User: frantzc

Re:Hey Compaq: Prove You're Serious

On: ~50% of Compaq Server Customers Using Linux

Ok, here goes:

1. The Smart Array driver is *not* a binary only driver

2. Yes, there is a kernel patch. It's in 2.2.12 or 13, and 2.3.x. You can also get it from ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/products/ drivers/linux/.

3. No. The driver was written at Compaq (by me). It is now maintained by another employee at Compaq.

4. Since I don't normally work on storage products, I don't know the answer to this. Hopefully the answer will be yes in the near future.

5. Yes. The Linux SCSI code has support for hot-swapping drives (if you're SCSI subsystem supports it, electrically). For example, if I plug a new drive into my Proliant 5500 in slot 1, I can bring the drive online with

echo "scsi add-single-device 0 0 1 0" >/proc/scsi/scsi

The order of those numbers parameters are host, channel, id, lun. Similarly, you can take a disk offline with "scsi remove-single-device params".

As for the elimination of Keyboard, video and mouse and replacing them with serial port access to the BIOS, I suggest you check out a feature known as Integrated Remote Console (most Compaq servers have this feature). A serial port is "stolen" from the machine and is used to remote video and keyboard. See http:/ /www.compaq.com/support/techpubs/user_reference_gu ides/281862-002.html for more information.

I hope this helps,
--Chris