Today, I install Debian on Proliant ML150 G2.

Sadly, the SATA adapter, Marvell MV88SX6041 4-port SATA II PCI-X Controller (rev 07) PCI ID 11ab:6041, is supported only on specific version of Red Hat and SuSE. In HP Insight Diagnostics CD, there are binary drivers for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and SuSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9. No open source driver of the SATA adapter is available now.

I found there are usblinux in the HP Insight Diagnostics CD. I copied it into USB storage and configure it bootable, as described in the CD. I booted it with "bash" mode. I noticed /root/compaq/load_drivers.sh. When I executed it, it tried to load several drivers, including aar81xx and bcm5700. aar81xx is the driver module for the SATA adapter and bcm5700 is the driver module for the Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5721 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express.

Then, I modified the initrd.img to include several program such as cfdisk, e2fsprogs, busybox and required shared library by them. I booted it from USB storage again, and partitoned the /dev/sda by using cfdisk and created filesystems:

 # mount -t proc proc /proc
 # mkswap /dev/sda2
 # swapon /dev/sda2
 # mkfs -j /dev/sda1
 # mkdir /mnt/sda1
 # mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1
 # ifconfig eth0 inet xx.xx.xx.xx netmask yy.yy.yy.yy broadcast zz.zz.zz.zz
 # cd /mnt/sda1
 # wget -O vmlinuz http://myserver/tmp/vmlinuz

At the same time, I prepared base files by using debootstrap.

 # debootstrap sarge sarge
 # cd sarge
 # tar zcf ../sarge.tar.gz .

And copied it to the Proliant by wget.

 # mkdir tmp
 # cd tmp
 # wget -O sarge.tar.gz http://myserer/tmp/sarge.tar.gz

I modified initrd.img again to have /linuxrc like this:

 mount -t proc proc /proc
 modprobe aar81xx
 modprobe scsi_mod
 modprobe sd_mod
 modprobe bcm5700
 exit

and modified syslinux.cfg as root=/dev/sda1 from root=/dev/ram0.

However, it failed to boot by "unable to open console.". I booted with previous initrd.img and created necessary device files, such as console, tty[0-7]. Also copied device files in initrd.

I booted again with /linuxrc, and it worked! I fixed /etc/network/interface, /etc/hostname, /etc/resolv.conf and so on. I made sure to create device files by MAKEDEV std in /dev directory.

Then, I put vmlinuz and initrd in the /boot directory as follows.

• initrd.img-2.4.20-28.7-ss7.10.11
• vmlinuz-2.4.20-28.7-ss7.10.11

Set up grub boot loader.

 # grub-install /dev/sda
 # update-grub

Checked /boot/grub/menu.lst and fixed kopt as "root=/dev/sda1 ro ramdisk_size=50000 debug noht ide=nodma".

Boot from SATA disk using grub. Fine. Now, I've got Debian on HP Proliant ML150 G2!

I've used HP NetServer E200, PentiumIII 600MHz with 64MB memory(!). Today, I got 5 times of bogomips(Xeon 3.2GHz) and 50 times(!) of memory (3GB).

We almost finished the work at Korea yesterday, and remaining task is that replacing a component. The component was provided by other company but I found it was broken so that I developed modified version to work correctly. I send the modified version of source code and wait new component officially released by the company. However, it would not be ready today, so we go back Japan.

Recently, flight is so crowded and there are few available seats, but we are lucky to find the seats.

We go to Ilsan. Due to my fixes, our system finally passes UAT(User Acceptance Test). Anyway, today I'm not so busy. I'll be back Japan tomorrow unless they provides new version of client code that I developed fixed version.

We eat black Samketang, drink Bek Se Ju at Tosokchon near Kyongbokkung.

I come to Seoul Korea again with manager to fix broken system. Technically, it's not so difficult, but no implementors can't even know where is wrong... I can resolv the issues within an hour or so. Maybe working place (demo room) is not so good, I feel weak again...

Once checking in the hotel, we go to dinner (Korean BBQ) at CHam Sook Goal near City Hall.

Today, checking out the hotel and visit to Yeouido.

Finally, we get code freeze, but latest code in cvs repository is still broken. I point out how to fix it. Anyway, this project is terrible experience. It is very hard task for me to instruct Indian developer to write sane code. It would be more easy to implement by myself alone....

Today is last day at Korea, we go to Gimpo International Airport and go back to Japan.

I go to Ilsan with my manager.

test, find bugs, fix it, test it again to confirm fix, send it to implementation team.... Sometimes, they modify wrong way and introduce another bug....

Manager works so hard and we stay office till 23:20. Exit door that we usually use is closed, so we wander to find exit. Finally, we find the way at the underground floor. We're afraid we miss the last train, but we can take the train to the Seoul city. We have Seol Reong Tang (White beef soup?) at Sinson Seol Reong Tang in Myeondong.

I go to Ilsan alone by train. Today, manager attend other meetings.

test and report bugs to implement team. some of them is what I pointed out 2 week ago...

I take train to go back to Seoul and eat Karbi Tan (Korean Beef Soup) at Don Valley at Itaewon. Good thing in Korean restaurant is that side dishes such as Kimchi or Namru are free and we can get another dishes if requested.

This morning manager sent me mail that we will extend stay till 23rd or so, but evening I get a call from him and he says that we'll go back to Japan as scheduled. Hmm.

I go to Ilsan by train.

test and report bugs to implement team.

We take train to go back to Seoul and eat Korean BBQ at Weon Suchbur Saengkoki Jeonmuncheom near Dongguk Univ. with my manager.

I go to Ilsan again 70-80min by bus.

write many test cases, fix many bugs.

We take bus to go to Seoul city hall and eat Yeon Po Tang (Raw Octopus served in pot), Kanjang Kejang (Crab preservedin soy sauce) and Chijimi (Korean Okonomiyaki) and drink Soju (Korean liquor) at Gunsan Ojingeo in Myeongdong with my manager.

Today, I go to Ilsan, 90min by train from hotel at Itaewon.

fix many bugs. work almost 12 hours and 3-4 hours for transportation today.

We take bus to go to Seoul city center and drink Makkoruri[Korean Liquar] and eat Grilled fish, Spicy Salad at Insadon with my manager and Korean engineers.

I come to Seoul Korea again for business work. hard work to test/fix codes too horrible to look at written by other developers. I'm exhausted. Finished at 21:00. Continue tomorrow...

I go to dinner (Korean BBQ) at Don Velly at Itaewon with my manager.