Dell PERC 5 & PERC 6 Controller Device Driver for RHEL 4 (x86 & x86_64) RHEL 5 (x86 & x86_64) SLES 10 (x86_64) Driver Version : 00.00.03.16 TABLE OF CONTENTS ================= 1 Introduction 2 Compatibility / Minimum Requirements 3 Install Instructions 3.1 The package. 3.2 Installing the OS on a PERC controller. 3.3 Adding?Updating the PERC Driver to an Existing system. 4 Fixes or Enhancements in this Release 5 Important Information 6 Known issues 1 Introduction ============== This is the driver for following controllers: PERC 5 Adapters PERC 6 Adapters CERC 6 Adapters 2 Compatibility / Minimum Requirements ====================================== This Device Driver is compatible with RHEL 4 Update 5. This Device Driver is compatible with RHEL 5 Gold (5.0). This Device Driver is compatible with SLES 10 Gold. Minimum PERC 5 FW package version: 5.2.1-0066 Minimum PERC 6 FW package version: 6.0.1-0078 Minimum CERC 6 FW package version: 6.0.1-0078 3 Installation Instructions =========================== 3.1 The package. ---------------- The package is a compressed tar file. To extract the compressed file in the tar file, first, uncompress the file: "> gunzip " then, un-tar the files: "> tar -xvf " NOTE: The first step is not needed on SLES10 & RHEL5 systems. Files extension change when uncompressed (*.tgz->*.tar) The package should contain the following files: - dkms rpm (dkms.rpm) - driver rpm (megaraid.rpm) - release notes (*.txt) - source code (megaraidsrc.tgz) - driver update disk (DUD) image for the different OSes (*.img) Preparation of the DUD image. Transfer the image to the floppy: Use "> dd if= of=/dev/fd0" On most systems, the floppy drive is designated by the /dev/fd0 special file. It is recommended that the dd command is executed before the floppy is mounted. 3.2 Installing the OS on a PERC controller. ------------------------------------------ -- Installing the driver on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system -- Perform the following steps to install RHEL (versions 4 and 5) using the DUD: 1 Boot normally to the RHEL installation media. 2 At the command prompt, type: > Linux expert dd 3 When the install prompts for a driver diskette, insert the driver update disk (DUD) prepared earlier and press . 4 Complete the installation as directed by the installation program. -- Installing the driver on a SuSE Enterprise Server system -- Perform the following steps to install SLES using the DUD: 1 Boot normally from the SLES installation media. 2 Select for the driver update disk on SLES 10 installations. 3 Select Installation from the menu. 4 Press to load the Linux kernel. 5 At the prompt insert the driver update disk and follow instructions. 6 Complete the installation as directed by the installation program. 3.3 Adding/Updating the PERC Driver to an Existing Linux system --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Install the DKMS rpm package if needed. Use this command "> rpm -ivh " NOTE: Use rpm -Uvh when updating an existing package. 2 Install the Driver package. Use this command "> rpm -ivh " 3 Verify the driver has been loaded with this system command: "> lsmod megaraid_sas" and this dkms commands: "> dkms status" The version shown in the output should match in both cases and with the version of the package. 4 Fixes or Enhancements in this Release ======================================= 1. Driver changes to avoid system hang during OS installation when Patrol Read is running on AMD platforms. 2. Installation script changes to support additional RHEL & SLES versions and updates or service packs. 3. Added precompiled binaries to support additional kernel modes. 4. IO management changes to meet Linux community requirements. 5. Fixed problem handling IO's to XFS file system with LUKS encryption on SLES10. 5 Important Information ======================= 5.1 Power state transition -------------------------- Note that system power state transitions are not validated on Dell platforms under the Linux Operating Systems. If attempted, the system might hang and/or panic resulting in data loss. 5.2 DKMS AUTOINSTALL -------------------- DKMS AUTOINSTALL option should always be disabled in the DKMS configuration file for driver installation. 6 Known issues ============== Installation problems on SATA I drives: PERC Controller require a minimum of SATA II drives. SATA I drives are not supported. Use only SAS or SATA II drives supported by your Dell system. If installing SLES10 using the native driver, on a system where a PERC5 or a PERC6 controller is the boot controller, please set the write policy of the VD or VDs used for the installation to "write-through". The VD write policy can be reset after the installation completes. Some systems (i.e.: r805v) have shown problems executing the installation on a write-back VD; the file system becomes read-only and the installation cannot complete. When installing RHEL 4.5 use the native driver for installation and update with the rpm after installation completes.