Package: kernel-image Version: 2.6.15-rc6-test Severity: Wishlist I would like to bring to your attention the desire for Debian to support SATA ATAPI CD Drives.
In case you are not aware, the 2.6.15 kernel from www.kernel.org does support SATA ATAPI CD Drives. However, that support is disabled by default in the 2.6.15 kernel because some consider it not production ready. It is easy to enable the SATA ATAPI support by default in the 2.6.15 kernel. It needs one small change in one of the device driver files in the kernel source. The file is drivers/scsi/libata-core.c. You will see a variable called atapi_enabled. It is set to 0. You need to change it so that it is set to 1. Here is a suggested patch: Tags: patch ################################################################## --- libata-core.c.old 2006-01-17 11:01:14.000000000 -0800 +++ libata-core.c 2006-01-17 11:01:41.000000000 -0800 @@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static unsigned int ata_unique_id = 1; static struct workqueue_struct *ata_wq; -int atapi_enabled = 0; +int atapi_enabled = 1; module_param(atapi_enabled, int, 0444); MODULE_PARM_DESC(atapi_enabled, "Enable discovery of ATAPI devices (0=off,1=on)"); ################################################################## I am calling this to your attention because there may be systems delivered in the future which would not have a PATA (IDE) controller, or CD-ROM drive; they would only have a SATA ATAPI CD-ROM drive. In order for any of your customers to be able to install Debian on a system with only a SATA ATAPI CD-ROM drive; both the installer kernel, as well as the running kernel, would have to be at least version 2.6.15 and would need to have the SATA ATAPI support enabled (by setting the atapi_enabled value in drivers/scsi/libata-core.c to 1). Installing a distro in a SATA ATAPI CD-ROM drive equipped system without having SATA ATAPI enabled would be a complicated process (using either a 2nd system and moving the hard drive or temporarily installing a PATA (IDE) controller and CD-ROM) would be beyond the means of many of your users and customers. I would like to suggest that you consider enabling SATA ATAPI support within Debian. I have done some testing on an Intel 865 chipset based system that is equipped with a Plextor PX-716SA Serial SATA ATAPI DVD/CD Read-Write drive. All of these components are available off-the-shelf. I performed CD and DVD writing and reading; using checksums to verify that what is written on the DVD and CD are in agreement with what is read off of the DVD and CD. What additional testing would you suggest before enabling the SATA ATAPI support? Truly, Mark Allyn (Intel Corporation)
