Linux 2.6.x Kernel Notes

The current stable 2.6.x kernel version is 2.6.25.4.

If you are using a 2.6.x kernel, please use 2.6.12 or newer if you are building a system where tape support is important.

Remember - If the kernel that operates your tape driver does not support tape 100% (HBA, SCSI Layer, and st), then most likely the backups created using it will not be 100%.

Linux 2.4.x Kernel Notes

The current stable 2.4.x kernel version is 2.4.36.4.

Linux users running backup applications with SCSI tape drives under a 2.4.x kernel need to be aware of SCSI subsystem issues in the various 2.4.x kernels. We have run tests and researched all 2.4.x kernels through 2.4.23 and have discovered the following:

Result Kernel Version Notes
GOOD 2.4.2-2 Shipped with Red Hat 7.1 - Stable
BAD 2.4.2 Stock - Issues with SCSI Generic under Adaptec and Symbios chipsets
GOOD 2.4.3 Stock - Stable
BAD 2.4.4/5/6 Stock - __alloc errors on SCSI I/O
GOOD 2.4.6-2 Shipping with Red Hat 7.2 BETA - Stable
GOOD 2.4.7 Stock - Stable
BAD 2.4.7-10 Shipped with Red Hat 7.2 RELEASE - Issues with busfree and __alloc errors
BAD 2.4.8/9/10/11 Stock - Issues with busfree and __alloc errors
GOOD 2.4.9-34 Red Hat - Stable (Most stable kernel for Red Hat 7.2) (**USE THIS KERNEL**)
BAD 2.4.12/13/14 Stock - Stable but enospace bug
BAD 2.4.18-3 Shipped with Red Hat 7.3 - UPGRADE THIS!! Lots of SG errors
BAD 2.4.18-10 to -18 Red Hat (Latest kernels for 7.3/8) enospace bug, problems with 3c59x driver, invalid init sequence
BAD 2.4.19 Stock - enospace bug with 3c59x driver
GOOD 2.4.20 + st patch Stable - enospace bug fixed - use aic7xxxx_old for Adaptec
BAD 2.4.11-2.4.23 Serious SCSI errors and enospace bug not fixed
GOOD 2.4.24-2.4.23 Stable - Use aic7xxx_old for most reliable operation of tape devices when using Adaptec HBA's