This bug was reported on RHEL 2.1 BZ 157662. The fix is needed in RHEL 3 as well. Certain tape operations timeout. This is because the driver incorrectly overrides the command timeout set by the tape driver. Some tape commands, like erase, can take a very long time. This was not seen before because it is somewhat unsuual to put tapes on a dpt_i20 adapter. The patch is just a few lines. It leaves the command timeout alone for tape devices, and it fixes two obvious typos. It has been proposed upstream, with no objections, but is not in yet. It has been in the Adaptec version of the driver for a long time. The time to prepare and test the patch is 4 hours.
We do not have a dpt_i2o with a tape on it. I would propose not to bother testing that, since the customer verified it (an AS 2.1), it is an obvious fix, and it is a non-typical set up. Instead, I would do a quick regression test on a disk-based dpt_i2o. This was a Big Deal for Hitachi on AS 2.1 (apparently they ship a system set up this way). We need to fix it in AS 2.1. We don't want them to regress when they go to RHEL 3.
A fix for this problem has just been committed to the RHEL3 U6 patch pool this evening (in kernel version 2.4.21-32.12.EL).
An advisory has been issued which should help the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information on the solution and/or where to find the updated files, please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does not work for you. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2005-663.html