After installing Fedora

After installing FC14 on the SSD, it looks like there's some trouble recognizing the Marvell RAID controller. When the system starts, it looks like it recognizes the SSD connected to the first SATA port directly on the motherboard:

But when it tries to look at the Marvell SATA daughterboard, it's not happy:

Solution #1a - Change modprobe parameters (didn't work)

I found this message, (also this forum post) which has a promising solution. Basically it involves disabling the PATA mode of the Marvell driver, which isn't an issue because there are no PATA connectors on this particular daughterboard.

1. Create a modprobe config file for the Marvell:
2. Add this line:
3. Update the kernel image
   • Since update-initramfs is not available for Fedora (it's a Ubuntu thing),

Reboot and... same thing.

Solution #2a - Download and install the drivers from Jetway (didn't work)

The Jetway site has a download link for Linux drivers for the daughter board.   Worth a try.

1. Download the file with wget
2. Unpack it
3. Unpack the nested tarball with the img file on it
4. Skip the 'make a floppy' step and mount the img file directly
5. Run the installation script
   • The message from ls is a little weird. Maybe this won't work?
6. Unmount the disk and reboot.

Solution #2b - Build driver from sources (didn't work)

The Jetway zip file also provides source code, so we could build and install the kernel module.

1. Get the kernel headers and gcc
   • This will put the kernel source in /usr/src/kernels, /usr/src/kernels/2.6.35.11-83.fc14.i686/ in my case.
2. Copy the source code:
3. Build it

No joy!

Solution #1b - Blacklist pata_marvell (didn't work)

As per this forum post, you can configure modprobe to blacklist pata_marvell.

It increased the boot time, no errors, but none of the drives plugged into the card are visible. Makes sense since the driver is totally disabled.

How I Got Things Working

Warning, this is a little snarky!

1. Purchased a Promise PCI SATA card with 4 internal SATA ports.
2. Opened up the case
3. Removed the Jetway Marvell SATA daughter board.
4. Installed Promise PCI SATA card.
5. Closed up the case
6. Reboot, Linux is much happier.