SATA for Solaris
Hi,
I've been trying to install Solaris 10 or the developer express for half a year, but it keeps lacking a driver for my "82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller AHCI" device. In fact, drivers for the whole ICH7 storage controller family are missing. Has anyone got an idea when such a driver will be provided? Or is it already provided, but in an OpenSolaris community release?
Thank you for help.
P.S.: And thx for helpful comments like that, but I don't have the option "P-Ata compatibility" in my BIOS.
# 1
I have the same problem. However it was my fault that I neglected to test the hardware before selecting/buying it ("Install_check_tool"). OpenSolaris as yet does not support this disc controller. I have checked Belenix distro. However there is some sort of weird and uncomfortable solution:
1. You can connect USB disc and install Solaris there.
2. If booting from this USB is impossible, You can boot OpenSolaris from live CD/DVD and work using Solaris slices located on this disc.
I will be very obliged for information on success/failure of the approach no. 1.
# 2
I tried already with an external USB drive.
On my laptop, the installation worked, but the OS didn't boot. Not even the GRUB loaded properly. I have a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pi 1505.
After that, I tried to connect the thing to another laptop. The GRUB loaded this time but the OS didn't boot after I had hit the enter key to boot. That was on a Fujitsu Siemens S series, I don't know exactly which one. It is a rather old one, though.
If you want to visit an old thread where this was discussed more lengthy, try
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5131664
I can also send you some links on the topic if you want to.
Message was edited by:
calmanFischer
Oh sorry. I noticed too late you were the one who started the topic "USB boot & contemporary SATA drives". I think the people with SATA problems must try to make some noise about it. Perhaps it helps.
# 3
Hi Calman,
I observed the same symptoms as I am also semi-happy user of FSC Amilo Pi 1505. I suspect that GRUB fails booting from external USB disc, as BIOS (I have upgraded to most current version) is not able to see regular USB disc . I have made an experiment with mini-Linux on the pendrive plugging it into USB socket. It starts without problems. However this small fellow is booted by Syslinux - not GRUB. Ms Sophia Li from SUN showed some interest in this problem. After description of this small experiment she lost the interest with the comment that GRUB is guilty.
My friend with different SATA based notebook told me that he encountered almost no installation problems. I must check the details.
# 4
Hi Calman,
I have checked the notebook of my friend with Solaris10 installed. It uses (the notebook, not my friend) the same chipset for SATA disc as FSC Amilo Pi1505, namely 82801GBM/GHM from ICH7 family. I have run Sun's Install_check_tool program on the notebook of my friend and I have been really surprised that in this case the diag message was: there is Sun's driver. I suspect that this difference may result (?) from differences in BIOS. However I have already mentioned that I have upgraded Amilo's BIOS to most actual 1.10C version. My friends BIOS has date stamp as old as June 2006.
What do You think of it? I am afraid that contact with FSC cannot lead to any positive changes. I have tried it with the result: "We support the only right OS. No further comments!".
Looking to hear from You soon
# 5
Now that's really interesting.
Now a bulk of questions:
1) Are you sure your friend's laptop doesn't have the P-ATA compatibility mode on?
2) Can you check out which BIOS the laptop uses?
3) What does FSC mean by "supporting the only right OS?
You said you updated your BIOS to 1.10C . I think this version is not the most up-to-date version, check out http://support.fujitsu-siemens.com/com/support/linkapplication.html?LNG=EN& ID=3533
But don't bother yourself with flashing the new BIOS, in the release notes it only says:
_
current BIOS V. 1.13C:
Solved problems:
- Correct T2080 CPU battery mode behavior.(CPU working clock from 800~Max).
Known errors, problems and restrictions:
- none
Additional Information:
- Update MicroCode for Intel Core Duo T2080 T2060.
__
predecessor BIOS V 1.10C:
Solved problems:
- none
Known errors, problems and restrictions:
- none
Additional information:
- Support for Intel Core Duo T2060 processor.
- Support for Microsoft Vista
_ This is the initial BIOS
_
I myself contacted the Sun Support Center to whine a bit about my problem, but only got the answer to call a hotline.
_
You will need to contact Sun Austria for further information regarding support
alternatives at +43-1-60563-0.
Regards, ....
_
verywell.
Seems our problem is the BIOS now.
Cheers
# 6
Hi Calman,
The friend's notebook is S96 barebone type manufactured by Asus and approved (?) by Intel. There is installed Western Digital disc WD800BEVS. BIOS is a bit old - it's AMI v.02.58. After checking BIOS I have found no information on the possibility to enable PATA operation. Hovever there is plenty room for modifying and setting disc control parameters, among others: PIO 0...4 and DMA up to UDMA6. My friend has set safely all disc parameters to auto. Solaris Nevada 52 works fine with only minor exception - panoramic display expands horizontally all info. I have advised him to tinker a bit with Xorg configuration. By the way in Amilo's Pi 1505 BIOS I do not see the possibility to change disc control params.
I have already mentioned that I tried to contact FSC helpdesk, but without positive results. My contact told me that FSC supports only Microsoft OS on this platform. This OS family is commonly dubbed "only right OS" in some circles.
Do You see any way ahead?
Regards!
# 7
I don't have any idea what to do but waiting and running the device detection tool from sometimes. I expect Solaris to support our ICH7 chipset in Solaris 11 finally. You can get newsletters about Solaris from Sun, the start of Solaris 11 (Nevada) will certainly be announced. I don't think we can motivate anyone to write the driver for us; i'd like to do myself, but I am no C coder (perhaps you are?).
I'm just surprised that operating systems like FreeBSD, which is developed by a group of 40 volunteers, provides support for my chipset, while an OS like Solaris still doesn't, though it is developed by a respectable company. The code from FreeBSD can even be used in commercial systems, why not copy it from there? But as I said, I simply don't have enough experience to adjust the code and compile it for Solaris.
So, thanks for all the help and Regards
# 8
Hey!
It should work NOW on the latest Solaris Developer Express 5/07! Check out the Sun Device Detection tool at http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/hcl/hcts/device_detect.html
and the Installation Check tool, if you want to.
The primary thing is of course the (working?) SATA driver, but I'm glad for the WLAN support too(!). Pity the sound won't work. But there are a lot of more or less useful add-ons on it.
I still have to download the thing, but it's late now (in Europe). You can get Solaris from http://developers.sun.com/sxde/download.jsp or order a free DVD kit (if you're not, like me, paranoid about your identity).
# 9
Hello All,
Struggling to boot Toshiba Satellite m45-s359 series laptop, after having installed Solaris10 02/07. Latest images (05/07 or install check tools) won't even move forward after 'banner' page.
Laptop came with 100gb SATA hard drive, any information is much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
