How to find out how much you really know? Install linux...

MagicFingers · 09-22-2004, 08:02 PM

Ok, I have installed Redhat and mandrake a couple times on a couple desktops, and didn't use them much. And I like to think I know some things about computers, BUT.....

I'm trying to install Slack 10 on a Dell Poweredge 1300.

2 Scsi drives using an 7890 Adaptec card. and an IDE CD-ROM.

I slap the CD in, selected the "adeptec.s", and it finds the drives. And it asks the normal questions about partioning and formatting (which works). When I tell it what the "Source" install is, (whether Automatic, or manually) tell it where it is (I've tried hda, and hdc by changing the IDE cable, since there are no IDE hard drives). and it says that it can't mount the drive.

It spins the drive, and I can see the activity light go, but it doesn't work!!!

The docs say about selecting another kernel with a boot disk, but I haven't been able to get that to work either.

Any ideas? (Many thanks in advance!!!!!)

Tinkster · 09-22-2004, 08:28 PM

Which problem did you run into with the boot-disk?

Cheers,
Tink

MagicFingers · 09-22-2004, 08:45 PM

well, It's not so much of a problem.. but I wasn't sure what boot disk to use....

if I use a boot disk with the scsi kernel, then the CD won't work (assuming that's the issue) but if I use the standard IDE kernel, then it won't be able to find the scsi drives....

now, I am starting to think I am missing a very critical and important point from the docs...

But when I look for the boot disks, it implies that I can only load one kernel at a time. Ugh, I never thought I'd be so confused as to why it doesn't work...

Am I completely off the mark? or just missing the obvious?

guzzi · 09-22-2004, 09:26 PM

I have Slack 10 on a dual Xeon, Dual AIC7899 controller, and a IDE controller driving a CDROM/DVD drive, which may be something like yours. Never had a problem with the installer locating the IDE controller or CDROM drive.

When installing Slackware 10 from the CDs, at some point early in the installation you are asked if you want the installer to search for a CDROM drive. Did your system have this screen? Did it not see your CDROM?

I install using adaptec.s as the initial kernel. This kernel has the IDE stuff included just for such things as the IDE CDROM.

Tinkster · 09-22-2004, 09:27 PM

Quote:

from pub/slackware/slackware-10.0/bootdisks/README.TXT

Code:

  The bootdisks listed below are for systems that contain a SCSI controller.
  All SCSI bootdisks feature full IDE hard drive and CD-ROM drive support,
  plus additional SCSI drivers.  

    adaptec.s          This bootdisk supports most Adaptec SCSI controllers,
                       including these models:
                       AHA-1510, AHA-1520, AHA-1522, AHA-1522, AHA-1740,
                       and AHA-2825.  The AIC7xxx models, which include the
                       274x EISA cards; 284x VLB cards; 2902, 2910, 293x,
                       294x, 394x, 3985 and several other PCI and motherboard
                       based SCSI controllers from Adaptec.  
                       Adaptec's I2O based RAID controllers (including OEM
                         Adaptec RAID controllers used by HP and Dell,
                         Adaptec branded AAC964/5400 RAID controllers,
                         and DPT SmartRaid V cards)

    ibmmca.s           This is a bootdisk based on a development kernel which
                       supports MicroChannel Architecture, found in some IBM 
                       PS/2 machines and laptops. It is a bus system similar to
                       PCI or ISA.  Support for most MCA SCSI, Ethernet, and
                       Token Ring adapters is included.

    jfs.s              A version of bare.i with support for IBM's Journaled
                       Filesystem as well as Adaptec AIC7xxx SCSI support.

    raid.s             This is a bootdisk with support for some hardware SCSI
                       and ATA RAID controllers.  The install disks now have
                       preliminary support for these controllers as well.  The
                       drivers included are:
                         AMI MegaRAID 418, 428, 438, 466, 762, 490
                         and 467 SCSI host adapters.
                         Compaq Smart Array controllers.
                         Compaq Smart Array 5xxx controllers.
                         IBM ServeRAID hardware RAID controllers.
                         LSI Logic Fusion(TM) MPT devices (not really RAID, but
                           added since there was room for this driver here)
                         Mylex DAC960, AcceleRAID, and eXtremeRAID controllers.
                       Many of these controllers will require some degree of
                       do-it-yourself setup before and/or after installation.

    scsi.s             This is a SCSI bootdisk with support for various
                       controllers.  Note that this disk does not include
                       Adaptec support any longer -- you must use the adaptec.s
                       bootdisk for that.
                       This disk supports these SCSI controllers:
                         AM53/79C974 PCI SCSI support
                         BusLogic SCSI support
                         EATA ISA/EISA/PCI (DPT and generic EATA/DMA-compliant
                           boards) support
                         Initio 91XXU(W) and Initio 91XXU(W) support
                         SYM53C8XX Version 2 SCSI support
                         Qlogic ISP SCSI support
                         Qlogic QLA 1280 SCSI support

    scsi2.s            This is a SCSI bootdisk with support for various
                       controllers.
                       This disk supports these SCSI controllers:
                         AdvanSys SCSI support (supports all AdvanSys SCSI
                           controllers, including some SCSI cards included with
                           HP CD-R/RW drives, the Iomega Jaz Jet SCSI controller,
                           and the SCSI controller on the Iomega Buz multimedia
                           adapter)
                         ACARD 870U/W SCSI host adapter support
                         Compaq Fibre Channel 64-bit/66Mhz HBA support
                         Domex DMX3191D SCSI Host Adapters
                         DTC 3180/3280 SCSI Host Adapters
                         Future Domain 16xx SCSI/AHA-2920A support
                         NCR53c7,8xx SCSI support
                         NCR53C8XX SCSI support

    scsi3.s            This is a SCSI bootdisk with support for various
                       controllers.
                       This disk supports these SCSI controllers:
                         Western Digital 7000FASST SCSI support
                         Always IN2000 SCSI support
                         Intel/ICP (former GDT SCSI Disk Array) RAID
                           Controller support
                         PCI2000I EIDE interface card
                         PCI2220i EIDE interface card
                         PSI240i EIDE interface card
                         Qlogic FAS SCSI support
                         QLogic ISP FC (ISP2100 SCSI-FCP) support
                         Seagate ST01/ST02, Future Domain TMC-885/950 SCSI
                           support.
                         SYM53c416 SCSI host adapter
                         UltraStor 14F, 24F and 34F SCSI-2 host adapters
                         Workbit NinjaSCSI-32Bi/UDE support

    speakup.s          This is like the bare.i (standard IDE) disk, but has
                       support for Speakup (and since there was space, support
                       for Adaptec's AIC7xxx SCSI controllers is also included)
                       Speakup provides access to Linux for the visually
                       impaired community.  It does this by sending console
                       output to a number of different hardware speech
                       synthesizers.  It provides access to Linux by making
                       screen review functions available.  For more information
                       about speakup and its drivers check out:
                           http://www.linux-speakup.org.
                       To use this, you'll need to specify one of the
                       supported synthesizers on the bootdisk's boot prompt:
                           ramdisk speakup_synth=synth
                       where 'synth' is one of the supported speech
                       synthesizers:  
                         acntpc, acntsa, apolo, audptr, bns, decext, dectlk,
                         dtlk, ltlk, spkout, txprt

    xfs.s              This is an extended version of bare.i with support for
                       SGI's XFS filesystem.  Support for Adaptec's AIC7xxx
                       SCSI controllers is also included.

I would have thought that it should go all well ... unless
there's yet another problem with the machine?

Cheers,
Tink

realjustin · 09-23-2004, 03:25 AM

I'd try a
dmesg | grep CD
in one of the virtual terminals of the Slack install (CTRL+ALT+F2 If I remember correctly...). That should show what it's going to be using. Perhaps try a lowercase cd also. If nothing picks up there, then something's definately wrong.

stratigos · 10-15-2004, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by guzzi
I have Slack 10 on a dual Xeon, Dual AIC7899 controller, and a IDE controller driving a CDROM/DVD drive, which may be something like yours. Never had a problem with the installer locating the IDE controller or CDROM drive.

When installing Slackware 10 from the CDs, at some point early in the installation you are asked if you want the installer to search for a CDROM drive. Did your system have this screen? Did it not see your CDROM?

I install using adaptec.s as the initial kernel. This kernel has the IDE stuff included just for such things as the IDE CDROM.

I have a Dell PowerEdge 2650, with Dual AIC7899 controller. I use the adaptec.s as the initial kernel, but when I run the fdisk utility to partition my disks, i get no hard disks. Which driver did you use for fdisk (/dev/...???)?

guzzi · 10-15-2004, 01:45 PM

hello MagicFingers

at the installation screen where hard drives can be formated, I used:

fdisk /dev/sda for the first scsi drive. In this unit there are several scsi hdds so, they are
/dev/sda
/dev/sdb
/dev/sdc

is this a new venture into Linux for you? Sounds like you are going in with a great system.

stratigos · 10-18-2004, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by guzzi
hello MagicFingers

at the installation screen where hard drives can be formated, I used:

fdisk /dev/sda for the first scsi drive. In this unit there are several scsi hdds so, they are
/dev/sda
/dev/sdb
/dev/sdc

is this a new venture into Linux for you? Sounds like you are going in with a great system.

thank you for replying,
Yes these were the drivers I expected to use, but there were no /dev/sda nor /dev/sdb.
Finally, the initial kernel I used was raid.s, and it found a MegaRaid controller (which by the way is not, but it's a Adaptec SCSI controller....), and worked with generic driver....
Now all are ok....Thank you again guzzi....