[ale] Mixing SATA and IDE?

[Dow Hurst]

Hey thanks Chris! So the 370 would come with that while the 360 
wouldn't.  Oh well.  I did notice that between two different 360n 
machines, ordered at the same time but with slightly different CPUs, 
yielded DVD writers and hard drives from different manufacturers.   I 
will tell you that you will probably need to apply some firmware updates 
to the DVD writers.  The updates are under the Windows updates instead 
of RHEL3 for the 360n versions.  The updates from RHN break the alsa 
dkms rpms so you have to go thru an update for that too.  Then, the 
updated alsa module startup is broken so you will have to modify 
/etc/modules.conf and the alsa /etc/init.d files.  If you capture a 
snapshot of the machine before you update the dell rpm then you'll see 
how to load the alsa sound modules correctly.  I've lost that info so am 
having a co-worker with a similar machine, that I know probably hasn't 
done the update, send me a listing of /etc/init.d and a copy of 
/etc/modules.conf.  I love the Dell Precision workstations for the 
quality and quietness.  They don't seem to get dirty inside the case due 
to the low volume tuned airflow.  Of course, I am doing mainly graphical 
modelling so don't strain the CPU as much as a compute server does.  
I've noticed when I did run a compute job that the noise level increased 
and the heat output increased significantly.  I will say that Dell ought 
to be able to get their dkms rpm update post install scripts right.  For 
those wondering, the dkms stuff is something Dell created to provide the 
nvidia, alsa, ieee, xcdroast, and other software in rpm format that 
supports their specific hardware so kernel updates won't break on 
reboot.  The dkms scripts are run at boot to check for a new kernel, 
recompile the source for all this software, install the modules, and 
update any scripts as needed.  It works together with RHN up2date so 
supposedly you won't have to worry with this kind of stuff.  
Unfortunately, if Redhat or Dell blow it on the updating then your hosed 
and have to beat on the machine.  I've had both situations bite me.  
Works great when it works!

Back to the original subject, I just hadn't heard anyone mixing SATA and 
IDE so wanted some feedback on compatibility.  I thought it ought to be 
mixable.  SCSI and IDE have lived together for a long time.
Dow


Chris Coleman wrote:

>Dow,
>
>I'm ordering a Dell 370 with a 40g IDE and two 250G SATA disks with RH WS 3
>installed. So I'm assuming it should work.
>
>Chris
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of
>Dow_Hurst
>Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 4:17 PM
>To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
>Subject: Re: [ale] Mixing SATA and IDE?
>
>That doesn't work since there is no module to mount the drive.  I have to
>provide that.  I just wondered if mixing SATA and IDE was not going to work.
>Dell wouldn't sell a mixed machine so when it didn't have the module needed
>then I wondered.  Just checking before I go to the trouble.
>Dow
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jonathan Glass <jonathan.glass at ibb.gatech.edu>
>Sent: Sep 23, 2004 4:20 PM
>To: Dow_Hurst <Dow.Hurst at mindspring.com>, 
>	Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
>Subject: Re: [ale] Mixing SATA and IDE?
>
>Quoting Dow_Hurst <dhurst at mindspring.com>:
>
>  
>
>>Is there any reason I can't use an IDE drive in a machine with a SATA
>>    
>>
>drive
>  
>
>>at the same time?  Dell 360n w/RHEL3 Wkstn has a SATA root drive and I
>>    
>>
>want
>  
>
>>to add an IDE drive.  There aren't modules available to mount the drive. 
>>Only the SATA scsi module is available.  How would I go about getting this
>>working?  Recompile the kernel and modules to support both SATA and IDE? 
>>Haven't done this in a long time so am going to have to review.  Thanks,
>>Dow
>>
>>    
>>
>
>Just plug in the IDE drive, and the kernel will see it?  That's what I have 
>running on my Dell Precision 340.
>
>Thanks
>  
>