Ubuntu

Problems with sata_sil under Ubuntu 7.04, 7.10 and Fedora Core 7

Asked by Richard Appleby

I've a small server based around a mini-ITX board, running with 2x500GB SATA drives running off the built-in controller (VIA), and another 500GB drive running on a PCI SATA raid controller based around a Silicon Image 3512A. The drives are configured into 3 raid sets (/boot, swap and /). I am experiencing lots of errors on the drive attached to the PCI card. I've raised a bug, and done basic problem diagnosis as documented in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/159521, but I've had no response to that bug report, and really need some help in getting to the bottom of what the problem is.

I've swapped drives around, and the problem always stays with the drive attached to the PCI card (so its not a drive problem) and the PCI controller seems to work perfectly under Windows, which would tend to indicate that its not a problem with the PCI card. I see similar errors under Ubuntu 7.04, 7.10, and under Fedora Core 7, which leads me towards this being "something in the kernel" rather than being something thats distribution specific. However, Silicon Image are a popular supplier of cheap SATA cards, so I'm surprised not to see a lot more people raising this as a problem.

Any suggestions on what the problem might be, or how I can more effectively progress this would be most greatfully received, as I really need to get this server up and running ASAP. I'm getting close to the point where I'm going to be forced to switch to Windows just to get things moving, which seems a heck of a retrograde step :(

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#1

This as an unofficial kernel http://www.kernel.org/ mailing list http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel
And i do a search about Silicon+Image+3512A
http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&w=2&r=1&s=Silicon+Image+3512A&q=b

I suggest you to download and compile the latest kernel by yourself and try it.

HTH

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j williams (nineowls+launchpad) said : 		#2

This is still an issue with Hardy 8.04, 2.6.24-23-generic and the PCI SATA card I am using to connect Vantec Nextar hard drive dock containing 1TB Seagate 7600.11

Ubuntu loads sata_sil driver out of the box, but I think it cannot handle the 300 mb/s drive speed through a 1.5 mb/s Cardbus card

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