RH7.2 install weirdness

[Kevin Brown]

> > > > So my question is, how the bloody hell do I get the RH installer to load
> > > > the dac960.o module so it can find the RAID Array and let me install it?
> > > > I can use expert install mode, but don't have a copy of that module to put
> > > > on a floppy for the installer to use.
> > >
> > > Switch to the shell on the second virtual terminal and look through
> > > /lib/module/<kernelversion> for the module. If you find it try using
> > > modprobe or insmod on it. It should be there if RH recognized it for the
> > > other box.
> >
> > OK, switched to term 2 (alt + F2).  First took a look at what modules it had
> > loaded, then tried an insmod dac960.  Didn't load anything and I didn't see any
> > errors.  Tried to find the module itself, but it must be inside the
> > /modules/modules.cgz file and I don't know how to open that file up to get it
> > out.  I did check the modules.dep file and (I think it was called) modules-info
> > file in that same directory and they list the dac960.o module for the Mylex
> > controller.  There aren't any .o files anywhere on the temporary filesystem the
> > cd makes (tried find /* -name .o -print and got nothing).
> > /lib/module/<anything> doesn't exist.
> >
> > Guess I'll do some more digging and try to figure out which .img on the cd
> > contains the additional drivers floppy image for booting and try the expert
> > install again when I have it, sigh.  This is really pissing me off, never had
> > this much trouble installing on a system before...
> 
> OK, found a drvblock.img on the RH cd and put it on a seperate disk.  Booted the
> install floppy, selected expert mode, put in the extra drivers disk and
> ctrl+alt+F2 and try insmod dac960.  Still nothing, worse, expert mode uses the X
> install rather than text, so now I couldn't continue with the install.  Tried
> again, this time without switching consoles and again it craps out saying there
> was no where to install RH to, rebooting...  I guess I could try debian out on
> it, but since I'm very unfamiliar with it I don't know how well I can secure it
> or how to do upgrades and stuff.
> 
> If I could carry this system I'd bring it to an install fest, but it weighs well
> over 50lbs and I'm just a skinny little guy.

Ok, spent last night downloading RH6.2, made the boot floppy for it and tried to
install it.  A message flashes showing it trying to load the dac960.o module,
but then errors saying device or resource is busy.  Alt + F2 and do an lsmod,
yep the dac960 module is not loaded, so try to insmod it, no luck and none of
the terminals is showing an error message.  Makes it kinda hard to debug.

So, give debian a try, never done it before, what the hell.  Download the pdf of
the install guide for x86, get the requisite floppies (rescue, root and 4
drivers disks).  Boot the rescue floppy, insert the root floppy when asked for. 
After selecting my keyboard it asks me if there are any modules I need to load
to get hardware found, I say yes, feed it the driver-1.bin floppy, it chugs for
a second, then claims it can't mount the floppy, tried feeding it the other 3
drivers disks, same thing, so I get a blank one, remake driver-1.bin and try
again, still can't load it.

Funny, I've never had this much trouble installing linux.  Any more good advice
(and yes the advice I've gotten so far has been helpful, didn't know things like
being able to switch consoles during the install of the OS), seems I'm still
doing something wrong.