kernel recognizing large (> 2.1 TB) block devices ?

Randall A. Jones rajones at svsmail.gsfc.nasa.gov
Wed Jan 5 13:48:47 UTC 2005


If standard SCSI is the limitation, do you know if fiber channel has this 
limitation?  If I switch to a fiber channel connection between the RAID 
and PC, and considering the kernel LBD support, should that allow larger 
volumes to be recognized properly?

Thanks,
Randall
-- 


> Message: 11
> Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 21:29:36 -0500
> From: Peter Arremann <loony at loonybin.org>
> Subject: Re: kernel recognizing large (> 2.1 TB) block devices ?
> To: For users of Fedora Core releases <fedora-list at redhat.com>
> Message-ID: <200501042129.36763.loony at loonybin.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain;  charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> On Tuesday 04 January 2005 21:14, Randall A. Jones wrote:
> > I have a 4.8TB RAID device attached to a FC3 system via SCSI.
> > The system recognizes a RAID LUN volume of 2.1TB or less without any
> > problem.  When I configure the RAID as a full 4.8TB LUN, the kernel
> > fails to recognize its actual size and gives the following message on
> > boot and initialization of the aic7xxx driver:
> > --
> > scsi1 : Adaptec AIC7XXX EISA/VLB/PCI SCSI HBA DRIVER, Rev 6.2.36
> >         <Adaptec 3960D Ultra160 SCSI adapter>
> >         aic7899: Ultra160 Wide Channel A, SCSI Id=7, 32/253 SCBs
> >
> > scsi1:A:4:0: DV failed to configure device.  Please file a bug report
> > against th
> > is driver.
> > (scsi1:A:4): 80.000MB/s transfers (40.000MHz, offset 24, 16bit)
> >   Vendor: NEXSAN    Model: ATAboy(C0A82A0F)  Rev: 4032
> >   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 04
> > scsi1:A:4:0: Tagged Queuing enabled.  Depth 4
> > sdc : very big device. try to use READ CAPACITY(16).
> > sdc : READ CAPACITY(16) failed.
> > sdc : status=0, message=00, host=5, driver=00
> > sdc : use 0xffffffff as device size
> > SCSI device sdc: 4294967296 512-byte hdwr sectors (2199023 MB)
> > SCSI device sdc: drive cache: write back
> > --
> >
> > Then the reported size of the drive is truncated to 2.1TB, see above.
> >
> > The system is a dual processor 3.0GHz Xeon server running kernel
> > 2.6.9-1.681_FC3smp.
> > The system is a stock FC3 install with updates.
> >
> >
> > In the kernel source, the config file, kernel-2.6.9-i686-smp.config,
> > shows that LBD is in fact enabled.
> > CONFIG_LBD=y
> >
> >
> > Are there any other settings to enable the kernel to properly
> > recognize a large block device?
> >
> > Any ideas or suggestions of things to try or check?
> 
> I doubt you will have any luck - standard scsi in itsself has a limit of 2TB 
> (32bit block adressing with 512 byte blocks). LSI (others have followed 
> since) has new enhancements 
> (http://www.infortrend.com/%5CNews%5C20041006%5Cf_64Bit_LBA.htm) but I know 
> of no storage devices that currently implement that since it is not an 
> official standard and seems to have some other problems.... 
> 
> Your RAID should not allow you that or at least warn you if it supports the 
> extension (what model is it?) but I know for sure that the adaptec 7xxx chips 
> don't. You can try a LSI controller and see what happens or you can create 
> multiple luns and then raid0 them - that should work for you snce you got 
> LBD...
> 
> Peter.
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 12
> Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 20:37:23 -0600
> From: Jeff Vian <jvian10 at charter.net>
> Subject: Re: Mobo Compatability
> To: For users of Fedora Core releases <fedora-list at redhat.com>
> Message-ID: <1104892643.16701.23.camel at goliath.lab.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> On Tue, 2005-01-04 at 03:52 +0000, Michael A. Peters wrote:
> > On 01/03/2005 05:44:11 PM, Felix Miata wrote:
> > 
> > > http://www.mozillaquest.com/Linux04/Asus_Sucks_Story-01.html
> > 
> > I've never had any problems whatsover with Asus boards and Linux.
> > Talk is cheap.
> > 
> > Maybe they did have legitimate issues, but I'm guessing Asus is using a  
> > chipset they licensed, and they may not be able to open up certain  
> > things to Linux developers because of an NDA.
> > 
> > For example, my current motherboard is an A7N8X Deluxe - it uses an  
> > nForce 2 chipset from nVidia - which is where any support from Linux  
> > should come from.
> > 
> > When the IEEE 1394 didn't work (RH8 days) I didn't expect Asus to fix  
> > it, I expected either OSS or nVidia to fix it. OSS did.
> > 
> > When the onboard 3Com nic didn't work - I didn't blame Asus, I  
> > downloaded the 2 line kernel patch that made it work. When the nVidia  
> > network adapter didn't work, I had the option of using a closed source  
> > driver from nvidia. Instead I chose to not use that adapter.
> > 
> > Nothing on that board that I had issues with were anything I expected  
> > Asus to provide fixes for - they either already had fixes in the AC  
> > tree of the kernel at the time I bought the board (or very soon after  
> > for ide controller) or they were an nVidia issue (like the network card  
> > and only working well with nvidia AGP cards) and not something Asus was  
> > to blame for.
> > 
> > Sorry - but articles like that get under my skin, they do nothing to  
> > help LOTD and are imho just FUD about a vendor that sells hardware  
> > mostly with licensed chipsets that _do_ in fact work very well in  
> > Linux.
> > 
> > Sometimes when people can't get something to work, they start the "Bad  
> > Vendor" thing - and that doesn't help anyone out. Very often the  
> > solution is as simple as trying a kernel from a testing branch - and  
> > the alan cox branch in my experience is the best one to try first for  
> > new hardware support, if it isn't already in a pre kernel.
> > 
> > 
> While I agree with your theory that it usually is easy to find a
> workaround for hardware issues, the basic thrust of the story referenced
> was the horrible customer support.
> 
> Even a company that produces the best product can be killed by failure
> to pay attention to customer support. 
> 
> I personally may chose (and have done so) a supplier with a slightly
> inferior product if their customer support is outstanding, and I wager
> many others view it the same.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 13
> Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 20:39:28 -0500
> From: William Lovaton <walovaton at yahoo.com.mx>
> Subject: Re: yum error in FC3
> To: fedora-list at redhat.com
> Message-ID: <1104889168.3250.11.camel at athlon2000>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> There is no typo in the config files... they used to work OK and I never
> touched them.  I have 3 Fedora Core 3 boxes in my workplace and all of
> them have the very same problem.  One is a high end production web
> server and the other two are workstations, one is mine and the other one
> is from a coworker who wanted to try linux as his main OS. (BTW, I
> checked his yum problem through vncviewer with Gnome 2.8 Remote
> Desktop...  Cool!!!).
> 
> Now, in a yum mailing list I saw that it was due to a router problem
> that might be blocking or closing the connection, so it seems not
> everybody sees the problem.
> 
> At home yum works very well (FC3 box too) but there are lots of pending
> updates because I have a dial up line  :-(
> 
> Thanx for the answer and I hope you can help me.
> 
> 
> -William
> 
> 
> El mar, 04-01-2005 a las 11:48 -0800, Kam Leo escribió:
> > On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 13:09:09 -0600 (CST), William Lovaton
> > <walovaton at yahoo.com.mx> wrote:
> > > I have yum-2.1.11-3
> > > 
> > > Everything have been updated through yum.  And except
> > > from mp3 and video support from freshrpms.  Everything
> > > is 100% fedora.
> > > 
> > > I think there haven't been any yum update since the
> > > final release of Fedora Core 3.
> > > 
> > > -William
> > > 
> > 
> > Check yum.conf and the repo files in /etc/yum.repos.d/.  You'll
> > probably find a typo or the wrong release referenced for one of the
> > repos.
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 14
> Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 21:45:30 -0500
> From: Marc M <linuxr at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: linux isps
> To: "S. Bandyopadhyay" <sbandy at umd.edu>,	For users of Fedora Core
> 	releases <fedora-list at redhat.com>
> Message-ID: <b60a966f05010418451b99a907 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> 
> On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 21:24:22 -0500 (EST), S. Bandyopadhyay
> <sbandy at umd.edu> wrote:
> > On 8:48pm Jan 4, 2005, Marc M wrote
> > 
> > [snip]
> > 
> > >
> > >   PS If anyone has gotten netzero service over linux, I would be
> > >   interested in hearing about it on or offlist. I didn't see a
> > >   workaround with them.
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > not that i would ever use netzero (seriously!), but their
> > website says they support Linspire (wtf?!?). it seems they
> > distribute some sort of a .deb file.
> > 
> > so they have support for linux. it's just that they support
> > the wrong distribution. perhaps people should write to them
> > and ask them to support a better distribution.
> > 
> > btw- i used Netzero (on windows) once when they had those
> > free, ad-supported dialups and i was traveling. it was
> > terrible.
> > --
> > fedora-list mailing list
> > fedora-list at redhat.com
> > To unsubscribe: http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list
> 
> 
> Oh, I am sure it is too. I have seen it in action in the early days -
> getting kicked offline constantly, unable to connect etc etc.  As far
> as Linspire goes, I haven't used it, but I am not interested.  However
> if they support a .deb file then I would think that that means greater
> support for other .deb type distros- knoppix, regular debian, mepis to
>  name a few.  I guess the question comes down to - 'how much work are
> you willing to do ?'  Maybe a lot , maybe not much.
> 
> Hey, someone needs to create a 'ubiquitous connecting app' -- one that
> would allow ANY USER to connect a Linux box, to ANY isp.  It could
> have a GUI that allows you to pick your isp if it is one of the big
> ones, otherwise give servernames and/or ip addresses to connect.  The
> app could fool the isp into thinking that it is the isp's software. 
> It could contain a bunch of *very similar* code, to what the isp's
> themselves use.  This is along the same lines as my earlier post
> today, about spoofing stupid websites into thinking that your browser
> is whatever they require.  THAT might help the Linux movement as well.
>  [Of course, someone is probably already doing _that_ one as well....]
> <sigh>
> 
> 
> Marc
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 15
> Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 18:44:53 -0800
> From: William Hewitt <wphewitt at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: Re: new menu
> To: fedora-list at redhat.com
> Message-ID: <1104893094.4059.6.camel at blowfish.hewnix.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> sly wrote:
> > > is it possible to create my own menu (like the main menu)? i have 
> > > created a drawer, have put in few applications, and for each of the a 
> > > particular icon. now i'm trying to add names next to the icons (just 
> > > like the main menu).
> > > any suggestions will be very appreciated!
> > 
> > i guess it's not possible! :(
> > - gnome menu editing has been disabled
> > - nautilus applications:/// fails w/ "read-only disk"
> > 	btw, where is applications:/// located?
> 
> 
> 
> the "Desktop" XML files are in /usr/share/applications (along with some
> other places).........
> the "menu" files are in /etc/xdg/menus.....look there for paths where
> the "Desktop" XML files are stored...
> 
> Look at these files and you should be able to "roll your own".....
> 
> WPH
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 16
> Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 20:47:01 -0600
> From: Jeff Vian <jvian10 at charter.net>
> Subject: Re: linux isps
> To: "S. Bandyopadhyay" <sbandy at umd.edu>,	For users of Fedora Core
> 	releases <fedora-list at redhat.com>
> Message-ID: <1104893222.16701.30.camel at goliath.lab.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> On Tue, 2005-01-04 at 21:24 -0500, S. Bandyopadhyay wrote:
> > On 8:48pm Jan 4, 2005, Marc M wrote
> > 
> > [snip]
> > 
> > >   
> > >   PS If anyone has gotten netzero service over linux, I would be
> > >   interested in hearing about it on or offlist. I didn't see a
> > >   workaround with them.
> > >   
> > >   
> > 
> > not that i would ever use netzero (seriously!), but their
> > website says they support Linspire (wtf?!?). it seems they
> > distribute some sort of a .deb file. 
> > 
> > so they have support for linux. it's just that they support
> > the wrong distribution. perhaps people should write to them
> > and ask them to support a better distribution. 
> > 
> > btw- i used Netzero (on windows) once when they had those
> > free, ad-supported dialups and i was traveling. it was
> > terrible. 
> > 
> 
> LOL.
> Linspire (IIRC) is the version used on the machines sold at Sams Club
> and Walmart (both online) and at Fry's,  all for under $300
> 
> It is not likely a mainstream version, and thus they have a specific
> targeted "luser" base that does not know how to get anything better.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> --
> fedora-list mailing list
> fedora-list at redhat.com
> http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list
> 
> End of fedora-list Digest, Vol 11, Issue 53
> *******************************************
> 

..:.::::
Randall Jones     GST      NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
NCCS/HPC Visualization Support  http://hpcvis.gsfc.nasa.gov
Scientific Visualization Studio    http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov
Randall.A.Jones at gsfc.nasa.gov     Code 933     301-286-2239





More information about the users mailing list