Subj : Highpoint 1820a driver problem
To   : comp.os.linux
From : Ken K
Date : Fri Aug 27 2004 06:36 pm

I'm using the 1820a Highpoint SATA Raid controller on linux (HPT601) 
with the OpenBuild driver on Gentoo Hardened SELinux (2.6).  After 
compiling and loading the driver, I get the following error FOR ALL 8 
channels (0-7) which prevents the card from loading:

Far Loopback Diagnostics Failure

The code that handles this is in libmv.c
I simply commented out this piece diagnostic code and rebuild the module 
which allows the controller to load and run.

After calling Highpoint support directly, it turns out that it's a 
function that the HARD DRIVE does not implement.  I'm using (qty) 8 x 
160 Gb NCQ Seagate SATA drives.  They confirmed that commenting out the 
code and rebuilding was the proper avenue to take and would not impact 
operation of the card.  They also confirmed that this is not a bug in 
the card, but in the driver and needed to release a new code version.

This error is independent of RAID configuration (i.e. 1+0, 1, 0, 5, JBOD).

Also note that this bug exists in the Fedora Core supported drivers. 
The card will attempt to load if you are installing Fedora Core using 
the linux dd (device disk) option.  However, it will hang the installer 
once it fails to initialize.

Please note that this chipset is not in the linux kernel.  I'm posting 
this to the USENET as I found ZERO information regarding "far loopback" 
or the HPT601 chipset through the search engines.  I hope this helps 
someone else out there.  I also hope that someone with more experience 
takes the Highpoint code and tweaks/integrates it into the 2.6 kernel as 
it is only available as a module.

ken k

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