Linux and Initrd used to access disk : how does it work ?

[Paul Rolland]

Hello,

I've been fighting for a few days with binary modules from some manufacturer
for hardware support of disk controler, and I'm at a point where I need
some more understanding.

1 - My machine contains an Adaptec SATA Raid based on Marvel 88SX60xx
    so I need to used the aar81xxx binary module,

2 - This module is presented as required to access the disk (when 
    installing a RH kernel, it says that no disk is present unless the
    module is loaded),

3 - When booting the kernel from disk after installation, the module is 
    loaded so the machine can access the disk...

... BUT ... how can the machine /
 - boot the kernel,
 - access the initrd image and uncompress it,
 - read the binary module inside and load it
BEFORE loading the module itself, if it is mandatory to access the disk.

And if it is not, then how can I do the installation ?

I suspect this should be fairly trivial, but I've been thinking about
for long, and it looks like chicken and egg to me...

Any help ?

Regards,
Paul

Paul Rolland, rol(at)as2917.net
ex-AS2917 Network administrator and Peering Coordinator

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