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ktsaou
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 10 Jul 2003
Posts: 80
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 Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 8:27 pm Post subject: Strange problem with a really strange solution... |
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Hi all,
I am experiencing a strange problem that came up when I tried to install gentoo. I don't know where else to ask for help... so here it is:
My system (see bellow) has two PROMISE Ultra 133 IDE controllers with two IBM 120GB HDs each (all masters: hde, hdg, hdi, hdk). This disk array hosts a few RAID5 partitions, and also acts as the boot disk for RedHat 8.
When I tried to install gentoo, I used an old Quantum 20GB HD which I connected to hda and installed Gentoo to it (hdc and hdd are CDROMs).
The problem is that my system randomly crashes when this 20GB HD (hda) is enabled at the BIOS ! Yes I am serious !
I concluded this during the testing phase of various kernels for gentoo. The system crashed frequently and each time it crashed, gentoo AND redhat were (and are) unable to boot (they just freeze, no oops, RAID resync stops) until I disable hda from the BIOS. Then RedHat 8 can boot (and detect and use hda normally) without any problems.
Of course, I cannot test gentoo with hda disabled at BIOS.
To make things even more weird, if the RAID array is not resyncing its disks, gentoo boots normally (hda enabled), but if I mount the RAID 5 array and do some things with it, it crashes randomly.
When the RAID array is not resyncing RedHat boots normally too but never crashes after that, even with hda enabled.
Any help is appreciated...
Gentoo kernel: vanilla 2.4.21
Redhat kernel: 2.4.20-18.8smp
GA-6VXDC7 (VIA based mobo)
2x PIII 933Mhz (SMP)
1.2 GB RAM
ATi All-in-Wonder 128 RF/AGP (rage128 + TV)
Via ieee1394 PCI
Realtek RTL-8139 ethernet
Creative SB Live! Value
2x Promise Ultra 133 with 2x IBM 120GB HDs each, all in RAID-5 (md)
One 20GB HD attached to the on-board IDE-0 with Gentoo.
A DVD-ROM and a CD-RW at on-board IDE-1.
USB: an external ACM ISDN modem and a UPS control cable. |
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JensZ
Guru
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
Posts: 339
Location: Freiburg
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| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like Motherboard and Controller bios are interferring, try updating
to the lastest bios version |
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ktsaou
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 10 Jul 2003
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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I already have the latest BIOS for the motherboard.
There seems to be no updates for the Ultra 133 BIOS.
Costa |
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ktsaou
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 10 Jul 2003
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I copied the Gentoo kernel into the redhat boot partition and updated RedHat's grub for Gentoo. Then I disabled hda and booted Gentoo from RedHat's grub menu... it works! Now I am resyncing my RAID5 and Gentoo is pretty stable.
The fact that the BIOS setting of hda makes linux freeze is still very weird...
Costa |
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Installing Gentoo
