Re: libata testing on new machine with ICH5 and PDC20318

[Jeff Garzik <jgarzik@pobox.com>]

Kevin P. Fleming wrote:
> I'm building a new server to go into a colo facility in about six weeks; 
> the machine will have an Intel motherboard with an ICH5R (although I 
> won't use the RAID features) and a Promise SATA150 TX4 (no RAID 
> support). All six SATA ports will have Seagate 160GB Barracuda drives 
> attached, and I plan on using software RAID-5 and LVM2 on top of the array.
> 
> I will be building the system using 2.6.0-test9, so will be using libata 
> to drive the disks. If there's anything I can help with 
> debugging/testing the ICH and/or Promise SATA drivers let me know... I 
> see that recently Jeff posted a small patch for some SATA reset issues 
> against -test9, so I'll certainly start out with that included.


The ICH5 should be fine.  You may need to twiddle BIOS setup options, 
some users have reported that both drivers/ide and libata fail in 
certain BIOS modes.  "Enhanced - SATA only" is usually the preferred 
mode, where feasible.

You need to make sure you get the Promise SATA fixes I just pushed to 
Linus.  Presumably they will be available in the next 2.6.0-testX BK 
snapshot on ftp.kernel.org, tonight or the next night.

	Jeff