Activating an IDE drive in an older BIOS (newer ones have a SCSI option in
the "A/C/CDROM" options) will always force an IDE drive boot with older
BIOSes. Older BIOSes are written to stop looking for a boot device once it
has found one, and it's own IDE is where it says "Ok, I have boot
capability", otherwise no IDE drive, means it passes boot control to other
system BIOSes (like your SCSI or NIC cards). This is by default with older
systems.
I expect someone will rebut my comments about the kernel (which is fine, I'm
not a Kernel hacker--PROPERLY USED TERM HERE (not the media's term) <grin>),
but it is my understanding that the kernel uses your system BIOS for actual
reads/writes at the hardware level, this way it does not have to account for
EVERY possible BIOS out there. (Other OSes use BIOS system calls for this
purpose as well) When you turn BIOS to <NONE> the OS does what it can, but
the BIOS in your system *SHOULD* refuse to process the call, instead it's
doing the read/writes, but not the same way as if IDE was turned on.
My suggestion is that you install the OS onto the IDE drive, let it boot,
and use it for a boot only drive. Mount user data from your SCSI drive onto
the IDE's mount points. Otherwise, since your reason for doing this is that
you're out of space, add another SCSI drive.
Are you getting IDE corruption with the BIOS set to <AUTO> for your IDE
drive?
Regards,
Jim Roland, RHCE
----- Original Message -----
From: "M.H.VanLeeuwen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 12:25 AM
Subject: Does kernel require IDE enabled in BIOS to access HD, FS errors?
> Hi,
>
> I have a SMP P166 system that has been running for years with an AIC7xxx
SCSI card as
> opposed to the native IDE interface. The BIOS has the IDE 0,1,2,3 set to
<NONE>.
> Running out of disk space I installed one of the original IDE drives. The
kernel
> booted and ID'd the drive correctly. Kernel version 2.4.5/6 behave the
same.
>
> Uniform Multi-Platform E-IDE driver Revision: 6.31
> ide: Assuming 33MHz system bus speed for PIO modes; override with
idebus=xx
> CMD646: IDE controller on PCI bus 00 dev 10
> CMD646: chipset revision 1
> CMD646: not 100% native mode: will probe irqs later
> CMD646: chipset revision 0x01, MultiWord DMA Limited, IRQ workaround
enabled
> CMD646: simplex device: DMA disabled
> ide0: CMD646 Bus-Master DMA disabled (BIOS)
> CMD646: simplex device: DMA disabled
> ide1: CMD646 Bus-Master DMA disabled (BIOS)
> hdb: CD-ROM CDU76E, ATAPI CD/DVD-ROM drive
> ide: Assuming 33MHz system bus speed for PIO modes; override with
idebus=xx
> hdc: WDC AC2850F, ATA DISK drive
> ide0 at 0x1f0-0x1f7,0x3f6 on irq 14
> ide1 at 0x170-0x177,0x376 on irq 15
> hdc: 1667232 sectors (854 MB) w/64KiB Cache, CHS=1654/16/63
> hdb: packet command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
> hdb: packet command error: error=0x44
> hdb: ATAPI 4X CD-ROM drive, 256kB Cache
> Uniform CD-ROM driver Revision: 3.12
> Partition check:
> hdc: [PTBL] [827/32/63] hdc1
>
> However I can't boot from the SCSI drives if the IDE HD is enabled due to
deficiencies
> in the BIOS... boot "A: then C:" or "C: then A:" are the only choices, if
neither are
> present the system boots from the SCSI card, otherwise it fails to boot.
>
> PROBLEM: cannot reliably R/W to the HD unless the BIOS is set to <auto>
recognize.
> I consistently see MD5SUM errors and FS corruption and other strange FS
symptoms
> when the BIOS is set to <NONE> for the drive and _never_ see any errors
with the
> setting set to <AUTO>. There are no messages emitted by the kernel that
there
> were any system errors encountered leading one to believe that all is
well, when
> it isn't.
>
> What is interesting, is that the I/O writes increase from once every 14
seconds to
> once every 2-3 seconds and the FS corruption diminishes but don't
disappear
> if a background "dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/null" is running.
>
> Is this expected kernel behavior?
>
> VMSTAT follow... when copying files from SCSI drives to IDE drive.
>
> More info available if needed...
>
> Thanks,
> Martin
>
> The waiting processes are kupdated and bdflush. (I have Alt-SysRq- trace
of them)
>
> VMSTAT 1 for the case w/ BIOS set to <NONE> looks like (w/o dd running):
>
> procs memory swap io system
cpu
> r b w swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us
sy id
> 0 0 0 0 83180 1056 39800 0 0 261 3 83 43 5
8 87
> 0 0 0 0 83176 1056 39800 0 0 0 0 119 20 3
2 95
> 0 0 0 0 83176 1056 39800 0 0 0 0 116 20 2
2 96
> 0 1 0 0 83012 1096 39812 0 0 329 0 196 183 3
8 89
> 0 1 0 0 81268 1128 41444 0 0 1021 0 309 275 3
17 80
> 0 1 0 0 74464 1200 47716 0 0 3131 27 292 264 6
25 69
> 2 0 0 0 67772 1276 53632 0 0 2962 0 397 245 12
25 63
> 2 0 0 0 64016 1324 56900 0 0 1602 0 414 155 48
27 26
> 1 1 0 0 53924 1372 66608 0 0 4960 0 200 165 14
40 46
> 1 0 0 0 42260 1448 77556 0 0 5493 0 232 210 3
35 62
> 0 1 0 0 30276 1480 88748 0 0 5616 0 201 124 4
34 62
> 2 0 0 0 22580 1496 96044 0 0 3671 2868 307 96 2
33 65
> 0 1 0 0 12392 1528 105492 0 0 4771 4852 276 164 5
37 58
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1560 114232 0 0 4641 4861 328 200 2
43 54
> 1 1 0 0 3056 1588 114192 0 0 5011 4744 281 139 5
39 57
> 1 0 1 0 3056 1612 114168 0 0 5269 1728 256 115 4
35 60
> 0 1 1 0 3056 1680 114084 0 0 4827 0 271 193 2
33 64
> 1 0 1 0 3056 1708 114056 0 0 5268 0 236 106 3
38 59
> 2 0 1 0 3056 1748 113864 0 0 3817 3968 315 132 7
44 49
> 2 0 1 0 3056 1760 113604 0 0 2955 0 348 63 41
50 9
> 1 0 1 0 3056 1788 113940 0 0 4258 0 247 97 41
46 13
> 1 0 1 0 3056 1844 113880 0 0 4246 0 281 168 4
36 60
> 0 1 1 0 3064 1856 113868 0 0 2955 0 209 69 3
19 78
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 149 27 2
3 95
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 147 19 2
3 95
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 152 18 2
3 95
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 147 16 2
4 94
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 147 16 1
4 94
> 0 1 1 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 3613 156 28 1
5 94
> 0 1 1 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 148 14 2
2 96
> 0 1 1 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 150 18 2
4 94
> 0 1 1 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 151 18 1
5 94
> 0 1 1 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 147 18 2
3 95
> 0 1 1 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 151 18 2
2 96
> 0 1 1 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 183 27 2
4 94
> 0 1 1 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 183 18 2
2 95
> 0 1 1 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 186 18 2
3 95
> 0 1 1 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 182 23 1
4 95
> 0 1 1 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 184 18 2
4 94
> 0 1 1 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 185 20 2
1 96
> 0 1 1 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 181 18 2
1 96
> 0 1 1 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 3852 184 21 2
3 95
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 181 24 1
4 94
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 165 16 1
2 96
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 184 14 1
4 95
> 0 1 2 0 3064 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 183 24 1
3 95
> 0 1 2 0 3060 1856 113868 0 0 0 0 185 12 2
4 94
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 3 0 195 53 3
4 93
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 183 24 2
2 96
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 184 18 2
3 94
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 185 16 2
3 95
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 184 20 2
2 95
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 191 20 2
4 94
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 186 14 2
3 95
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 182 24 1
2 96
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 3964 183 18 1
5 93
> 0 1 2 0 3056 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 183 24 1
2 97
> 0 1 2 0 3144 1856 113864 0 0 0 0 173 20 2
5 93
> 0 1 2 0 3160 1856 113848 0 0 0 0 160 19 2
5 94
> 0 1 2 0 3160 1856 113848 0 0 0 0 158 18 1
3 96
> 0 1 2 0 3160 1856 113848 0 0 0 0 152 24 2
3 95
>
>
> Here is VMSTAT 1 for the case where the IDE is set to <AUTO> in the bios:
>
> procs memory swap io system
cpu
> r b w swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us
sy id
> 0 0 0 0 82928 1048 39776 0 0 202 3 78 35 5
6 89
> 0 0 0 0 82824 1052 39784 0 0 6 0 135 51 3
1 95
> 0 1 0 0 82684 1068 39796 0 0 38 0 127 43 3
4 93
> 0 1 0 0 82652 1092 39796 0 0 364 0 223 208 3
4 93
> 1 0 0 0 78776 1164 43392 0 0 1957 0 331 316 4
14 82
> 1 0 1 0 71684 1224 49956 0 0 3231 0 309 239 5
20 75
> 0 1 0 0 65376 1304 55752 0 0 2835 0 340 250 1
18 80
> 1 0 0 0 55412 1364 65056 0 0 4746 2 233 187 4
29 67
> 1 0 0 0 43460 1432 76220 0 0 5560 0 207 181 3
31 66
> 1 0 0 0 31276 1472 87680 0 0 5806 0 194 125 1
35 64
> 0 1 0 0 21084 1496 97216 0 0 4685 157 234 102 4
29 67
> 1 0 0 0 13580 1520 104244 0 0 3628 3328 615 126 3
56 41
> 1 0 0 0 6352 1552 111072 0 0 3417 3584 709 123 3
59 38
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1560 114148 0 0 2951 3072 577 138 4
59 38
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1580 114128 0 0 3086 2940 611 82 4
52 45
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1600 114108 0 0 4182 4352 647 94 3
71 26
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1636 114064 0 0 3217 3072 701 150 3
60 37
> 1 0 1 0 3056 1676 114016 0 0 3666 3840 674 141 3
58 39
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1700 113992 0 0 3691 3328 600 102 3
58 39
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1720 113972 0 0 3729 3578 639 110 2
62 36
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1752 113936 0 0 3464 3627 674 142 6
58 36
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1772 113916 0 0 3598 3532 627 102 3
64 34
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1804 113880 0 0 3296 3328 610 130 4
61 35
> 3 0 0 0 3056 1836 113796 0 0 3392 3584 697 140 3
61 37
> 2 0 0 0 3056 1848 113604 0 0 2827 2816 594 105 12
62 27
> 1 1 0 0 3056 1880 113404 0 0 2234 2551 604 107 34
59 8
> 2 0 0 0 3056 1912 113364 0 0 2838 2816 565 139 40
51 8
> 1 0 0 0 3056 1988 113648 0 0 3148 3328 667 213 11
57 32
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2032 113600 0 0 2761 3328 612 162 2
59 39
> 0 1 1 0 3056 2088 113540 0 0 3061 3322 676 180 2
56 42
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2120 113504 0 0 3542 3789 670 137 4
57 39
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2164 113452 0 0 3102 3325 668 147 4
49 47
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2192 113424 0 0 3602 3575 678 99 3
59 38
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2224 113388 0 0 3311 3539 703 134 0
61 39
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2212 113396 0 0 3451 3584 615 114 4
62 34
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2252 113348 0 0 3675 3840 672 126 3
57 40
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2292 113304 0 0 3066 3328 695 162 3
56 42
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2324 113272 0 0 3347 3262 628 129 4
54 42
> 1 0 1 0 3056 2340 113244 0 0 2755 3072 612 103 3
60 38
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2352 113244 0 0 3830 3581 681 125 4
60 36
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2400 113196 0 0 3408 3584 656 144 4
56 39
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2424 113172 0 0 3758 3840 671 136 2
59 39
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2432 113164 0 0 2726 2780 611 108 3
57 40
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2492 113052 0 0 2432 3072 659 299 2
49 49
> 2 0 0 0 3056 2612 112820 0 0 2355 3072 830 651 6
54 41
> 1 0 0 0 3056 2748 112596 0 0 2041 2816 708 421 6
46 49
> 1 0 1 0 3056 2908 112380 0 0 2839 3304 716 364 3
58 39
> 0 1 1 0 3056 3060 112184 0 0 3121 3840 729 352 3
62 35
> 1 0 1 0 3056 3164 112060 0 0 2204 2816 570 179 4
43 53
> 1 0 1 0 3056 3260 111840 0 0 2094 2560 684 335 4
50 46
> 1 0 1 0 3056 3320 111764 0 0 2867 3584 675 207 3
59 38
> 1 0 0 0 3056 3364 111240 0 0 430 2268 857 823 3
51 45
> 1 0 0 0 3056 3424 110928 0 0 1460 2560 707 551 5
42 53
> 1 0 0 0 3056 3512 110728 0 0 2267 2816 783 592 3
50 47
> 0 1 0 0 3056 3564 110448 0 0 1952 3069 897 836 5
49 46
> 1 0 1 0 3056 3708 110248 0 0 2424 3145 743 357 3
50 47
> 0 1 1 0 3056 3864 110116 0 0 2552 3328 727 430 3
49 49
> -
> To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
> the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
> Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
>
-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
