User Manual

Chapter 3—Driver Installation

Linux Driver for ISI5634PCI-4/8

This is the standard installation procedure for Linux and is applicable to all Linux operating systems of the

correct kernel level (2.0, 2.2, or 2.4). The next major section of this manual, RedHat Linux 6.2/7.0 RPM

Drivers for ISI Server Cards (PCI bus only), is an alternative installation procedure applicable only to

RedHat Linux 6.2 and 7.0 using the RedHat Package Management System (RPM). Note that RedHat

Linux versions 6.2 and 7.0 both use the Linux 2.2 kernel and the applicable driver can be installed using

this standard installation procedure, as well.

LINUX: Pre-Installation Issues

When unpacking the Linux driver, there are two choices, one driver for the 2.0.x kernel (at this writing, it

is filename L300_20X.TAR), and one driver that works for both the 2.2.x kernel and the 2.4.x kernel (at

this writing, it is filename L305_22X_24X.TAR). Be absolutely positive about which kernel you have!

Note that updated driver files may be issued from time to time.

The 'make' utility, GNU C compiler, and the kernel sources need to be installed on your system. If any of

these are missing, the compilation will fail. Most later Linux OSs install these elements automatically .

LINUX: Copying the driver from the media

The Linux drivers (2.0 and 2.2/2.4 kernels) are shipped in compressed (‘tarred’) form on the ISI Family

CD-ROM formatted with the FAT file system. In some cases, users may download Linux ISI drivers from

the MultiTech web site onto diskette (in ext2 format). We present instructions for both situations below.

LINUX: Copying and untarring the driver from CD-ROM

1. Mount the CD-ROM using this command:

mount -r /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

2. Change directory

cd /mnt/cdrom

3. List the files on the CD-ROM and locate the directory for the kernel in use (2.0 or 2.2/2.4), using this

command

4. Untar the appropriate Linux driver using this command:

>tar vxf {filename}/tmp

At this writing, the filename will be either L300_20X.TAR or L305_22X_24X.TAR.

LINUX: Copying and untarring the driver from a floppy

The ISI driver .tar file can be copied from a DOS formatted floppy using the 'mcopy' command if the

'mtools' have been installed. Issue 'mcopy a:isilinux.tar <destination folder>' to copy the isilinux.tar ( or

current driver name) file to the destination folder. As an alternative, the floppy can be manually mounted

and the file copied to the required destination folder.

NOTE: To read from a DOS formatted floppy, a kernel with support for the FAT file system (either

statically linked in the kernel or as modules) is required.

Steps for copying the driver from a floppy:

1. Linux floppy disks are in ext2 format.

2. Insert Linux driver in drive A: and mount floppy drive.

> mount -t ext2 /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy

3. Copy files from floppy to a temporary directory on hard drive.

> mkdir /isi