hptraid(highpoint raid) and Grub/Lilo

DancesWithWords

The install went like this.

1. install 1.4_rc1 Live CD
2. net-setup eth0
3. insmod ataraid
4. insmod hptraid
5. mkdir /mntgentoo/boot
6. mkdir /mntgentoo
7. mount /dev/ataraid/disc0/part1 /mnt/gentoo/boot
8. mount /dev/ataraid/disc0/part3 /mnt/gentoo/
9. cd /mnt/gentoo
10. get and untar backup archive from server
11. mount -o bind /dev/ /mnt/gentoo/dev/
12. mount -o bind /proc/ /mnt/gentoo/proc/
13. chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash
14. env-update
15. source /etc/profile

It was from this point that I attempted to install Grub and Lilo.

Here is my attempt installing Grub.

I'm trying to do a raid with 3 IDE HDD's with the onboard HighPoint
controller hpt730a.

This is my set up....

Primary: maxtor 20GB
Primary Slave: empty

Secondary: Maxtor 20GB
Secondary Slave: empty

Raid Array Setup

/dev/ataraid/disc0/disc

Boot = /dev/ataraid/disc0/part1
Swap = /dev/ataraid/disc0/part2
Root = /dev/ataraid/disc0/part3

I followed the instruction and did a Grub/boot floppy. and now I am trying
to install Grub.

Using....
$ root (h0,0) [this goes fine]
$ setup (hd0) [here I get the message... can not mount selected partition]

=============

Attempt installing Lilo

Well I'm still trying to get this to work, but as of now no one has give the
help needed to get this done. I've read more web pages than I can count, but
none seem to address my problem.

I still get the above message with grub, and when I try to install lilo as
some have suggested all that I get is a messge... "Warning: LBA32 addressing
assumed part_nowrite check:: Bad address.

Now when I use the Live 1.4rc1 CD and do

insmod ataraid
insmod hptraid

I can use and see my raid array, why can I not do this with and install?

Thanks for your help, in advance.
bruce

taskara · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2003 12:17 am Post subject:

this might sound crazy.. but why are you installing grub / lilo at that stage ?

you've only just chrooted into you new system, have you got a kernel happening ?

what stage tarball did you extract ? or was it a complete backup of a previously perfect gentoo install ?
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DancesWithWords · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2003 2:45 am Post subject:

Well in was trying to install grub, because that is what is says to do in the install instructions. I'm using a complete backup of my old system. If there is another way I should be doing this, please let me know.[/quote]

BillyD · Guru Joined: 05 May 2002 Posts: 323 Location: Australia

Heya DancesWithWords,

Installing with a raid controller has proven to be very problematic for many people - it is not impossible but takes a bit of jumping through hoops.

There are many threads on the forum regarding the issues you have encounterd - please do a search for highpoint promise raid onboard - something like that, you will get doznes of hits. Once you take a read through all of that material (I believe there are a couple of user written howto's included), have another go at installing with your install guide plus the knowledge you get from the forums.

If you still can't get it up and running after all that, then post detailed information of your problem (including /etc/fstab, error messages, grub/lilo configuration files, and anything else you think maybe relelvant) and I am sure you will get some advice. Please be aware that there are particular options you MUST enable in your kernel to get raid working - that is all covered in both the install guide and within the threads on this forum.

Good Luck
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DancesWithWords · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2003 11:47 am Post subject:

Thanks for the advice. I have in fact read all threads with various search critiria, but have not yet found a solution for my specific problem. I've used both the Gentoo Forum and Google for searching. I'm sure there is a solution out there I've just got to find it.

Continuing to look....

BillyD · Guru Joined: 05 May 2002 Posts: 323 Location: Australia

I am not sure about the 1.4 rc2 cd, but I know that with the rc1 cd there was a problem with it detecting raid controllers - the solution involved using a 1.2 cd then downloading the 1.4 stage that you want to install. I think that may help you out.
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taskara · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2003 11:23 pm Post subject:

I don't have raid active atm, but the 1.4_rc2 cd did seem to be able to detect raid array automatically on bootup
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DancesWithWords · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2003 2:43 am Post subject:

just to review what we have covered. from what I've posted so far is it not clear that that when using 1.4_rc1 that my raid is working as long as i...
insmod ataraid
insmod hptraid

cause from this point on i can see my raid array, up to the point that i enter chroot... (see above). so if i'm missing something please let me know. though this may take some time i'm a patient person, i know that i will find the solution with the help of this group.

Thanks for all the comments so far.

BillyD · Guru Joined: 05 May 2002 Posts: 323 Location: Australia

Your best bet is to burn an image of a 1.2 cd - the process is a little different to the intall guide but not so much - it is not as "pretty"...

When it comes to getting the stage tarball, just use wget to grab the file you need, and from there follow the 1.4 install guide. Your next hurdle after that will be the bootloader - lilo seems to be the easiest to get up and going with - grub can be used but it (usually) takes a LOT more tweaking. There are at least a couple of threads on setting up grub to boot into a raid array.
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DancesWithWords · Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2003 1:38 am Post subject:

I'm not sure I understand why I would need to use 1.2 gentoo if 1.4_rc1 works. This issue occurs after chroot, so it that not an issue with my re-install of my back-up?

--
bruce