From Bugzilla Helper: User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98) Description of problem: I'm running Linux AS 2.1 with 2.4.9-e.12 kernel on IBM x440. I've got a SCSI tape Seagate STT20000N. When I try to read a bad tape (i.e. a tape with a read error), I obtain the I/O error on terminal, but the process hangs for too long and I have to reboot the server to access the tape. The same procedure, on Red Hat 7.3 with 2.4.18 kernel, is going right: I obtain the I/O error and the prompt. I'm using the AIC7xxx driver v.6.2.8. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. "cat /dev/st0 > filename" on a bad tape 2. 3. Actual Results: I got "I/O error" but not the prompt. The process hangs forever (I think...) and the tape remains busy. Expected Results: The tape free and the prompt. Additional info:
Red Hat Linux doesn't run on the x440 machine btw
There are problems with st in the Linux kernel. Take a look: http://www.linuxtapecert.org --cut-- Linux 2.4.x Kernel Notes UPDATE March, 4, 2003 : Although the following information is correct, we recommend that everyone use Linux kernel the 2.4.9-34 (TOLIS mirror) kernel package from Red Hat for all Linux distributions. After 2.4.10 some SCSI issues were introduced to the kernel that cause errors when using tape drives. Specificially EOT (end of tape) is not properly reported, causing problems with multi-volume archives. Linux users running backup applications with SCSI tape drives under a 2.4.x kernel need to be aware of SCSI subsystem issues in the various 2.4.x kernels. We have run tests and researched all 2.4.x kernels through 2.4.19 and have discovered the following: (GREEN = good, RED = bad). o GOOD: 2.4.2-2 Shipped with Red Hat 7.1 - Stable o BAD: 2.4.2 Stock - Issues with SCSI Generic under Adaptec and Symbios chipsets o GOOD: 2.4.3 Stock - Stable o BAD: 2.4.4/5/6 Stock - __alloc errors on SCSI I/O o GOOD: 2.4.6-2 Shipped in Red Hat 7.2 BETA - Stable o 2.4.7 Stock - Stable o BAD: 2.4.7-10 Shipped in Red Hat 7.2 release - Issues with busfree and __alloc errors o BAD: 2.4.8/9/10/11 Stock - Issues with busfree and __alloc errors o GOOD: 2.4.9-34 Red Hat - Stable (Most stable kernel for Red Hat 7.2) o BAD: 2.4.12/13/14 Stock - No proper End of tape recognition o BAD: 2.4.18-3 Red Hat - Stock kernel for 7.3 - UPGRADE THIS! Lots of SG errors and no proper EOT o BAD: 2.4.18-10 to -18 Red Hat - (Latest Kernels for 7.3/8.0) no proper EOT, invalid init sequence o BAD: 2.4.19 Stock - no proper EOT recognition SCSI tape operation requires a stable SCSI environment for proper operation. To assure proper operation, only those kernels listed above as "Good" should be used. Please contact your Linux distribution manufacturer or local Linux Users Group for details on supported kernels and info on how to update (or downgrade) the kernel on your system if you don't already know how. --end-- I don't know if Red Hat support IBM x440. But IBM said YES: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/compat/nos/redchat.html --cut-- Test Information For the x440-8687 Product: Red Hat Linux Advanced Server 2.1 Manufacturer: Red Hat Last Updated: 3/4/2003 Software support is available for IBM Operational Support Services - Support Line: http://www-1.ibm.com/services/its/us/mus62d1.html or call 1-800-426-4343. Summit kernel change required at time of OS installation. --end--
We cant really do anything about this in the AS2.1 kernel at this late date in the lifecycle. Pleans let me know if there are problems in either the RHEL3 or RHEL4 kernels. Larry Woodman