I need to install some form of Linux on a server with an Adaptec SCSI
RAID-5 2100S array with 3 Seagate hard drives.  The array is
properly configured.  I would prefer (ideally) using the Reiser4
filesystem and not having an additional primary IDE hard drive from
which to boot.  It's purpose is to be a Subversion (SVN) file server. 
To give you an idea of my level of expertise, I know my way around
Linux, but have never compiled a kernel.

What flavor of Linux should I select (with a focus on stability) and
what detailed steps should I take to install the drive?

I've already tried installing FC2 and FC3 Test 1 with no success
(neither recognize the array).  I know I may be able to install a
primary IDE drive and run raidutils after installing Linux.  If this
is the only option, what detailed steps should I take?

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Request for Question Clarification by maniac-ga on 30 Aug 2004 17:59 PDT

Hello Hadronzoo,

Can you describe what you mean by "neither recognize the array"? The
Adaptec 21xx systems have been supported in Red Hat (or Fedora)
systems for a couple years now so I am somewhat surprised you are
having problems.

There is one possible cause for your problem however. Most of the
guides I found (including Red Hat's) indicate use of a RAID 1 array
for the / and /boot partitions and a RAID 5 array for the user data.
That gives you redundancy / performance for the OS as well as the
large amount of storage for users. It could be that the Fedora install
sequence expects such a set up.

There is apparently a way to work around this however - see
  http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6412
for details. I hesitate to suggest it however since the boot partition
is only on one drive of the set. If that drive fails, you have to use
a recovery CD to bring the system back to life.

Please provide the information requested at the top so I can do
further searches for the possible cause / solution.
  --Maniac

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Clarification of Question by hadronzoo-ga on 31 Aug 2004 08:40 PDT

A hardware RAID array acts like a single disk drive.  All the OS has
to do is know how to talk to the RAID hardware controller--it
shouldn't know or care what flavor of RAID the controller is running.

By "neither recognize the array", I mean that when I install using FC2
or FC3 test 1, they properly load the I2O RAID drivers, but the
installer asks me if I want to load additional modules because it
couldn't find any hard drives.  Later in the installation, I run
DiskDruid to configure the hard drive and the installer reports that
it can't find any hard drives and reboots.

The driver (.IMG file) I found on Adaptec's website is for RH 6-9,
which won't work with the latest kernel (I'm told).

The link you provided is for software RAID--this would mean removing
the current SCSI RAID controller and purchasing a regular SCSI
controller.  I realize that I can drop an IDE drive in as my boot and
root drive and run raidutils to set up the RAID array, but is this the
only way?  If so, how do I go about it?