SiI3531 SATA port multipler

[Alexander Motin]

Nick Hilliard wrote:
> On 12/03/2009 08:51, Alexander Motin wrote:
>> Have you tried to enable verbose boot messages? It may give some
>> additional info.
> 
> Yep, tried it, but the dmesg buffer filled up with stuff like this:
> 
>> ata2: siiprb_issue_cmd time=0ms status=00050000
>> ata2: siiprb_issue_cmd time=0ms status=00010000
>> ata2: siiprb_issue_cmd time=0ms status=00010000
>> ata2: p0: connect status=00000000
>> ata2: siiprb_issue_cmd time=0ms status=00010000
>> ata2: siiprb_issue_cmd time=0ms status=00010000
>> ata2: siiprb_issue_cmd time=27ms status=00010000
>> ata2: p1: SIGNATURE=00000101
>> ata2: siiprb_issue_cmd time=0ms status=00010000
> 
> and so on - probably about 50-100k of this sort of thing.  So I have no
> idea what happened at the start of the card initialisation process.

It can be increased with kernel option. MSGBUF_SIZE AFAIR.

>> Can you try to use AHCI controller present in your system instead of
>> SiI? It may allow to differentiate SiI controller related problems from
>> PM related ones.
> 
> I don't have a sata->esata cable handy.  However, I replaced the SiI3531
> with a JMB366 card, and have attached the results of a verbose boot.

It is probably not a bad alternative. JMB366 have two AHCI compatible ports.

>> I am expecting to receive some PM hardware in a week or so, so I will be
>> able to test it's support, at least with AHCI.
> 
> Oh cool.  Would you like remote access to my box, btw?  I might also be
> able to dig out an rs232 card somewhere for debugging.

It would be good to play with, until I have no better way..

-- 
Alexander Motin