CERC ATA100/4Ch fakeRAID in Ubuntu

[Édouard Gilbert]

Hi everyone,

I know equivalent threads can be found on the forum[1], but  
apparently, without any answer yet.

I've got a good (not so) old Dell PowerEdge 1600SC server equipped  
with a CERC ATA100/4Ch fakeRAID[3]. It's currently running Mandrake  
9.2. For some reasons[1] I'd like to switch to Ubuntu. Please note  
the OS is installed on another physical disc. The RAID is only meant  
to hold data.

I tried to install a Ubuntu 7.04 (with both desktop and alternate  
discs) which runs perfectly, but apparently can't recognize any  
volume created by the card, nor any disc connected to it. Even if no  
logical volume is built on the card.

I haven't tried with the server version yet, nor with any 6.06.1 LTS  
version. I've however tried a Mandriva Linux 2007 Spring and faced  
the same situation.

Do you have any idea of what the problem could be? I remind you that  
the card used to be recognized by a former Linux kernel. I've read on  
several places on the WWW that the megaraid_mbox module doesn't  
support the same cards that the former megaraid one, but I might have  
messed everything up.

Currently (i.e., on the old Mandrake), when I "lsmod | grep  
megaraid", the answer is

megaraid               26600   1
scsi_mod               95872   5  [sr_mod ide-scsi sd_mod mptscsih  
megaraid]

When on Ubuntu, I used to get to line appears, the first being  
megaraid_mbox, the second megaraid_mm. Approximately and quite  
possibly the other way round.

I know most of the information is quite vague, but I don't have  
direct access to the server right now. I can however gather more if  
needed and preferably once and for all. Being far from a Linux  
expert, directions would be appreciated.

So, would you have any suggestion?

Thanks for your help,

Édouard

[1] In fact, a new thread was created yesterday by someone else. It  
seems that I'm not the only one facing that specific trouble.
[2] First, I can't get it to format the RAID above ~500GB, second  
ease of use.
[3] For Dell by LSI Logic. I've read it is in fact a LSI Logic  
MegaRAID 4i or closely related. Well, if my memory doesn't fail me.