From: Rasmus Plewe (rplewe_at_suse.de)
Date: Thu Jul 12 2007 - 06:22:16 CEST
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:22:16 +0200 From: Rasmus Plewe <rplewe@suse.de> Message-ID: <20070712042216.GB29913@coredump.suse.de> Subject: Re: [suse-sles-e] Is there a 3ware 9650 driver in SLES10 x86-64 SP1?
Hello,
KMPs are Kernel Module Packages. That's a process that allows you (the
HW vendor) to build kernel modules that don't shoot your customer in the
foot in case of a kernel update. If you register your KMP with Novell,
you will get notified of relevant kernel changes so that you can rebuild
your KMP in advance. If your customers register an update channel for
this KMP, the kernel module will be updated simultaneously with your
kernel, making sure that you don't e.g. lose access to your storage
because of the update. A detailed explanation of the process can be
found at: http://en.opensuse.org/Kernel_Module_Packages
It seems that 3web is not using this process, at least the contents of
their driver disk indicates that. That means that it's up to the user
(you) to make sure nothing breaks with a kernel update. Chances are
rather slim that you will run into trouble, as we're making a "really
very best effort" not to change the kernel ABI within the life of a
product version (other than between service packs). But we can't
guarantee it. So, yes, you have to be prepared to take the modules
actively into account when upgrading a kernel.
Regards,
Rasmus
-- Rasmus Plewe --- Linux Beta Test Coordinator SUSE LINUX Products GmbH, GF: Markus Rex, HRB 16746 (AG Nuernberg) Maxfeldstrasse 5, D-90409 Nuernberg On Wed, Jul 11, 2007 at 04:37:51PM -0600, Michael Folsom wrote: > Oophs!!!!!!! > > Just checked 3ware's web site and if you follow this link: > http://www.3ware.com/KB/article.aspx?id=14546 > > You will get a huge table - about half way down the page you will find > that modules are available for both SLES10 SP1 x86 and SLES10 SP1 > x86_64 running the 2.6.16.46-0.12 kernel. > > Now - since there is already a kernel upgrade for SP1 out there that > will take it to 2.6.16.46-0.14 I'm curious if the system will just > "reuse/recompile" that 3ware module and it will work for the > latest/greatest kernel as SLES10 SP1 continues to be patched/upgraded? > Or, will you need to be prepared to supply a new module with each > kernel upgrade. > > > Thanks - > > > Michael > > On 7/11/07, Michael Folsom <mwfolsom@gmail.com> wrote: > >Thanks - > > > >I've already done you're 3rd suggestion - ask 3ware to supply an updated > >driver. > > > >One more question - what's a kmp? (k = kernel m = module? p = ?) > >And, how does it prevent upgrade woes? > > > > > >Thanks - > > > > > >M- > > > > > >On 7/11/07, Rasmus Plewe <rplewe@suse.de> wrote: > >> On Tue, Jul 10, 2007 at 09:20:55PM -0600, Michael Folsom wrote: > >> > Just got a small sata raid in with 8 drives connected to a 3ware > >> > 9650SE controller on a Tyan h2000M (S3992) motherboard - system has 4 > >> > gb or ram and 2 dual core opterons. (nice little box!) > >> > > >> > Anyway, trouble is that the 64 bit versions of SLES10 SP1 does not > >> > recognize the controller. From 3ware's web site it says ---- > >> > > >> > "Linux 2.6.19 kernel or greater includes a driver for the 9650SE > >> > and 7000/8000/9500S/9550SX/9590SE series controllers" > >> > > >> > Now I had understood that one of the good things that came with SP1 > >> > was a back-port of the sata and scsi stuff from the 2.6.20 kernel into > >> > the SLES10 kernel. My question is - did they also include the > >> > drivers? > >> > > >> > Basically what happens is when I boot the system from the SP1 dvd the > >> > install process starts up and announces that it can't find any hard > >> > drives even though a +/- 2TB raid 5 exists. (I know it works because > >> > the company that built it put SLES10 x86-64 on it and it boots and > >> > runs fine! However, I hate the partitions they made!) > >> > > >> > Now the card did come with a driver disk that supports SLES10 x86-64 > >> > but importing kernel mods during an install of Suse is not fun > >> > (frankly it usually doesn't work for me) and it sets you up for > >> > problems if some well meaning soul ever does a upgrade of the system. > >> > Also, I'm not sure if that module will even work with SP1 - which > >> > could make patching wonderful! > >> > > >> > Does anybody have any clue how I can find out if the driver for the > >> > 9650SE card is included in SP1? > >> > >> I suppose the driver disk supporting SLES10 contains a KMP. In that > >> case, booting from a SLES10 medium and chosing to include an Add On CD > >> should work just fine (a KMP prevents you from trouble in case of > >> updates, too). However, mixing a SLES10 KMP with a SLES10 SP1 > >> installation might not work, in that case you would need to ask the > >> vendor (3ware) for an updated driver disk. > >> > >> We did include/backport some externals drivers into SP1 that were > >> shipped as KMPs with SLES10 - they can be recognized by things suddenly > >> working without an external driver disk. This seems not to be the case > >> in your case. > >> > >> I would recommend to try the following in the following order: > >> - update the (apparently) existing SLES10 system using the online > >> updating method. > >> - install SP1 using the SLES10 Add On CD > >> - ask 3ware to supply an updated driver disk. > >> > >> > >> Regards, > >> Rasmus --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-sles-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-sles-e-help@suse.com
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