On Sun, 26 Mar 2000, Benjamin Scott wrote:
> On Sun, 26 Mar 2000, Jeffry Smith wrote:
> > After asking about language & keyboard, it asks for the type of CD-ROM,
> > with two choices: "SCIS" and "Other". Regardless of which I choose, I
> > get a blank list of choices, and choosing "OK" drops me back to the CD-ROM
> > choice menu.
Sorry, missed the original message. What type of Alpha was this? and which
version of RH (6.1 ?). I know that 6.0 has an updated ramdisk, don't think
6.1 has an updated Alpha image, at least I can only fine i386.
> That really seems like a bug in Red Hat's installer. Are there updates for
> the floppy disk images available on Red Hat's FTP site? I know there are for
> Intel.
>
> It has been a long time since I played with Alpha/Linux, but I remember a
> lot of shenanigans with different boot images. There were frequently two
> alternatives for each motherboard design, sometimes more, and the one that
> would seem correct according to the docs often was not. If that is still the
> case, you might want to try a few other images.
All changed, we now use a generic image that will boot just about every
Alpha out there. I think the platform specific boot images may still exist
in 6.1 but I've had no problems with the generic (on about 7 didn't
types).
> Another thing that may have changed since but that I had to deal with was
> that kernel modules on the Alpha were rather unstable, and the recommended
> wisdom was to compile the SCSI drivers in statically. If that is still the
> case, you will want to watch the boot messages to make sure your SCSI
> controller was identified properly and all the devices probed.
The Alpha RH boot kernel has the popular SCSI controllers already compiled
in (Adaptec, SYM53c8xx, Qlogic ISP) cause we don't have the use of initrd
(at least RH 6.1 doesn't). Other than that modules are fine. What's this
SCSI ROM connected to? Don't say an ISA SCSI card!
> Try switching virtual consoles ([ALT]+[F2], etc.) to see if any error
> messages are being emitted.
>
> > Suggestions? Should I grab the Debian Alpha?
>
> A different distro will have a different set of bugs in their installer, so
> that might be a way to work around this one.
Well, Slink has it's own problem, mainly that it's now somewhat outdated,
and potato isn't released yet, so you may be opening yourself up for more
problems than you already have. (Mainly what I'm getting at with slink in
the use of 2.0.38, the 2.0 kernels are OK on Alpha but you'll do much
better with a 2.2).
Have you checked things like termination? and are you manually setting the
SCSI ID or using some auto assignment (in the case of the later, Don't!).
--rdp
Rich Payne
[EMAIL PROTECTED] www.alphalinux.org
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