3.8.5X Install To SCSI Disk Partition 1 of Second Drive

[Kenny-M]

Knowing now that to see SCSI hardware pciprobe must be run.

Would it be possible to install 3.8.5X to the second drive partition 1
while using the first drive MBR to manage machine startup?

The desired result would be:
SDA Boot drive and Windows XP in partition 1

SDB Partition 1 to hold PlopLinux (ext2?)
SDB Partition 2 Linux Swap if needed
SDB Partition 3 FAT-32 partition

Thanks,
-Ken

[Elmar]

which modules are loaded with pciprobe for scsi?

[Kenny-M]

Pciprobe loads aic7xxx

SCSI0 Drives Target 0:0:0 and 0:0:2
SCSI1 DLT1 Tape Target 1:0:4

[Elmar]

download this temp version,  i compiled the aic7xxx driver into the kernel
http://download.plop.at/files/tmp/ploplinux-tmp.tgz

start "installplop". you can configure where to install and so on. tell me your thoughts about this script. i never got a feedback. maybe the most people dont know that it exists.

regards
elmar

[Kenny-M]

OK. I will download the file and even though it's not an ISO file I will try and gunzip it on my Windows machine and see if an ISO file is there. If there is I will burn a CD then test it out.

[Elmar]

there is no iso in the tgz

[Kenny-M]

You are correct under Windows it unzips to a directory strucure.

O.K. So how do I burn a CD under Windows?

[Elmar]

see here
http://www.plop.at/en/ploplinux.html#wicreate

[Kenny-M]

Elmar,

I'm sorry but the mkisofs package for Windows was written by an is on a Russian site.

I don't have enough faith to run sotfware from there.

Sorry.

[Elmar]

russian site where have you been?


ahhh i see now, an alternative version is from a russion guy. you dont have to use this alternative version

[Kenny-M]

http://www.plop.at/en/ploplinux.html#wicreate references:

mkisofs.exe is the required tool to create a ISO image. It's a part of cdrtools.

http://smithii.com/cdrtools

At cdrtools it says:

A Win32 version (via MingW) that does not rely on cygwin1.dll is available at http://cdrtools.bootcd.ru/ (currently not available, so download from here). This is the version that is included with PE Builder 3.13 and later.

A DOS version (via DJGPP) of cdrtools 2.01 is available at http://bootcd.narod.ru/index_e.htm. I have not tested this version.

[Elmar]

why dont you download this?
http://smithii.com/files/cdrtools-latest.zip

[Kenny-M]

That zip contains a file for Windows using Cygwin!

Cygwin was an old Unix like thing that ran under Windows NT.

The files date back to 2006 and don't have an install script.

I enjoy these kinds of projects but this is getting a little...

I'll have to think about this before spending many more
hours on it.

[Elmar]

i thought it will end like this

i made the iso
http://download.plop.at/files/tmp/ploplinux-tmp.iso


btw. there is no install script required for cdrtools. simply follow the instructions on my page. extract it and run it as i descibed, thats all

[Kenny-M]

Burned CD with test ISO and booted.

Boot halted.  Last screen of messages during boot follow:

Kernel panic - not syncing Attempted to kill init!
Pid: 1. comm: swapper Tainted: G  D  2.6.30.4 - ploplinux #15
Call Trace:
[< co67311f >] ? print+0xf/0x11
~ more lines of code ~
__bad_area_nosemaphore
~ more lines of code ~
do_page_fault
error_code+0x65/0x6c
~ SCSI related message ~
aic7xxx_queue+0x207/0x2e4
~ more lines of code ~
do_scsi_scan_host+0x54/0x5d
~ more lines of code ~
? kernel_init+0x0/0xb9
kernel_thread_helper+0x7/0x10
< System stoped here. Nore more output >

There was so much data I only show the [<...>] address once.

[Elmar]

thats bad and means that plop linux cant be installed on this computer.

[Kenny-M]

So you are saying the only option is to boot from a CD followed by the pciprobe command?

That's too bad.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9479603@N02/3311745151/in/set-72157614479572582/

[Elmar]

make a pciprobe and post the output of lsmod
with ploplinux 3.8.5

[Kenny-M]

After pciprobe output of lsmod:

Module                  Size  Used by
floppy                 46124  1
aic7xxx               106520  0
dm_crypt               10564  0
dm_mod                 43156  1 dm_crypt
aes_i586                7744  0
aes_generic            26728  1 aes_i586
nfsd                   75428  1
exportfs                3408  1 nfsd
ipv6                  204216  14


http://www.flickr.com/photos/9479603@N02/1814557731/in/set-72157602824219250/

[Elmar]

if this doesn't work too, then the aic7xxx does not work when it is compiled into the kernel.
its without X to be smaller
http://download.plop.at/files/tmp/ploplinux-tmp2.iso

[Kenny-M]

Elmar,

That failed the same way.

I have a different Linux here based on 2.6.25.16 that does boot up and loads the scsi drivers.

There are two aic7xxx and scsi_transport_spi.

Here is its lsmod output:

Module                  Size  Used by
snd_mixer_oss          16640  0
snd                    52772  1 snd_mixer_oss
soundcore               7520  1 snd
parport_pc             32068  1
lp                     12580  0
parport                35656  2 parport_pc,lp
serio_raw               6788  0
pcspkr                  2944  0
i2c_piix4               8972  0
3c59x                  43688  0
mii                     5504  1 3c59x
i2c_core               24592  1 i2c_piix4
intel_agp              26812  1
agpgart                33584  1 intel_agp
evdev                  11776  0
thermal                18716  0
button                  8080  0
processor              32816  1 thermal
fuse                   48284  0
aufs                  150040  1
nls_iso8859_1           4096  1
nls_cp437               5760  1
usbhid                 29696  0
usb_storage            82624  0
squashfs               46856  1
aic7xxx               151864  1
scsi_transport_spi     24448  1 aic7xxx
ohci_hcd               25860  0
ssb                    34436  1 ohci_hcd
uhci_hcd               23820  0
ehci_hcd               33932  0
usbcore               136560  6 usbhid,usb_storage,ohci_hcd,uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd
yenta_socket           26252  0
rsrc_nonstatic         12928  1 yenta_socket


What do ya think?

[Elmar]

the aic7xxx driver works.
the problem is, that the aic7xxx driver works only as module but not when its compiled into the kernel. then something goes wrong. it should work in both modes. i am sure its only a small thing that makes the crash. its a problem for the kernel mailing list. if i had the hardware i would be able to fix this problem, but i dont have it. so i cant help you. maybe it works with kernel 2.6.31 but (i think) its an old hardware and the driver will not be changed with the new kernel.

[Kenny-M]

Elmar,

You may find the following very interesting

(Source Code)
http://tomoyo.sourceforge.jp/cgi-bin/lxr/source/drivers/scsi/aic7xxx/

http://tomoyo.sourceforge.jp/cgi-bin/lxr/source/drivers/scsi/aic7xxx/aic7xxx_pci.c

http://tomoyo.sourceforge.jp/cgi-bin/lxr/source/drivers/scsi/aic7xxx/aic7xxx_pci.c?v=linux-2.6.29.6-ccs-1.6.8

http://linux.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/Kernel/2009-02/msg07570.html

http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/scsi/aic7xxx.txt

http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/scsi/aic7xxx_old.txt

http://www.fsfla.org/svn/fsfla/software/linux-libre/scripts/deblob-2.6.30

[Elmar]

try this, its the latest kernel rc
http://download.plop.at/files/tmp/ploplinux-tmp3.iso

[Kenny-M]

Elmar,

I guess it's time to throw in the towel and throw out my old machines.

Burned ISO. Boot P.C. Same basic errors

Note: swapper[1] exited with preempt_count 2
Kernel panic not syncing. Attempted to kill init!
Pid:1 , comm: swapper Tainted: G D 2.6.31-rc8 #1
Call Trace:
~~~
~~~
~~~

I have been toying around with getting a low end machine
to tinker around with. Do you think the following machine
would run Plop OK? Most interested in chipsets for Lan and
Audio, Video and CPU are they spported?

Foxconn R20-S4 Intel 945GC 1 x 240Pin Intel GMA 950 Barebone

CPU Supported: CPU Type Intel Atom 330 Dual-core FSB 533MHz

Chipset: North Bridge Intel 945GC, South Bridge ICH7

Memory Supported: Sot 1 x 240Pin, DDR2 533, Max 2GB
Expansion Slots: PCI 1 (short low profile)
Storage: Serial ATA 2 x SATA 3.0Gb/s
Graphics: Onboard Video Intel GMA 950
Audio: Onboard Audio Realtek ALC662 Channel 6-CH
Communications: First LAN Realtek 8100C(10/100Mbps)
Extension Bays: 3.5" Internal bays 1, 3.5" External bays 1
Front Panel Ports: Front USB 2, Front Audio Ports 2 jacks
Back Panel Ports: PS/2 2, VGA 1 x D-Sub , USB 4, RJ45 1, Audio Ports 3

See it at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119013

Thanks

[Elmar]

dont you have any other scsi controller or an ide controller?

i think the foxconn should work, but i can give no guarantee

[Kenny-M]

Elmar,

Unfortunately the SCSI chipset is on the motherboard
on these Dell Precision 610 machines.

I don't know I though the Foxconn machine OK and for
the price $119 U.S. it seems hard to beat.

A friend of mine said these Dell machines are over ten
years old and I should trash all of them. I have three.
As he put it nobody uses SCSI anymore, nobody uses
P/S 2 devices and it's only a 550MHZ Zeon.  I do have
peripherals. A Dell 110T SCSI DLT drive, an HP SCSI DAT
DDS3 drive and a Jaz SCSI drive.

[Elmar]

i agree with your friend.

foxconn/ a new barebone pc has an additional important featue. low power consumption.

however, i think its time to replace over 10 year old hardware.

[Kenny-M]

Elmar,

Well that seems to be the opinion. Trash the stuff.

Will PlopLinux support the Foxconn hardware?

CPU Intel Atom 330 Dual-core FSB 533MHz
Chipset: North Bridge Intel 945GC, South Bridge ICH7
Graphics: Intel GMA 950
Audio: Realtek ALC662
LAN: Realtek 8100C(10/100Mbps)

Do you think the above should work OK?

Also, the Foxconn machine has P/S2 devices. Not
an issue is it?

[Elmar]

Will PlopLinux support the Foxconn hardware?

if the linux kernel divers are working correct then yes.

Also, the Foxconn machine has P/S2 devices. Not
an issue is it?

i dont know what you mean with P/S2. Do you mean keyboard/mouse PS/2 connector?

[Kenny-M]

Yes, keyboard/mouse PS/2 connector not USB keyboard/mouse.

[Elmar]

its no issue, i always use ps/2
so thats a point i do not agree with your firend

[Kenny-M]

I agree with you but he's of the mindset that all the new machines coming out now are USB keyboard/mouse based.  This I can not be sure of.  I told him of the Foxconn micro machine and that it has PS/2.  He said it sounds like a piece of junk from China using old technology.

So I told him the story of trying to boot Linux on an external USB hard drive on a P.C. with USB keyboard/mouse how when it starts the USB chips are reset and the keyboard/mouse are dead and the upstream software has to re-enable them.  That's why I use your PLPBT loader.

His answer. Poorly written software. So I said that's why I want PS/2 then it's a non issue.

Speaking of PLPBT I could not for the life of me get Linux (I tried different ones) to boot off my external USB hard drive (it seemd to install OK) even though it boots fine to a USB memory stick. What kind of magic does PLPBT do so it boots up an external USB hard drive running Linux?

I may keep one Dell 610 around just in case I have to read my archived storage that's on DLT and DDS tapes.

Thanks.

[Elmar]

I agree with you but he's of the mindset that all the new machines coming out now are USB keyboard/mouse based.  This I can not be sure of.  I told him of the Foxconn micro machine and that it has PS/2.  He said it sounds like a piece of junk from China using old technology.

what does he think where his computere was made?
and if a pc has ps/2 you are not forced to use it. you still can use an usb keyboard. the ps/2 port is only an additional feature!

His answer. Poorly written software. So I said that's why I want PS/2 then it's a non issue.

ask him how many bootmanagers are providing boot from usb with an internal stack!

btw. if the bios supports boot from usb, then its not required to use the bootmanager usb option. the bootmanager can boot the usb harddisk with the support of the bios. then usb keyboard and mouse are still working.

Speaking of PLPBT I could not for the life of me get Linux (I tried different ones) to boot off my external USB hard drive (it seemd to install OK) even though it boots fine to a USB memory stick. What kind of magic does PLPBT do so it boots up an external USB hard drive running Linux?

nothing. its well programmed (but still with some bugs of course)

last word to ps/2:
i use a switch box for 4 computers to have only one monitor and keyboard since 9 years. only ps/2. a few years ago i was going thinking to upgrade to usb keyboard and so. i tried diffferent switchboxes with usb support. none was really working fine! so i am still using my good old ps/2 switchbox.