From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Sep 11 16:23:57 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B043816A412 for ; Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:23:57 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from lee_shackelford@dot.ca.gov) Received: from trmx001.dot.ca.gov (svhqsacsmtp01.dot.ca.gov [64.174.7.134]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 405C443D80 for ; Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:23:47 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from lee_shackelford@dot.ca.gov) In-Reply-To: <004501c6d243$e8ec4d40$3c01a8c0@coolf89ea26645> To: "Ted Mittelstaedt" X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 6.5.4 March 27, 2005 Message-ID: From: Lee Shackelford Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 09:23:40 -0700 X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on SACSMTP01/SVR/Caltrans/CAGov(Release 6.55FP1HF70 | July 20, 2006) at 09/11/2006 09:23:47 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: installing 6.1 on Compaq Proliant 5000 X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:23:57 -0000 Good morning, Mr. Mittelstaedt. Again, many thanks for your response to my question. My original purpose in purchasing the computer was to install multiple operating systems for hobbyist purpose. The computer's major selling point was that it has five hard drives. My original idea was to install a different operating system on each one. When I discovered that it had the rather sophisticated RAID-5 system implemented in hardware, I discarded that idea in favor of partitioning the hard drive to install the operating systems. The next operating system that I wanted after Windows Server 2000, with which it came equipped was FreeBSD. This project has become painfully involved, first of all, because I did not understand the fact, documented nowhere, that the BIOS of a computer intended to be a server is totally different from the BIOS of a computer intended to be a workstation. With experience, and with information eventually traded across the internet from other computer enthusiasts trying to do the same thing, I have eventually gained enough understanding of the BIOS to proceed. The process has also been stymied by the fact that the developers of the boot program for sysinstall have failed, even in its latest edition, to install in BOOT the necessary features to read the output of a Compaq server BIOS, in particular the ability to correctly interpret the size of memory. Thanks to you, other respondents, and experience, I feel that I now have a grip of that issue. My latest problem stems from the fact that I had intended to install a portion of the BSD operating system in a primary Windows partition (BSD slice) below the 1024 cylinder limit, and the rest of it in a larger Windows logical partition within the extended partition, above 1024 cylinders. Even though the handbook, as well as several other documents, clearly states that the operating system cannot be loaded into a logical partition, the implication of that statement did not register in my brain until I tried to do it. I wonder if system designers realize the extent to which the requirements that the entire system, or at least the boot BSD partition be loaded below 1024 cylinders, and the requirement that the operating system not be loaded into the extended Windows partition are in conflict in a multiple operating system environment. Some documentation says that the 1024 cylinder limit does not apply in many cases, but it never says when it applies and when it does not apply. I feel, that to make this system work, I will have to use some type of exotic partition manager such as Ranish or XOSL that can create a large number of primary partitions. I had originally wished to stick with GNU tools such as parted and grub. I realize my explanation is a bit long winded, but I hope it clarifies my goals. Yours truly, Lee Shackelford "Ted Mittelstaedt" , "Lee Shackelford" 09/06/2006 11:07 PM cc Subject Re: installing 6.1 on Compaq Proliant 5000 This isn't unusual, it happens with certain array cards. If the disk drivers of each different operating system don't agree in how the "disk" is laid out that the intelligent driver array controller presents to them, then your screwed - you cannot use the array card for a multi-boot system. Sometimes you can get away with it by installing FreeBSD on part of the disk, and a subsequent disk driver will see the FreeBSD partition and understand not to overwrite it. But, sometimes not. It strikes me that Win 2003 Server is going to run dogpile slow, I simply cannot fathom why you want to multiboot this system in the first place. The only OS's that are going to run worth a damn on it are Linux and FreeBSD, and you just need to pick one or the other. Ted PS: You do understand the difference between FreeBSD slices, FreeBSD partitions, and IBM/BIOS partitions don't you? That is your not doing something incorrect like trying to install another OS within a FreeBSD "logical slice" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Shackelford" To: Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:00 AM Subject: installing 6.1 on Compaq Proliant 5000 > > Initial message posted on 8/24/2006: > Good morning dear FreeBSD enthusiasts. I am attempting to install FreeBSD > 6.1 on a Compaq Proliant 5000. The computer is equipped with four Pentium > Pro processors clocked at 200 mhz and with a Smart 2/P hardware-RAID array. > The BIOS indicates that the first two processors have failed. They are > actually okay, but there is something wrong with their socket on the > motherboard... > > Current message: > Thank you to the two people who responded to my original message. With > their help, I have progressed to the point of specifying the slice into > which I want the system installed. There are three primary slices on this > computer, plus one extended slice. The three primary slices all end within > the 1024 cylinder limit. The two primary slices that do not contain > FreeBSD are reserved for the installation of other operating systems. I > wish to place the swap slice/partition in the extended slice. The fdisk > program supplied with FreeBSD sees all of the extended slice as one slice, > and does not seem to be able to see the logical slices within it. Most of > my 15 gb. drive is in the extended slice. Does anyone know how to solve > this problem? All suggestions are appreciated. Yours truly, Lee > Shackelford > > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >