine. The messages preceding the hang are:
"Fusion MPT base driver 3.04.04"
"Copyright (c) LSI ..."
"Fusion MPT SPI Host driver 3.04.04"
"mptbase: Initializing ioc0 bringup"
"ioc0:53c1030: Capabilities={Initiator,Target}"

This is were is hangs - if I try Ctrl+ALT+DEL I get the message:
"Clocksource tsc unstable (delta = 384346458796 ns)"
"Time:acpi-pm clocksource has been installed"

and nothing can be done after the final two messages - I have to pull the plug to reboot.

Of note is that everything worked when I used one of scsi/adaptec kernels on the 10.2 disto and I tried the CentOS 5 which worked fine. However, I REALLY LIKE SLACKWARE and would like to stay with it.

Questions:
1. Could I disable initializing the LSI scsi so the system can boot? (Through some boot options?)

2. Should I go to an older version than 12.0? There was a kernel in 10.2 CD that worked - should I just use that version? If so, how long will 10.2 be supported with updates, etc?

3. 11.0 booted but none of the prebuilt scsi kernels had support for the interface. (fdisk -l only found the Adaptec if one was found.) What would I need to build the interface into the kernel?

Thanks

I think my issue is somewhat similar to yours.
I just upgraded to Slackware 12 and have an LSI controller for a tape backup library.
lspci output: 02:02.0 SCSI storage controller: LSI Logic / Symbios Logic 53c1030 PCI-X Fusion-MPT Dual Ultra320 SCSI (rev 08)

Kernel I'm running: 2.6.21.5-smp
(original default kernel)

# modprobe mptspi
WARNING: Error inserting mptbase (/lib/modules/2.6.21.5-smp/kernel/drivers/message/fusion/mptbase.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error inserting mptscsih (/lib/modules/2.6.21.5-smp/kernel/drivers/message/fusion/mptscsih.ko): Invalid module format

Dmesg output:
mptbase: exports duplicate symbol mpt_raid_phys_disk_pg0 (owned by kernel)
mptbase: exports duplicate symbol mpt_raid_phys_disk_pg0 (owned by kernel)
mptscsih: exports duplicate symbol mptscsih_TMHandler (owned by kernel)
kobject_add failed for mptspi with -EEXIST, don't try to register things with the same name in the same directory.
[<c03e86f7>] kobject_shadow_add+0x117/0x1a0
[<c013fba4>] mod_sysfs_setup+0x24/0xb0
[<c0141458>] sys_init_module+0x1648/0x1940
[<c0102ae8>] syscall_call+0x7/0xb
=======================

I was really really hoping to avoid building my own kernel. That's what I've been doing for years and I just want to get away from that. Looks like I don't have a choice now.