[lug] AIC-7890 SCSI Controller

[D. Stimits]

Dhruva Reddy wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I am trying to install Redhat 6.2 on a Dell Poweredge
> 1300, with an onboard AIC-7890 SCSI controller.
> 
> When I begin the installation, it auto-detects the
> controller and tries to load a driver for this (the
> AIC-7xxx, I believe).  However, it seems to freeze.  I
> can see the hard drives lighting up.
> 
> Does anyone have any experience with this?
> 
> Thanks,
> Dhruva
> 

I use a couple of aic7xxx machines, one with the 7895 integrated,
another the 7892. The 7890 uses the same drivers. The only freeze I've
seen like that is when the i840 chipset (SMP) is used without the
"noapic" kernel option (i840 has a defective IO-APIC). Even without the
"noapic" kernel option, it succeeds a lot further into installs if using
text mode. Graphics mode seems to bring out weak spots, possibly being
less tolerant of shared irq's to the graphics card. If this is an i840
chipset, start out with text mode and kernel option "noapic"; regardless
of chipset, use text mode. Also be sure your drives are properly
terminated and ID's are set (and double check that connectors are fully
seated).

D. Stimits, stimits at idcomm.com