I am trying to install Linux on an x350, but I'm running into what I believe are hardware issues.

I only have the one scsi controller, so I can only use 3 of the drive bays for hard drives...and I currently have 2 working scsi drives, and 3 trays.

Both drives are detected when they are inserted individually, if I try to insert the drives together, it does not detect either one.

This is without a raid controller, only using the onboard scsi controller.

Is there something I need to do with the jumper settings?

This is my first experience with a true server, and also my first experience with a scsi drive.

Thank you for your help.

Please let me know what additional information you need.

Sorry, I just saw there is a hardware forum....if someone could move this, I'd appreciate it.

just check the ids when individual drive is insertred through scsi bios. there might be "press ctrl a to enter scsi bios messages appearing on screen" or check them as system scans the scsi bus. if there is id clash use jumpers to change ids

It turns out my problem was a few bad hard drives.

I was able to get slackware to recognize all drives when I installed new hard drives with the adaptec.s kernel

Next step will be to get a hardware raid card working....

If you can get your hands on a genuine serveraid card, thats what you should use.
ideally dual channel, especially if you plan to use drives externally and hang drives off the internal connector. eg a 4m etc.
IBM only supports either int or ext connectivity per bus (you cant use both on a single channel). the dual channel series cards are 64bit 66mhz full length cards and thats what you want for u160-u320 drives.
the internal bus supports all 6 trays / drives, and you should have 2 backplanes in there by default (6 drive support)with 3 blanked off (RHS)

you can boot off the card or internal bus (bios diable the internal bus if you really want to boot from the card and dont have anything hanging off the internal bus.

ibm serveraid support cd version 7.12 supports x350 series, this is about as far as you want to go, unless by some miracle you can procure a u320 card. ($$$$$$$$$$$)

I'm using FC6 on my x350. It hasn't been without it's troubles though, particularly with the savage onboard graphics. you can avoid issues by editing grub's boot params - disable the quiet function.
I had issues with fc5, but went back to fc3 (perfect) was dissatisfied with RHEL ES4, and since obtaining an EXP200 to hang off the serveraid card, have decided to use the box as a media centre )

personally I think fc3 was faster, but I could be wrong, i never benchmarked it and have added truckloads of packages since.

who said 4 xeons isn't fast enough?