Linux 2.4.1 Large Drives Patch?

pettefar · 08-21-2006, 04:55 AM

I am using a Cobalt RAQ 4 (i386) with Linux 2.4.1. Is there a patch for this that will allow drives larger than 137GB please?

Nick

unSpawn · 08-21-2006, 06:19 AM

Linux 2.4.1
Is there a logical and compelling reason to use a vulnerable, deprecated kernel version instead of current 2.4.33 which does support large drives w/o probs?

pettefar · 08-21-2006, 06:41 AM

Not sure if I can upgrade it so that it still works on the (Sun) Cobalt RAQ 4. Can you advise?

Have no Linux knowledge (Solaris sysadmin) but want the RAQ 4 to work correctly and have large hard drives.

unSpawn · 08-21-2006, 10:02 AM

Not sure if I can upgrade it so that it still works on the (Sun) Cobalt RAQ 4. Can you advise?
In this case appears to not be a kernel problem but a HW limitation, the Cobalt Hacking FAQ says:

Quote:

"All Cobalt systems used LBA24 disk controllers. This means that the largest disks you can put into a Cobalt are approximately 137 GB. Even if you put LBA48 capable disks into your system, it will not work. In fact, putting LBA48 disks on an LBA24 controller may cause some kernel version not to boot at all (see 'My Cobalt hangs at "Partition check:"')."

pettefar · 08-21-2006, 10:13 AM

Yes, I have read that and others.

I have fitted a Promise Ultra IDE adapter card into the RAQ that is just fine with large IDE disks. I tested it on Windows and NetBSD. It's just the Linux that is letting me down here. Can it be patched/fixed?

unSpawn · 08-21-2006, 11:43 AM

Can it be patched/fixed?
Haven't seen anything specific patch-wise for 2.4.1.
Review kernel Changelogs and experiment ;-p