Kernel config question on Hitachi HTS541080G9SA00, Intel 945pm Express, SATA drive on Dell e1505 Inspiron

Hi,

Is it currently possible to configure a linux kernel to directly (without an initrd image) boot from a Hitachi HTS541080G9SA00 drive which I believe is a SATA-I serial ATA drive. I believe my machine is using an Intel 945pm chipset to drive the hard drive.

I think the setup should use the AHCI driver in libata, but I have tried a variety of permutations with no success so far. (like 2.6.19-rcx)

The box currently boots a Debian Sarge distribution (kernel 2.6.8) using an hda ide disk configuration (as opposed to an sda), but I need a more recent kernel version to get drivers for other devices working.

Thanks for any help and suggestions,

Marc

In case anyone else is looking for this info, the Debian Sarge distribution sets up the disk as and ide (hda) drive and I am not sure of a good upgrade path from there. Instead, do a network install of Debian Etch, the Testing distribution at this time, which then sets up the drive as SCSI (sda) and does (hopefully) use libata. Further kernel updates should be easier from that point.

This concern will no longer be an issue when Etch becomes the stable distribution which is expected to occur relatively soon.

Marc