Re: XFS + LVM + Software RAID5 on Debian testing

[Charles Steinkuehler <charles@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Steve Wray wrote:

> On Monday 28 June 2004 23:46, Charles Steinkuehler wrote:
> > Steve Wray wrote:
> > >> Does anyone know if the combination of LVM2 and software RAID5 on
> > >> top of SATA works reliably outside of any filesystem issues?
> > >
> > > We are running a debian woody box, with some things from backports;
> > > its got 2.6.6 kernel, LVM2, sata, software raid 5 and many of its
> > > filesystems are XFS.
> > >
> > > We've been seeing lots of problems on the XFS partitions, but
> > > touching /forcefsck and watching a reboot reveals that there are
> > > frequently problems with other filesystems; / frequently has issues
> > > and its ext2 on /dev/hda1 which is a PATA device.
> > >
> > > XFS certainly complains a lot louder than the other filesystems do
> > > when it has problems, but I don't believe that its an XFS specific
> > > problem.
> >
> > What SATA controller are you running?  I think I've traced my
> > problems to the Silicon Image 3112 controller.  There are known
> > problems with this chip which look like they have been fixed, but
> > only if you apply all of the latest patches (latest from 6/22:
> > http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-ide&m=108793699914304&w=2 )
>
> > From dmesg;
> ICH5-SATA: IDE controller at PCI slot 0000:00:1f.2
> ICH5-SATA: chipset revision 2
> ICH5-SATA: 100% native mode on irq 11
>
> > From lspci;
> 0000:00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801EB (ICH5) Serial ATA 150 
> Storage Controller (rev 02)
>
> I didn't build the box and the guy who did isn't around so that will 
> have to do for now
> :)

According to the latest SATA on linux status report:
http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-ide&m=108422797301151&w=2

It looks like the ICH5 should work.  I've only played with the Silicon 
Image 3112 and a (just recieved) Promise TX4.

I have a buddy who's got an ICH system he's gotten RAID working on. It's 
an intel system, although I'm not sure if it's ICH5 or ICH6:
http://www.xtronics.com/reference/SATA-RAID-Debian.htm

You might also try using the libata drivers (makes the SATA drives look 
like SCSI /dev/sdX instead of IDE /dev/hdX).  They might be more (or 
less) stable...

--
Charles Steinkuehler
charles@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx