the kernel starts but cannot load the module aic79xx to start the SCSI drives on the box. Error messages indicate that it cannot locate the module aic79xx. This sounds like similar LiveCD errors where the kernel module was not included in the ramdsik image init.rd. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Boot a Dell 220 with the 2004.2 LiveCD (I imagine it would happen with similar SCSI controllers). 2. 3. Actual Results: Gentoo boots, but doesn't load the aic79xx module. Expected Results: It should have auto-detected and loaded the aic79xx module.
Does this system use a SCSI CDROM to boot? There is a major difference between the aic79xx and aic7xxx modules. The aic79xx module is *only* for U320 cards, but it is possible that the driver is attempting to load and failing. If you do not have a SCSI CDROM, then boot *without* doscsi and let hotplug take care of loading the module.
I boot from an ATAPI DVD-ROM drive using the gentoo kernel, with no options specified. Should I be using the aic7xxx module instead?
If you boot with no options, your devices should be auto-loaded by hotplug. If not, then you should use aic7xxx for your driver. Only newer U320 controllers use the aic79xx driver. The problem comes in with the two drivers not playing nice with each other and thinking they own the other driver's devices.
This one should have been closed a long time ago...
