I suggest the following method for installing RedHat 8.0 ataraid directly for Promise FastTrak. Until I figure out a better way or make updates disk, here it is. I dont have a spare machine to test. If anyone can test and report, I would appreciate it Steps for installing RH 8.0 --------------------------- 1. Create a Dos floppy and load ataraid.o and pdcraid.o (extract these from the relevant kernel/module rpm packages for BOOT version. Use rpm2cpio. Locate these BOOT rpm packages on CD# 3) 2. Get a kickstart file (look in / or /root on any redhat installation after installation). Customize this by changing mount points (/ , /var etc) to point to ataraid partitions (i.e. ataraid/d0p1 instead of hde1 etc.). Save this kickstart file onto the above floppy. 3. Delete any raid array on your new computer and boot it from CD#1 using "linux noprobe". Now find your Appendline by looking at /proc/pci (switch console by typing: SHIFT+ALT+F2). Now, reboot except this time you pass Appendline i.e. "linux noprobe Appendline" 4. Make partitions on individual ide disks using fdisk. Reboot. Boot again in CD#1 using "linux noprobe Appendline". Go into manual partitioning using DRUID. Make sure you see all the partitions you made on both disks and they are how you wanted. If not or if wrong, make changes in DRUID and reboot. 5. Create raid array of your taste. Boot in CD#1 using "linux noprobe Appendline" 6. BEFORE you access formatting screen, switch to console 2 (shift+alt+f2). At the prompt mount floppy and load your modules mkdir /tmp/myfloppy mount /dev/fd0 /tmp/myfloppy cd /tmp/myfloppy insmod ./ataraid.o insmod ./pdcraid.o 7. Verify there are no errors (lsmod to see the modules loaded). Also check /tmp/syslog (tail or less /tmp/syslog) and make sure ataraid partitions are detected. 8. Now, while staying at this root prompt on console 2, install linux by manually calling Anaconda with reference to Kickstart file on your floppy. I dont remember the exact command, so try these: anaconda kickstart=/tmp/myfloppy/ks.cfg method=cdrom anaconda --kickstart /tmp/myfloppy/ks.cfg --method cdrom://mnt/.... Further Thoughts: Create an Anaconda updates floppy to do all the grunt work and make it work :) If you succeed, you can boot with "linux noprobe updates appendline" On Wed, 19 Feb 2003, Steve Taylor wrote: > > Hi > > I wonder if you can help me. Your HOWTO is the most useful resource on the > web, on the subject of IDE RAID, but unfortunately it does not cover my > particular situation (though I am sure it is quite a common situation). > > My system contains an on-board Promise FastTrak 100 controller, and the two > 20Gb drives are connected to it... the FastTrak BIOS utility is happy, > declaring the RAID1 array "functional". > > I know that I need a kernel containing the options for ataraid, promise etc, > and I have built the kernel successfully. > > So... > > How do I go about installing a brand new system (e.g. RedHat) onto the RAID > array? > > I have been working on the assumption that I need to: > > (1) Get a ataraid kernel to boot up and run the installer > (2) Replace the stock RedHat kernel with my ataraid kernel, within the > distribution. > > Does this sound correct to you, and if so, how would I go about doing it? > > Or alternatively, have I got my wires crossed and instead I need to do > something like: > > (1) Install as normal onto just one of the physical disks > (2) Replace my running kernel with an ataraid kernel > (3) Copy everything off one drive to the other (with FastTrak BIOS) > (4) Now Boot off directly of the RAID array? > > Hope you can help, or point me in the direction of more info. > > Thanks > > Steve >
