Re: [gentoo-dev] "running *short* on DMA" with gentoo 1.2 whereas gentoo 1.1a is OK

[Kim Bratlie]

>   I am trying to install gentoo-i686-1.2.iso and while executing mke2fs
> on a 12GB SCSI partition I get :
>
> Writing superblocks and filesystem accouting information: Warning -
> running *really* short on DMA buffers
> Warning - running *really* short on DMA buffers
> Warning - running *really* short on DMA buffers
> ...
> etc.

I have this problem too when using my SCSI burner.. my harddrives are apparently working fine, so far.

>
>   The same command doesn't output any warning on gentoo-i686-1.1a.iso.
> The gentoo 1.2 kernel flavor is surely the cause. To be more precise, it
> is maybe the "Adaptec AIC7xxx" driver revision : 6.2.5 on 1.1a vs 6.2.6
> on 1.2.
>

I'm also using the adaptec aic7xxx driver.. gentoo 1.3a (was the same on 1.1a and 1.2)
I second your opinion that it is a problem related to linux/gentoo/aic7xxx because not long ago I had windows installed and there were no problems at all.. do you have SMP as well by any chance? VIA chipset?

I had redhat/mandrake running for a while too, but I did not test those as well as I have tested gentoo (I love gentoo) so I cannot say if the problem existed on those distro's, but I'm 100% certain is was alright on winblows.

Tried damn many things, changed pci slots, removed cards, compiled different kernels, changed the burner's settings, changed the harddrives settings.. nothing has any impact, I firmly believe it is a software issue.. I have put together computers for about 12 years now, I like to think that I know something about the hardware now and I firmly believe it is a software issue.

I've been told some have had trouble with the grease inside their cd-rom's vaporizing or accumulating too much dust, I guess I'll take a look inside it as a last resort, but I doubt that lack of grease is the cause.

My burner is very new.

- Kim