PC164LX + IDE-drive problem

["T. Weyergraf" <kirk@colinet.de>]

Hi all,

i'm attempting to run one of my LX-en on an IDE-drive based woody 
installation. The install goes without problems using the stock 2.2.x
install-kernel.
I intend to use the System as a bridging firewall and therefore need
kernel 2.4.19, plus some patches.
I first attemted to get the machine running on a stock 2.4.19
kernel, prior to patching the kernel. When I boot off the
kernel, I get strange IDE-drive errors, starting with 
"hda: lost interrupt"
up to even losing complete filesystems due to ecessive inode-errors
in the fsck-pass ( yes, the install is fresh, and no, no data needed to
be backup'ed  - lucky me ;-)

I've tried all sorts of configuration options in the IDE-layer of the
2.4.19 kernel, but since I'm *definitely* not an IDE expert ( usually
SCSI-only shop here ), I assume:
1. wrong kernel config
2. fauly drive/cable

If someone runs a PC164LX off an IDE-drive, preferably with the
same kernel-release, i'd be happy to see the .config-portion of
the IDE-layer. Just to make sure, I'm not chasing a dead drive with
proper config or vice-versa.
The relevant hardware config is:
primary master ( channel 0 ): ide harddrive. some old IBM DJNA 
   9 gig drive
secondary master ( channel 1 ) IDE-cdrom drive

cable-lenght issues within the 19" rack-case force me to hook the
drives on two seperate cables.

Since this is going to be a firewall, I'm not looking at optimum
drive performance, but rather after stability. Furthermore, I assume
the drive is capable of UDMA/33 mode at best ( again, something I
really don't care about much ). If some one could suggest the
optimal hdparm settings, i'd be happy the hear them. If the driver's
defaults are OK, fine.

Again, i currently cannot rule out a hardware problem due to the
lack of spare testing cables/drives. I just want to make sure, I 
didn't do any stupid config-mistake, before I run out getting a
new cable/drive.

Thanks in advance & regards
T. Weyergraf




-- 
Thomas Weyergraf                                                kirk@colinet.de
My Favorite IA64 Opcode-guess ( see arch/ia64/lib/memset.S )
"br.ret.spnt.few" - got back from getting beer, did not spend a lot.