Unable to find device node for /dev/mfid0s1b

[bforest]

Hello All,

I am attempting to install FreeBSD from DVD
(FreeBSD-8.2-RELEASE-amd64-dvd1.iso.xz)

Installing on a Dell PE-2950 with six 300Gb Hds installed via PERC5I Serial Attached SCSI. The controller has mirrored drives 0 & 1 creating virtual device mfid0.

I can boot the install CD and go through the process of install prep but once I answer the last question to begin the install I get the following error:

Unable to find device node for /dev/mfid0s1b in /dev. Creation of filesystem aborted.

I have found the following related mentions on the web although they are back from v8.0 .

http://kerneltrap.org/mailarchive/freebsd-current/2009/9/2/6252262/thread

http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.os.freebsd.current/119191

These seem to indicate that installing with x86 was working but AMD64 was not unless the following was changed in loader.conf:

> i386 version should recognize the disks. amd64 does when you set
> hw.pci.mcfg=0 in loader.conf.

Would someone tell me how to make this change and get the running install DVD to reload "loader.conf" so I can get the OS to see this change, recognize the RAID controller and complete the install?

Thanks!
-Ben

[Carpetsmoker]

You can change the variable at boot.

When you see the loader menu (Where you can choose 1, 2, 3, etc.), press the key for the loader prompt (I don't remember the number, IIRC it's 6?).

In the commandline you can use set to set variables, and show to show them.

So using set hw.pci.mcfg=0 should do the trick.

After that type boot to boot the system.

I have no idea if this helps with your problem though, I have no experience with Dell PERC controllers ....

[bforest]

Carpetsmoker,

Actually my last line should have read:

. . . so I can get the OS to see this change, recognize the virtual drive's slice/partition and complete the install?

I believe you have given me just what I need. I will reply with status once I try installing again. I plan to try later today.

Thanks so much!
-Ben

[bforest]

Ok.. I attempted the fix listed in the older web entries I previously provided links to, and in the manner that Carpetsmoker said but it seemed to have no effect.

I still received the same error immediately after hitting ok to start the install.

- - - - - - -
Before the boot, when the loader menu appears.. I hit 6 to take me to the Loader prompt. I tried two installs:

1st using "set hw.pci.mcfg=0" and
2nd using "set hw.pci.mcfg=1"

If anyone else has successfully installed FreeBSD on a Dell PE-2950 or a system using a Perc5i controller, I would appreciate your input.

Thanks!
-Ben

[bforest]

I was finally able to get FreeBSD installed on this system.

I had to use a PCBSD install "PCBSD8.2-x64-DVD.iso" which somehow handled the issue I could not get past with the straight FreeBSD DVD.

I am sure I will reinstall a couple of times to get the procedure documented and be sure what options were set etc. At least it worked and I wasn't forced to a Linux.

(at the last minute I remembered that PCBSD install contains an option for Plain FreeBSD install. I think it is missing some items like the docs but I can add whatever from packages or ports.)

I will post one more time stating what options worked (and don't) but probably not today.

Thanks to Carpetsmoker for replying.

-Ben