ALi m5281/m5283 RAID Linux Driver
For SuSE 32bit Linux 9.0
Version 1.00 [16/03/2004]
[INTRODUCTION]
1.1 Foreword
This procedure applies to ALi m5281/m5283/m5287/m5289 adapters running
under the SuSE Linux operating systems.
Do NOT use this procedure for other versions of Linux.
1.2 Prepare a Driver Diskette
You will use a diskette to load the new Linux driver onto your PC.
1) Obtain a new, formatted diskette and label it "ALi m5281/m5283 RAID Driver Disk."
Insert it into your PC's floppy drive.
2) Extract the contents of the driver file you downloaded from the
Promise website onto your floppy disk. Use either WinZIP in Windows or
Unzip in Linux to extract the files.
[INSTALLATION]
2.1 To install the ALi m5281/m5283/m5287/m5289 RAID Driver into an EXISTING SYSTEM:
1) Boot linux system and login as root.
2) Insert ALi m5281/m5283/m5287/m5289 RAID Driver Diskette
Issue command to load new driver at the # command prompt:
# mount /dev/fd0 /floppy
# cd /floppy
# sh install (Answer Yes/No when inquire setup configuration)
You can answer Yes to load ALI RAID driver when linux booting everytime.
# cd /
# umount /floppy
NOTE: Due to the Linux kernel misidentifying the ALI RAID card, all IDE
channels except onboard IDE are disabled. To enable the other IDE channels,
remove the line "ide2=0 ide3=0 ide4=0 ide5=0 ide6=0 ide7=0 ide8=0 ide9=0"
in /etc/lilo.conf or /boot/grub/menu.conf.
3) Reboot linux system.
2.2 To install the ALi m5281/m5283/m5287/m5289 RAID Driver into a NEW SYSTEM:
1) Start the SuSE installation by booting from SuSE Linux CD1.
2) When CD boots, press F3 for Driver Disk and select
"Installation" option (see Note 3.1 below).
3) contiune with step2, and type parameters (see Note 3.2 below,for m5281/m5283 only)
in the field.
4) Insert the ALi m5281/m5283/m5287/m5289 RAID Driver Disk when it displays
"Please insert the Driver Update floppy".
5) When Diver Update Menu pop-up, press "OK" and "back" for back to
installer.
6) Continue with the installation as normal.
[NOTE]
3.1) There is a SMP issue on SuSE Linux SMP kernel. If you got problems
on SuSE with SMP system. It is recommended to append "acpi=off"
parameters into boot loader or select "Installation -ACPI Disabled"
on SuSE linux SMP.
3.2) Linux Kernels 2.4.x misidentify ALi ATA-RAID controllers as
simple IDE controllers. This results in the built-in Linux IDE
driver trying to handle the controller and can prevent the proper
ALi ATA RAID driver from loading.
Follow the installation instructions AND the parameter commands
referred to below section. This status we called "IDE issue".
"ide0=0x1f0,0x3f6,14 ide1=0x170,0x376,15 ide2=0 ide3=0 ide4=0
ide5=0 ide6=0 ide7=0 ide8=0 ide9=0"
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.