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List:       linux-raid
Subject:    Re: Looking for initial info to get PM3334UW running...
From:       Andy Poling <andy () realbig ! com>
Date:       1997-09-26 2:36:01
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On Thu, 25 Sep 1997, John R. Farrington wrote:
> I'm looking for some basic info and hope I'll find the answers here.

Well, we're pretty basic folks, so you're probably in the right place.  :-)

I guess this qualifies as a mini-howto...

> I've ordered a PM3334UW controller, and Kingston drive carriers.  These
> should be arriving tomorrow.
[...]
> I know how to do the Linux install, I'm just looking for what I need
> to do after I install the adapter, and attach the disks.  (ie.  What
> does it take to get the RAID portion running?)

I've done two such installs.  I think I remember everything, but no
guarantee...

I would recommend running the DPT controller at 10 MHz initially, until
you've verified that your cabling will support the 20 MHz ultra-SCSI clock
speed.  Ultra-SCSI is _very_ cable sensitive.  You set this (among other
things like termination, PCI settings, etc.) using a firmware menu that you
access by hitting CTRL-D when controller prompts you to during the POST.

You'll need a bootable DOS floppy.  Boot DOS from the floppy, put in DPT's
"DOS" floppy and run DPTMGR off of it.  Swap the floppies on demand until
you're blue in the face... eventually DPTMGR will be loaded and will start
up.  Use it to configure your RAID array.  This is also how you will perform
reconfiguration, maintenance and repair, so save these two floppies.  If
you're as clever as me (not at all hard) you can fit the essential pieces of
the DPT floppy on a bootable DOS floppy so that you only need one floppy as
your "RAID rescue disk".

When it asks you to do the initial adapter configuration, tell it you're
running SCO UNIX.  It will forgive you this little white lie.  Do not, under
any circumstances, tell it you're running one of the M$ OS's or Novell;
those OS's have RAID support (of a sort) built in and the adapter won't be
configured to do the RAID entirely in hardware.  Then you'll be sad, and
you'll have to start all over again.

After you've configured the DPT controller, reboot the system and install
Linux.

I'm unfamiliar with the RedHat install, but as long as their boot floppy
kernel has the EATA-DMA driver it will recognize your DPT controller, and
the array you configured above will appear as a disk to the system.

>From this point out, the install is plain vanilla.  The hardware RAID has
the advantage of being transparent to the OS, so you don't have to make any
special allowances for it.


> Will the adapter come with ample documentation?  Is there a specific
> mini-FAQ on the PM3334 adapter (or family of adapters)?

It comes with a pretty thick soft-spine book.  Unfortunately, like so many
things, it is pretty Redwood-centric.  The basics are correct though, and if
you read between the lines you should be OK.

-Andy

PS - You did get at least one SIMM of cache memory for the controller,
right?  It won't run without at least one cache SIMM installed.

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