From owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Jun 6 23:33:48 2007 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 472D716A400 for ; Wed, 6 Jun 2007 23:33:48 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from matthew@digitalstratum.com) Received: from mail.mundomateo.com (static-24-56-193-117.chrlmi.cablespeed.com [24.56.193.117]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0FF0F13C43E for ; Wed, 6 Jun 2007 23:33:47 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from matthew@digitalstratum.com) Received: from [10.0.81.13] (unknown [10.0.81.1]) by mail.mundomateo.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 00083BDC44; Wed, 6 Jun 2007 19:33:46 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <46674449.6090109@digitalstratum.com> Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:33:29 -0400 From: Matthew Hagerty Organization: Digital Stratum User-Agent: Thunderbird 1.5.0.12 (Windows/20070509) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Lukas Razik References: <4662E72B.70003@digitalstratum.com> <4662F5BF.4090709@razik.de> <4663496A.40202@digitalstratum.com> <466718DC.2030600@razik.de> In-Reply-To: <466718DC.2030600@razik.de> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Promise TX2300 array not detected. X-BeenThere: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list Reply-To: matthew@digitalstratum.com List-Id: General discussion of FreeBSD hardware List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 23:33:48 -0000 Lukas Razik wrote: > Matthew Hagerty schrieb: >> Matthew Hagerty wrote: >> >>> Greetings, >>> >>> I have a Promise TX2300 (latest BIOS 2.5.0.3122) that I'm trying to >>> use with 6.2R. I set up a two disk mirror using the card's BIOS >>> utility, but when I go to install FBSD my disk selection is only ad4 >>> and ad6, the array is not being recognized (I believe I should have >>> an ar0 in the list as well). >>> >>> I can install on a single disk just fine, I just can't get FBSD to >>> see the array. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Matthew >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org mailing list >>> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hardware >>> To unsubscribe, send any mail to >>> "freebsd-hardware-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >>> >> >> Lukas Razik wrote: >> >>> Hello Matthew! >>> >>> You can read my experience with the TX4310 controller (same as >>> TX2300 but with 4 ports and RAID5 support - TX4300 doesn't have RAID5): >>> >>> http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-hardware/2006-May/003505.html >>> >>> http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-hardware/2006-May/003506.html >>> >>> http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-hardware/2006-May/003507.html >>> >>> http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-hardware/2006-May/003508.html >>> >>> >>> I hope you will get it work with the 'atacontrol' command: >>> http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=atacontrol&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+6.2-RELEASE&format=html >>> >>> >>> The problem for me with atacontrol was that after booting Windows my >>> /dev/arX device always has been destroyed. >>> >>> My solution was: >>> Buying a 3ware 8006-2LP 2-port SATA HARDWARE RAID Controller which >>> has better performance than the TX4310 although it's SATA and not >>> SATA-II and also very good Linux support. >>> >>> Regards and Good Luck! >>> Lukas >>> >> >> Lukas, >> >> Thanks for the info, I'll give atacontrol a try. I never used it, >> and really didn't know such a utility existed. Does it actually >> write something to the disks that lets the array be recognized by >> FreeBSD? I'm assuming I would: >> >> 1. Set the array in the TX2300 BIOS. >> 2. Boot with live file system disk and use atacontrol to make the array. >> 3. Reboot with install disk and install on ar0. >> >> Is think correct or am I missing part of the picture. Also, once the >> array is built, can I still use dedicated partitions, or do I have to >> use compatible partitions? I can only assume that atacontrol has to >> write something to the disks themselves? >> >> Thanks, >> Matthew >> >> _______________________________________________ >> freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org mailing list >> http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hardware >> To unsubscribe, send any mail to >> "freebsd-hardware-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >> > > Hi Matthew! > > Yes, that's right but it's important how you use atacontrol... > > Your stripe size will be 16kB i think (see TX2300 BIOS settings), so > you have to set 32 in atacontrol (because 32 * 512B = 16kB). > > To add your adX and adY device you could enter: > atacontrol create RAID0 32 adX adY > or > atacontrol create RAID0 32 adY adX > The order is important! > > You can figure the right order out by: > 1. Setting the array in the TX2300 BIOS > 2. Running Linux with the right module or > Windows Installation CD (with the TX2300 drivers from floppy disk) > 3. Partitioning the "RAID device" > You needn't install any of these Operating Systems... > 4. Restart the system and... > > then you can run FreeBSD from an Installation CD and try to create an > arZ device by using atacontrol. > If you restart the system and see the new arZ device during the > installation, so you've entered the devices in the right order. > otherwise you should delete the arZ device by atacontrol and create a > new one with passing the ad devices in another order. > If you've more questions then ask... :-) > > Good luck and best regards! > Lukas > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hardware > To unsubscribe, send any mail to > "freebsd-hardware-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" Hey Lukas, Thanks for the response! Wow, that seems like a messy procedure, but I'll go see if I can get things working. I only have three questions at this point: 1. What is atacontrol doing that lets FreeBSD see the array? 2. After using atacontrol, is this now a software or hardware array? 3. Is there anyone I can send my card to who can fix FreeBSD? It seems this card used to work, and after a BIOS update from Promise, FreeBSD support broke. I'd be glad to loan my card to whoever can fix the driver or whatever it takes. Thanks, Matthew