The Modules for Promise Controllers Cannot Be Loaded

Support knowledgebase (dstark_promise)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Version 8.0

Symptom

The modules for your Promise RAID controller cannot be loaded. Thus, the attached disks cannot be found.

Cause

The cause is still unknown.

Solution

Enter the necessary I/O addresses as boot parameters for ide2 and ide3.

To calculate these addresses, start the rescue system and log in as 'root' user. Enter the command

hwinfo --storage_ctrl

The output section for the controller may be similar to:

27: PCI 20c.0: 0104 RAID bus controller
  [Created at pci.65]
  Unique ID: 6Ogo.XO4DClXBgC2
  Hardware Class: storage
  Model: "Promise RAID bus controller"
  Vendor: 105a "Promise Technology, Inc."
  Device: 5275 "?"
  SubVendor: 105a "Promise Technology, Inc."
  SubDevice: 0275 "?"
  Revision: 0x01
  I/O Ports: 0xa800-??? (rw)
  I/O Ports: 0xac00-??? (rw)
  I/O Ports: 0xb000-??? (rw)
  I/O Ports: 0xb400-??? (rw)
  I/O Ports: 0xb800-??? (rw)
  Memory Range: 0xee000000-??? (rw,non-prefetchable)
  IRQ: 10 (no events)
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: ataraid,pdcraid are not active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "insmod ataraid; insmod pdcraid"
  Attached to: #15 (PCI bridge (Normal decode))

Write down the first 4 I/O ports (from now on known as A,B,C,D).

Restart the installation and enter the following option at the boot prompt (remember you are working on a US keyboard layout now):

ide2=A,B+2 ide3=C,D+2

A-D must be replaced with the values previously detected. According to our example, this option would read:

ide2=0xa800,0xac02 ide3=0xb000,0xb402

Further information is available at http://www.geocities.com/ender7007/index.html#2a


Keywords: PROMISE, RAID, HARD DISKS

Categories: IDE , Installation

SDB-dstark_promise, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 07. Jun 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 07. Jun 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)