S2891 Linux Sata installation
 

Gosh, I thought this problem was solved with the latest Linux kernel in Fedora Core 5!

Firstly some system configs:

Hardware:
TYAN S2891 (K8SRE) mobo
2x Opteron 250 2.4 Ghz
2x 1G RAM (1G per CPU) - Total 2G
1x NVidia NProfessional 2200 MCP (Sata Controller)
4x SATA2 Western Digital WD800JD 80Gb -Total 300Gb
BIOS 2.01.2891 (Release Date: 09/28/05)

O/S install media:
Fedora Core 5 x86_64 DVD

Problem:
This is new Linux installation on 'straight-out-of-a-box' hardware. Bootup is fine. All system components recognised, especially the 4 SATA drives. I've tried various combinations of the follwoting options to get the Linux installation going, but all ended up with the same problem - the system hangs (black screen with cursor cross) after Anaconda starts installation:

BIOS settings:
BIOS Main: O/S Installed [Linux]/[Other]
NV Raid Configuration: [Disabled]
MTRR Mapping: [Discreet] - Onscreen help says that Linux O/S may need this setting - not sure what this does.
Enable ACPI: [No]
Interrupt Mode: [APIC]/[PIC]

I've also passed the following commands at boot time:
Boot: linux acpi=off nnoapic nolapic noprobe

The problem looks like an old one with the sata_nv driver causing a kernel panic. When I do not install the driver (using noprobe) Anaconda travels a little further but falls over when no hardrives are detected (as you would expect). This leads me to believe that the problem lies with the sata_nv driver and the kernel. I've researched this and I was under the impression that the kernel fix would have been included in Fedora Core 5.

Any suggestions / help to get around this. Perhaps another Linux distro that works with the above setup?

Cheers.

Just thought I'ld close the loop for those that may have had the same experience. I finally got Linux to install without any problems using SuSe 10.0. I used Tyan Support's advice and used a commercial distribution that they support. After 3 weeks of solid searching and trying, it's a pity that I'm no closer to understanding what or why I had problems with FC 5.

Cheers.