IBM x3650 model 7979KWG RAID 5 UBUNTU no boot

[hargi]

Hi posted this in the server section but didnt get any fixes, hopefully someone here can help

We have just purchased a IBM x3650 model 7979KWG 4 gig ram
5 x 146 gigbyte SAS drives in a RAID 5 config im sure its an adaptec RAID Controller.

Previously I have installed ubuntu server edition 8.10 on a test server and everything has been fine though this was a 5 year old server with only 1 SATA hard disk.

We installed ubuntu server 8.10 on this new server, the install looked to go through ok, get to the end screen where it says that it needs to be restarted, and to take out the disk. Doing this the server reboots but not properly, we get past the bios screen, but theres no prompts or anything that looks like linux starting up. we get a flashing - cursor then a tottaly black screen for a second then the flashing - cursor. Pressing any key does nothing. And its definatly not the promt in linux.

We have reinstalled it again and same problem, and even installing the 64 we end up with the same problem.

Any one else had this problem.

We think this is a RAID card problem

 

[FirebarUK]

I noticed and replied to your thread a while back.

Make sure when you installed Ubuntu that you didn't select a display manager. The flashing cursor jobby suggests it might be X trying to start. However, I always thought ubuntu server didn't install X by default :S

I still reckon its most likely the RAID controller. Try Ubuntu 8.04 server, perhaps that has an older driver module for the adaptec card included, which works and isn't bugged.

<clutches at straws>