Software RAID lockup on format

[Jarod Wilson <jcw@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm attempting to set up a software RAID-5 array, consisting of 5 120GB 
hard drives, 3 internal (on Promise ATA cards) and 2 external 
(FireWire). I have everything defined just fine in /etc/raidtab (or so 
I believe), and can run through "mkraid /dev/mdx" (x=2 in this case), 
but every time I try to format, my system locks up (hard lock, no 
network, no tty, no nothing'), I believe at this same point:

Writing inode tables: 3417/3577.

I'm formatting it w/this command:

mke2fs -j -b 4096 -R stride=16 -m 0 /dev/md2.

I originally tried this under Red Hat Linux 8.0.94, then under 9 
upgraded from 8.0.94, then under a clean install of 9. Same results, 
every time. Anyone got any ideas?

Some system details:

Tyan Thunder K7 mobo
Dual Athlon MP 2000+ procs
2x PCI Promise ATA/100 controllers
Western Digital PCI FireWire controller
1 ADS Pyro bridge chip FireWire case
1 Oxford 911 bridge chip FireWire case
2x Western Digital 120GB/8MB cache hard drives
3x Western Digital 120GB/2MB cache hard drives
--
Jarod Wilson, RHCE
<jcw@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
"A wise man once said nothing at all."