Need to verify an SATA controller's Linux compatability

[The Linuxator]

I found the exact controller that I need, only one issue they don't mention a thing about Linux support, so is there a chance that there is any kind of support for it from the Linux kernel ?

Manfacturer's Link

 

[gaidin123]

It might help mentioning the exact model of controller you want to use and the chipset used by it. The manufacturer may not offer linux drivers however the chip they use may be supported.

Gaidin

 

[Nothinman]

Your best bet is to find out what chipset is in it and either google around a bit or poke around in linux-source/drivers/scsi.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Just look at the well formatted hardware compatibility list on kernel.org.

 

[drag]

I don't think you can't find a SATA controller that is unsupported completely. Almost everything possible will work. But there are definately varying amounts of support.

Some items are much more desirable then others. This is due to hardware capabilities and drivers...

This page has details on SATA support for the latest kernels. (2.6.15 and 2.4.33 currently)
http://linux.yyz.us/sata/sata-status.html

Here is another page that has good information:
http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Hardware/sata.html

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: gaidin123
It might help mentioning the exact model of controller you want to use and the chipset used by it. The manufacturer may not offer linux drivers however the chip they use may be supported.

Gaidin

Oops! Didn't realize that I didn't post a link to it, anyway link is in the OP now.

 

[n0cmonkey]

There's a silicon image chip near the top (opposite the PCI thingy). It should be supported.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
There's a silicon image chip near the top (opposite the PCI thingy). It should be supported.

Should that mean that rest of the features of the card including USB 2.0 and Firewire will work too ?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: The Linuxator

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
There's a silicon image chip near the top (opposite the PCI thingy). It should be supported.

Should that mean that rest of the features of the card including USB 2.0 and Firewire will work too ?

No idea, I didn't recognize the other chips on the board. One of them is a NEC chip, can't make out more than that. The big one looks like a moxhip or something, funky letters and small picture make it difficult to make out. Not sure which is which (my guess is the NEC chip is the firewire, but I really have no idea) or how well they're supported. So far, I haven't had any issues getting USB support in OpenBSD, but I haven't tried adding a card for more ports.

Maybe if I had something better than MS paint to view the pic in I'd have more info.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: The Linuxator

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
There's a silicon image chip near the top (opposite the PCI thingy). It should be supported.

Should that mean that rest of the features of the card including USB 2.0 and Firewire will work too ?

No idea, I didn't recognize the other chips on the board. One of them is a NEC chip, can't make out more than that. The big one looks like a moxhip or something, funky letters and small picture make it difficult to make out. Not sure which is which (my guess is the NEC chip is the firewire, but I really have no idea) or how well they're supported. So far, I haven't had any issues getting USB support in OpenBSD, but I haven't tried adding a card for more ports.

Maybe if I had something better than MS paint to view the pic in I'd have more info.

:laugh: are you at work ?

 

[The Linuxator]

A desperate attempt to guess the chips : pic

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: The Linuxator
:laugh: are you at work ?

Yes.

A desperate attempt to guess the chips : pic

It's moschip. It's for the USB controller. There are some appearances of moschip.com email addresses on a linux kernel mailing list, so that's promising.

Still no idea on the NEC chip, I'd google around for a hardware compatibility list (or check the source, it's sometimes the only way since no one documents things) for support info WRT firewire.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: The Linuxator
:laugh: are you at work ?

Yes.

A desperate attempt to guess the chips : pic

It's moschip. It's for the USB controller. There are some appearances of moschip.com email addresses on a linux kernel mailing list, so that's promising.

Still no idea on the NEC chip, I'd google around for a hardware compatibility list (or check the source, it's sometimes the only way since no one documents things) for support info WRT firewire.

When I looked into this PCI card, the main thing for me was USB 2.0 and SATA I have no firewire devices nor I intend on getting some in the future, so if at least the SATA connection and the USB 2.0 work in Linux then I am a very happy camper.

 

[Nothinman]

USB and Firewire generally 'just work' and since the SATA controller is SII I would say it'll work too, but it's hard to be 100% sure without trying it.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
USB and Firewire generally 'just work' and since the SATA controller is SII I would say it'll work too, but it's hard to be 100% sure without trying it.

Well you see I found this card on auction, brand new, and there is only 2 days left and the price is $ 35.00, if it works no way I am letting it out of my hands, You see the machine I am installing it in, is old and doesn't have much PCI slots left and I can't find any other PCI card that has SATA and USB2.0 at once.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: The Linuxator
I found the exact controller that I need, only one issue they don't mention a thing about Linux support, so is there a chance that there is any kind of support for it from the Linux kernel ?

Manfacturer's Link

Looks like its a 2 port Silicon Image controller, the SiI3112a. Its supported by a libata driver in the kernel. Fedora Core should have no problem with it. Can't speak for the others.

Of course, since it is a combo card, YMMV.

 

[Nothinman]

Probably a little late, but I finally found the link : http://linux.yyz.us/sata/sata-status.html