ReadMe.txt Driver File Contents (VIA_20APC-200_20APC-201_20APC-202.zip)

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               Copyright (c) 2002-2003 VIA Technologies Inc.             
                                                                         
             VIA RAID Linux Driver Software Package ReadMe.txt                                  
                                                                        
    This readme file is to provide the information of VIA RAID Linux Driver
    Package. VIA Technologies assumes no responsibility for any errors in
    this document and no part of this document may be reproduced, transmitted,
    or translated into any language,or in any form without the prior written 
    permission of VIA Technologies Incorporated.
  
              Package Version 1.00 / ReadMe Version 1.00                                                             
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  This RAID driver can now support 3 kind of VIA RAID Controllers, include 
VT6410,VT6420/8237, VT6421. It supports RAID type 0, 1, span, 0+1(needs 4 hard disk). 
  VIA VT6410 is a ATA RAID controller, supports up to four ATA hard disks.
  VIA VT6420/8237 is a SATA RAID controller.
  VIA VT6421 supports two SATA and two ATA hard disks.
  This "VIA RAID Linux Driver Package" is provided for drivers installations,
which are needed when using the above VIA RAID Controllers.


                             CONTENTS
     ============================================
 1)  System Requirements
 2)  Software Package Contents
 3)  Driver Installation
 4)  Install Operating System RedHat linux
 5)  Notes
     ============================================

 1) System Requirements

    You should have at least one VIA RAID controller.

    System BIOS must integrates VIA RAID BIOS if you want to install OS
    on RAID Controller.

    Supports up to four hard disk drives, which all support LBA address.

    Supports the following Operating Systems:
      Linux

 2) Software Package Contents 
 
    The decompressed software package includes the following files: 

 /Driver
    viapubraid.c  viamraid open source file
    viapubraid.h
    viaprvdef.h  
    viaprvmraid.o    viamraid library file
    viaprvraidm64.o  lib file for SuSE 64 bit
    Makefile      Makefile
    dd.sh        script to make RedHat driver disk
    patch.pl     patch script for Mandrake 9.2 driver disk.
    PACKAGES.PY    for RedHat 7.2 update disk only   
    driverdisk.txt A document about how do I install Linux onto the RAID

 ReadMe.txt      This file, provides information on this Linux Driver Package


 3)  Driver Installation
    
    =========================
    == Driver Installation ==
    =========================
 *Pre-Install
    The package include source code files, so we need to compile a driver 
  according to your kernel version.
    Before begin to compile, make sure that
      1. You have installed the kernel source package
      2. Kernel source default directory is /usr/src/linux, please check it.
         If your default kernel source directory is not /usr/src/linux, 
         create a link:
           # ln -s linux2.4 linux
      3. Assume you have unzip this package to a diretory /tmp/viamraid
 *Compile/Install
    1. compile the file, viamraid.o is the driver we need
        # cd /tmp/viamraid/driver
        # make
      
    2. Install the driver
        # make install
    
    3. To use the driver, type:
        #modprobe viamraid
       If there are no other SCSI cards on the system, /dev/sda, sdb ... are 
     our devices.

    4. To unuse the driver, type:
        #rmmod viamraid
    

 4)  Install Operating System RedHat

     To install RedHat Linux onto the RAID controller, we must have a driver 
   disk.
     1. Prepare a driver disk:
      The dd.sh is a shell script that help users to make driver disk easier
         # cd /tmp/viamraid/driver
         # chmod +x dd.sh
         # ./dd.sh
      Now dd.sh will create a driverdisk image file: driverdisk/viamraid.img 
       Insert a blank floppy disk and type
         # dd if=driverdisk/viamraid.img of=/dev/fd0
      Driverdisk is OK now.         

     2. Install OS:
         Boot from redhat install CD, when it prompt "boot:", type:
           linux dd 
         Or
           linux expert 
       * Patch for RedHat 7.2
         Because RedHat 7.2 need a update disk instead of driverdisk to install
         we need to type "linux dd updates" instead of "linux dd"                 

 5) Notes (TroubleShootings)
        1). After I compile the driver successfully, and run "make install",
         or try to install driver by "modprobe viamraid",module loading fails
         and show message like this: "your kernel is 2.4.19, but the module 
         is compiled for 2.4.19-athlon", why?
            Perhaps your CPU is Pentium 4, but you kernel source configured 
            CPU type as athlon, do the following
            #cd /usr/src/linux
            #make menuconfig  ;here change the "processor type" to be the same
            as your system, then recompile the driver.
        2). For SuSE64bit linux, please make sure that your CPU type is 64bit.
           So, its better to 
            #make nenuconfig
           to change the CPU type to X86_64bit before compile the driver.
Download Driver Pack

How To Update Drivers Manually

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.

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