New Linux-2.4 kernels and the HPT366

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eljar
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Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:25 pm

New Linux-2.4 kernels and the HPT366

Post by eljar »

I have lately had regular crashes on my BP6 computer.
Currently I have a RH7.3 (2.4.18-3smp) and SuSE-9.0(2.4.21-192-smp4G).
The old redhat seems fine.
But SuSE (and Fedora Core 1) will invariably freeze the computer
while doing heavy disk I/O (either over net or to other local disk).
The problem goes away when I move the disk from the HPT to the
primary IDE-controller.

Has anyone a clue? Or similar expiriences?

Config: 40 BG IBM disk connected to the HPT366
NJ bios, HPT version 1.21, 256MB ram 2x533 Mhz
Adaptec aha1520 scsi-kontroller, 3C905B-tx nic
-eljar
Derek
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Post by Derek »

Update your BIOS to the latest revision (either RU or RV).
-Derek
eljar
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Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:25 pm

New BIOS?

Post by eljar »

Are you dead certain that a new bios will do the trick?
The BP6 has been stable with NJ for a year before I started using
Fedora (and now SuSE). I'd rather not update unless it's
certain this will fix the problems.

-eljar
-eljar
Derek
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Post by Derek »

I can't be 100% certain, but there numerous fixes since the NJ version that make the motherboard more stable, and more compatible with newer operating systems.

I usually suggest updating as the first step, and usually it fixes the problem(s). If you would rather not update, then I strongly suggest you try connecting your hard drives to the standard IDE controller or to an external ATA controller.

Edit: I reread your first post. Which drivers are you using for the HPT controller? Another benefit of updating the BIOS is that it also comes with later HPT BIOS revisions.
-Derek
eljar
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Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:25 pm

Post by eljar »

The driver is the standard ataraid for the Linux kernel.
This is mainly the thing I want to find out:
Is this a problem related to the Linux driver
vs. HPT firmware? And if so can we fix it?

I am using my Primary IDE now, and I really don't notice the performance drop(other bottlenecks I assume).
BTW, what BIOS would be the safest to upgrade to?
-eljar
eljar
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Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:25 pm

Post by eljar »

Acutally I find these arrys in the file /usr/src/linux-2.4.21-192/drivers/ide/pci/hpt366.h And my disk happens to be listed here (IC35L040AVER07-0)..
I have a Western Digital disk. I'll compile this driver (and use it instead of ataraid), and if that dosn't do it, I'll try with the WD disk and see if it makes a difference.

const char *bad_ata100_5[] = {
"IBM-DTLA-307075",
"IBM-DTLA-307060",
"IBM-DTLA-307045",
"IBM-DTLA-307030",
"IBM-DTLA-307020",
"IBM-DTLA-307015",
"IBM-DTLA-305040",
"IBM-DTLA-305030",
"IBM-DTLA-305020",
"IC35L010AVER07-0",
"IC35L020AVER07-0",
"IC35L030AVER07-0",
"IC35L040AVER07-0",
"IC35L060AVER07-0",
"WDC AC310200R",
NULL
};

const char *bad_ata66_4[] = {
"IBM-DTLA-307075",
"IBM-DTLA-307060",
"IBM-DTLA-307045",
"IBM-DTLA-307030",
"IBM-DTLA-307020",
"IBM-DTLA-307015",
"IBM-DTLA-305040",
"IBM-DTLA-305030",
"IBM-DTLA-305020",
"IC35L010AVER07-0",
"IC35L020AVER07-0",
"IC35L030AVER07-0",
"IC35L040AVER07-0",
"IC35L060AVER07-0",
"WDC AC310200R",
NULL
};

I also found some mailinglist email that seem to deal with similar problems on other MB's with the HPT controller, but I havn't had time to study them yet..
-eljar
InactiveX
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Location: UK

Post by InactiveX »

Don't......................................use...........................................................................................................
that.....................................................................damned.......................................................................
HPT!!! GAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!............................................



(Sorry) :)
eljar
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:25 pm

Post by eljar »

Okay.. Will it destroy my data?
Have you any knowledge about the bad_ata66 and bad_ata100 arrays in this driver?
Also, the driver I want to try isn't High Points own driver (it's one supplied with linux).

Would these problems arise in ataraid also?
There is no bad_anything arrays in ataraid, but the fault on my system is coherent with some of the error descriptions from the hpt366 driver.
-eljar
InactiveX
BeOS Forever
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Post by InactiveX »

eljar wrote:Okay.. Will it destroy my data?
Not just that, it may well screw up any drives attached to it.

Do a search for HPT366 on this site. It isn't pretty.
eljar
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:25 pm

Post by eljar »

Ohh, you mean the hole controller? Not the hpt366.o driver?

I've had it running on the same disk for 3 years, with various os'es and it hasn't killed it yet... ;)
It does make some seriously bad sounds when I shutdown W2K, but it's long since the last time I did that.. ever.

-eljar
-eljar
hyperspace
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Post by hyperspace »

There are some serious problems with some drives on the HPT366 controller. Using this controller with a Western Digital boot drive, seems to be the worst of it.

I've been using a 20GB Maxtor drive on the primary channel of the HPT366 contorller since August of 1999. This is not the boot drive. I boot from SCSI. The Maxtor is my main data drive.

I back up the Maxtor to my Sony SCSI DAT drive on a regular basis. :wink:
Quantum WormHole

Image
lost in hypertime...
davd_bob
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Post by davd_bob »

HPT is just fine......

or not.


Some people have great luck when using it, but most of us found it not only screws up the data...
IT SCREWS UP OUR HEADS!!!!!
There are *almost* no bad BP6s. There are mostly bad caps.

No BP6s remaining
Athlon 2800
Sempron 2000
ViaCPU laptop with Vista.(Works great after bumping ram to 2Gig)
P-III 850@100
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