highpiont-464 works with FC2

[Frank DiPrete]

Hello all,

If you're interested in an inexpensive IDE Hardware raid solution I got
the Highpoint 464 working on FC2 (kernel 2.6.5-1.358)

The install procedure:

1) dl the open source driver from their website (nice that they have
one)

2) compile for at least 2 kernel version. The FC2 install uses the
2.6.5-1.358 i586 kernel, and after install 2.6.5-1.358 i686 (mine is
2.6.5-1.358smp i686)

	For this either use an existing FC2 system or install FC2 using the HP
controller without any raid setup - FC2 sees it as a plain 'ol IDE
controller. This method takes longer as there are 2 installs.

	see many other docs dor instructions on setting up the kernel source
config for the versions required.

	see the docs in the code for compile instructions.

3) copy both compiles versions to a floppy

4) reboot and set up array in bios (I used 4x120G drives in a raid 5
array), set which device is the boot device (docs for card are good in
this respect)

5) start the install with linux hde=noprob ..(to)... hdl=noprobe so the
install won't load the IDE driver and see the disks as singles.

6) During FC2 install, it will complain that it can't find and disks -
switch to another console Ctrl-Alt-F2

7) at the command prompt, mount the floppy then insmod ./hpt373.ko
(compiled for the install kernel version) - check dmesg for the load
and /dev/sda. The array will be added as a scsi disk.

8) Go back to the install console - partition with disk druid (it was
nice to see a big fat 360G disk!)

9) Install OS - but do not reboot - just before reboot switch to 2nd
console

10) cp the module compiled for the target kernel (in my case 2.6.5.1-358
i686) from the floppy to /lib/modules/(version)/kernel/drivers/scsi

11) chroot /mnt/sysimage (makes life easier)

12) add the module to /etc/modprobe.conf line = alias scsi_hostadapter
hpt374

13) build system map for booting

/sbin/depmod -ae -F /boot/System.map-2.6.5-1.358 2.6.5-1.358 (in my
case, smp version but I did both j.i.c)

14) build initrd for booting

/sbin mkinitrd -v -f /boot/initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img
(again in my case smp)

15) exit console, return to first, click reboot. That's it - the system
boots off the raid controller and array.

16) remove toothpicks holding up eyelids, sleep.

I paid $169 for the card and $62 each for the drives.
A big fat 360G raid 5 storage array for the house - priceless.