Re: Advansys SCSI Controller and Fedora 2 kernel 2.6.7-1.494.2.2

[Erich Schroeder <erich@museum.state.il.us>]

On Tue, 17 Aug 2004, Bryan J. Smith wrote:

> On Mon, 2004-08-16 at 15:18, Erich Schroeder wrote:
> >   The kernel#2.6.7-1.494.2.2 errata kernel does not include the advansys 
> > module, so during the installation it failed and does not complete the 
> > update of /etc/grub.conf.
> 
> Correct, I had this happen too.
> 
> The key is that it's not a Fedora thing, but a stock kernel thing. 
> Several drivers are not considered "2.6 clean" and in newer stock 2.6.x
> kernel releases, Linus & co. has organized so these drivers can be
> disabled with a single checkbox.  Fedora does this, so these drivers
> aren't offered.
> 
> 2.6-based Fedora 2+ (and the planned RHEL 4 release) are striving to be
> "as stock as possible."  Red Hat (among other vendors) have gotten a lot
> of what it wanted in kernel 2.6, and like the improvements overall.

Yup, I saw that. It's kind of a shame that it changed in a in-version 
upgrade, but otherwise it makes sense.
 
> > Apt had, however, gotten to the point of removing the original kernel and
> > entry in grub.conf.
> 
> Er, no, that did _not_ happen to me.  It left my old kernels.  Apt-get
> _never_ removes older kernels for me at least, they _always_ remain.

Yup, that was the problem.

> But it _would_ be nice if the post-install script would at least build
> an initrd with what it _could_ find.  I had to do that manually (see #4
> and #5 at URL below) -- be sure to _watch_ your apt-get messages!
>   http://lists.leap-cf.org/pipermail/leaplist/2004-August/039896.html  

Very clear link, that. Thanks. 

> I am using the apt-get from Fedora.US.  If you are using the apt-get
> from FreshRPMS.NET, I would _cease_ using it and fetch the one from
> Fedora.US.  100% of my apt issues went away 1 year ago when I stopped
> using anything from FreshRPMS.NET.

The particular problems I reported came from the apt-get from Fedora.US, 
although I likely caused them myself. On production machines I stick with 
fedora apt repositories. On the box in question, I do all sorts of things 
because it is my day-to-day-try-out-stuff-machine. This is the third time 
in the five years I've been using it that I've really broken it--I can 
live with it.

> > Trying simple rescue and reinstallion of an earlier kernel didn't work
> > right because grubby couldn't find a template.
> 
> Do it manually.  Mount the filesystems, chroot and run GRUB that way.

Yeah, I'll look into that sometime.

> > If apt is configured to allow duplicate copies of kernel, it just
> > fails to add the new kernel to grub.conf but leaves the system
> > rebootable.
> 
> That must be the default of one from Fedora.US.  I would _never_
> automate the removal of old kernels.  I do it manually with rpm -e and
> editing grub.conf.

That's what I used to always do, and am returning to.

> > So I have learned:
> >   It's good to keep the kernel upgrades done by hand
> 
> No problems where, but I do watch for crapouts.  I did when I did an
> "apt-get dist-upgrade" from FC1 -> FC2 (see above URL).

Again, thanks for the link.

> > I'm very glad that several years ago I started keeping my data and OS on 
> > different partitions, even though I sometime run low on space.
> 
> I keep the following on my home workstation:
>   /
>   /tmp
>   /var
>   /usr
>   /usr/local
>   /home/(workstation)
> 
> And server:
>   /
>   /tmp
>   /usr
>   /var
>   /var/spool
>   /srv <-- FHS 2.3 (ftp, www, pgsql, etc...)
>   /home
>   /home/(user dirs)
>   /home/(static files)
> 
> > Pretty soon it will be time to replace the advansys card with something 
> > else, I guess. I'm actually not using the card at the moment, but when I 
> > do it runs an old scanner, luckily not an important hard drive.
> 
> Or you _could_ rebuild your kernel from SRPMS.  Just modify the .config
> to include those "2.6 non-clean" drivers, or the Advansys card
> specifically.  I do this all the time.

The next time I'm avoiding my other work, I'll do that. Chances are, I'll 
remove the card when I move to FC3, as I'm not really in need of it.

> > There is more information on dealing with this at:
> > http://www.city-fan.org/ftp/contrib/drivers/advansys/
> 
> I was trying to find the homepage.  Thanx!
> 
> 
> 

eks

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Erich Schroeder                    Phone: (217)785-0033
Curator, Information Technologies  FAX:   (217)785-2857
Illinois State Museum GIS Lab      email:erich(at)illinois.state.museum
                 http://illinois.state.museum/
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