Re: a question about scsi installs

["James R. Van Zandt" <jrv@vanzandt.mv.com>]

Daryl Williams <daryl.williams@sharewave.com> writes:

>i would like to install debian on a dell poweredge 4300 with a PERC/2
>SC raid scsi controller from AMI.
...
>there is a driver available from the manufacturer of
>this card, however it does not appear to be on any debian
>installation media or software.
>
>is there support planned for this card during installation in
>the future, or is there some way currently, to bootstrap to a
>point where i can install the driver?  tips, suggestions, rtfms
>with a pointer to the fm are all welcome. your help would be
>greately appreciated.

I suggest this procedure:

1.  Make a Debian installation floppy by writing resc1440.bin to it.

2.  On some working Linux system with 2.0.x kernel sources, configure
    and build a kernel that includes the drivers for your SCSI adapter
    and your other hardware.
	      cd /usr/src/linux
	      make config
	      make bzImage

3.  Mount the above installation floppy (it has an ordinary DOS
    filesystem on it) and copy the above kernel image to it:
	       mount /dev/fd0 /mnt
	       cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /mnt/linux
	       umount /mnt

4.  You may not be able to use any of the modules on the modules
    floppy, but if you included all the necessary drivers as suggested
    above, you should not need them.

Good luck!
		- Jim Van Zandt