a word of caution: mdadm/kernel/gcc

You may already know this, or you may have discovered it (as I did) through trial and error, but if you're using mdadm it is advisable to compile mdadm with the same compiler as the kernel.

I was using an mdadm compiled with gcc 2.96 on a gcc 3.2-compiled 2.4.19 kernel, and getting very strange errors. I looked at the kernel and mdadm code, but couldn't see any bugs. Finally, I realized that I must be seeing structure alignment differences between the two compilers. I recompiled mdadm with gcc 3.2 and voila, everything works now...

--
Paul

sophocles:~ # cat /proc/version
Linux version 2.4.19-md-64GB-SMP (clemep@fenric) (gcc version 3.2 20020903 (Red Hat Linux 8.0 3.2-7)) #1 SMP Thu May 1 16:01:16 EDT 2003

[output from md driver PRINT_RAID_DEBUG ioctl:]

Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel: md: rdev hda5: O:hda5, SZ:02104320 F:0
DN:0
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel: md: rdev superblock:
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel: md:  SB: (V:0.90.0)
ID:<d6c5272a.dba72f74.4425
6768.25075ca6> CT:3e9d9217
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel: md:     L5 S02104320 ND:3 RD:3 md0
LO:2 CS:131
072
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel: md:     UT:3ee5de36 ST:0 AD:3 WD:3
FD:0 SD:0 C
SUM:426a1dc5 E:000026bf
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel:      D  0: 
DISK<N:0,hda5(3,5),R:0,S:6>
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel:      D  1: 
DISK<N:1,hda6(3,6),R:1,S:6>
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel:      D  2: 
DISK<N:2,hda7(3,7),R:2,S:6>
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel: md:     THIS: 
DISK<N:0,hda5(3,5),R:0,S:6>
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel: md:  
**********************************
Jun 16 20:53:18 sophocles kernel: 

[gcc 2.96-compiled mdadm:]

sophocles:~ # mdadm --examine /dev/hda5 | tail -12
Spare Devices : 0
Checksum : 426a1dc5 - expected 814ffbfe
Events : 9919.0

Layout : left-asymmetric
Chunk Size : 0K

Number Major Minor RaidDevice State

this     0       0        0        3      faulty sync
   0     0       0        0        3      faulty sync
   1     0       0        1        3      active sync
   2     0       0        2        3      faulty active sync

[gcc 3.2-compiled mdadm:]

sophocles:~ # /export/public/clemep/tmp/mdadm --examine /dev/hda5 | tail -12
Spare Devices : 0
Checksum : 426a1dc5 - correct
Events : 9919.0

Layout : left-symmetric
Chunk Size : 128K

Number Major Minor RaidDevice State

this     0       3        5        0      active sync   /dev/hda5
   0     0       3        5        0      active sync   /dev/hda5
   1     1       3        6        1      active sync   /dev/hda6
   2     2       3        7        2      active sync   /dev/hda7