get "PCI CF to SSD SATA" device working under OpenSolaris

"PCI to 4x Compact Flash Card (CD to SSD SATA adapter)"
box says "Creative I/O" but retailed as Syba SY-PCI48001

shows up as "Silicon Image Sil 0680 Ultra-133 Medley ATA Raid Controller"

because it lists itself as device type RAID, the ata driver does not attach. online research suggests that devices based on 0680 which declare themselves as RAID can be made to work.

Boot OS snv_125 DVD with all controllers and disks attached. Double-click "Install OpenSolaris" icon on desktop and install to a spare HD. When install completes, reboot.

Log in, start terminal, su -

update_drv -v -a -i '"pci1095,3680"' ata
exit status = 0
reboot -- -reconfigure

log in, start terminal, su -
prtconf: device still has no driver attached
no sign of it in /var/adm/messages
/etc/driver_aliases lists it



reading online, it might not work unless i flash the BIOS to a non-raid version. i can find non-raid bios for 0680a on silicon image website, but running their windows bios update tool, it could see my 3124 card but not the 0680. http://club.myce.com/f61/new-silicon-image-sil-0680-firmware-drivers-192683/ includes a case where this chip could only be updated via dos updating tool, but was successful with the DOS tool. thing is, it depends which flash chip is on the board.... some might come with a write-once chip that cannot be flashed! however it is not possible to read the markings on the chip on my board, and i can't find out by research, so I need to try the DOS tool.

new sub-sub-project: make a bootable DOS system with the BIOS and tool included. http://genetikayos.livejournal.com/43998.html has instructions. download freeDOS floppy img from http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-stuff/freedos/files/distributions/unofficial/balder/ and winimage and usb format tool as detailed in above link. put those on a USB key, boot from "hiren boot cd" mini winxp, install winimage, use winimage to extract balder img file to a new directory. try to run HP usb format tool, but needs LZ32.dll which isn't in minixp... nor is it on my real winxp system?? instead use dell diagnostics tool reference in comments at above link... after creating dell diagnostic disk, unplug and insert it so it is mounted by windows. add UPDFLASH.EXE and bios .bin file from silicon image site. rename gui.exe and all .bat files to disable dell diagnostic tools and ensure we get dumped to a DOS prompt on boot.

bios won't boot this flash drive formatted this way, unless i select it in the "hdd priority list".

boots to DOS prompt, ".\UPDFLASH.EXE b3400.bin"
... finds my controller, "Loading BIOS..." "Verifying..." "BIOS is loaded."
success!!

reboot and check BIOS POST data about 680 card: it now shows up as Class 0106, "Mass Storage Controller" yay!

boot from EON disc: format lists it!

"install.sh" [select the option for c1d0 which was the CF card]
success!
"reboot"
log in with root/eonsolaris
/usr/bin/setup [configure hostname and IP addresses for each network interface]
updimg.sh /mnt/eon0/boot/x86.eon

plug in all drives, make sure BIOS is set to boot CF card 1st priority, and continue with final software setup