CentOS 5.8 Installation with Adaptec RAID Controllers

1.) Copy these files

aacraid-1.2.1.29900-RHEL5.8-dd.img
aacraid.conf
dkms-2.2.0.3-1.noarch.rpm
aacraid-1.1.7.29900-dkms.noarch.rpm

to a USB stick. 

2.) Create an array on the Adaptec RAID controller from the BIOS. IMPORTANT: If the drives have been used before 
then use the "Clear" option, otherwise you may see a message later that no disks are found.  Do not insert the USB stick yet.

3.) When the graphical welcome screen appears, make sure the cursor is on the top line 
"Install a new system or upgrade an existing system", add

linux dd

at the prompt and press ENTER.

4.) Continue the installation as usual, selecting the above mentioned .img file when asked for a driver disk. The USB stick is
likely to be /dev/sda1.

5.) Upon completion remove the installation media (if applicable) and the USB stick. Boot the system from the controller's array.

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If you would like to carry out online updates to the OS, please perform the following (after rebooting) to ensure that the new driver sticks.

1.) Insert the USB stick and mount it.  Assuming there is no GUI installed and the USB stick is /dev/sdb1:

# mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt

# cp /mnt/aacraid.conf /etc/depmod.d/

2.) Ensure that you have a network connection. Then do this:

# yum install kernel-headers-$(uname -r)  
# yum install kernel-devel-$(uname -r)    
# yum install gcc

3.) Next, do this:

# rpm Uvh /mnt/dkms-2.2.0.3-1.noarch.rpm
# rpm Uvh /mnt/aacraid-1.1.7.29900-dkms.noarch.rpm
# dkms add -m aacraid -v 1.2.1.29900
# dkms build -m aacraid -v 1.2.1.29900
# dkms install -m aacraid -v 1.2.1.29900

4.) Perform online updates.

# yum update

5.) Remove the USB stick and reboot to the new kernel.








