Howto_Windows_Ubuntu_AMD-RAID

Table of Contents

1 How to dual-boot Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux from AMD-RAID

Running both Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux on one AMD-RAID array does not work out of the box. If you do not know how to set up the UEFI correctly, you will probably end up in a system that is not using AMD-RAID at all, or if you are lucky runs AMD-RAID with Windows only. It took me two months to figure out how to make it work, trying out several recipes and failing numerous times. I only was able to get it working after contacting ASUS support, AMD support, the Linux kernel developers and the AMD community support forum.

This guide helps you to avoid all the mistakes I made and will enable you to finally dual boot both Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux from AMD-RAID. If you have problems or questions, please write to this thread about AMD-RAID on Linux Ubuntu in the AMD community support forum community support forum.

WARNING! DISCLAIMER! Backup all of your data. Several steps in this guide can and/or will potentially lead to data loss. If you follow this guide, do it at your own risk. I will not be responsible for any damage to your system, data loss, loss of time, or whatsoever complications, annoyance or anything else that may happen.

If you have already Windows 10 installed on your AMD-RAID and want to add Linux to it, this guide will tell you how to do it even without the need to reinstall Windows.

What you need:

  • A mainboard supporting AMD-RAID. I have tested this guide with the ASUS PRIME B350plus, but it may work as well for the ASUS PRIME X370-PRO and the ASUS PRIME A320, since AMD offers the same Linux driver for all three platforms. Let me know if it works or not.
  • A USB Stick with 2 GB or more space (will be erased completely, be sure to backup data) for Linux, RAID drivers etc.
  • A Windows 10 64-bit installation DVD or USB stick. If you do not have one already, have an empty DVD ready and follow the guide below to create an installation DVD.
  • A running PC with either Ubuntu or Windows for setting up the USB stick and creating the Windows 10 64-bit installation DVD, if necessary. This PC can be different from the PC where you want to use the AMD-RAID, it is not being used after initializing the USB stick and burning the Windows install DVD.
  • Internet access to download software and drivers during install.
  • Optional: The Motherboard Support DVD. Alternatively you can download drivers and software from the ASUS web site directly, which is the preferred way since the drivers on the support DVD might be outdated.

1.1 Step 1: Setup USB stick with Ubuntu and AMD-RAID drivers

This step can be performed on any PC with a recent running version of Linux or Windows, a DVD drive and internet access. You do not need to do this on the machine where you want to use AMD-RAID.

We will perform three actions in this step. The first action is to install a recent Ubuntu version on the USB stick, then to add the Windows 10 AMD-RAID drivers in the second action and the Linux AMD-RAID drivers in the third action.

1.1.1 Action 1: Install Ubuntu on the USB stick

Download the latest Ubuntu desktop version from the Ubuntu download page. At the time of writing this, there is Ubuntu 16.04.4 LTS and Ubuntu 17.10.1 available. If you want newest features and software, choose Ubuntu 17.10. However, this version will be superseeded and you will need to upgrade to Ubuntu 18.04 LTS latest by July 2018. Contrary to that, Ubuntu 16.04 will be supported until April 2021.

Personally, I prefer Kubuntu over Ubuntu since it uses the KDE desktop environment which has a look and feel similar to Windows. I like it more than the Dash desktop from Ubuntu, and I am a great fan of the Kontact Personal Information Manager which combines mail, calendar, contacts, news feeds and much more and is included in Kubuntu. Besides from the choice of desktop, Kubuntu and Ubuntu are almost identical. For this guide, I have been using Kubuntu 17.10.1. I tested the Linux AMD-RAID driver with Ubuntu 16.04.1 and it worked, and this is probably true for later Ubuntu versions, too. Maybe this guide also works with Xubuntu or other Ubuntu flavours.

On both Linux and Windows, you can use the tool UNetbootin to create a bootable Ubuntu USB-Stick (not tested). Just follow the instructions on the UNetbootin web page and use the previously downloaded Ubuntu ISO image. On Windows I recommend to use Rufus. Again, just follow the instructions on the Rufus web page and use the previously downloaded Ubuntu ISO image. Be sure to use partitioning for UEFI only or both BIOS and UEFI.

1.1.2 Action 2: Copy Windows 10 AMD RAID drivers to USB stick

You can either use the drivers that came with your mainboard (ASUS Mainboard support DVD) or download a fresh version from the ASUS support web site. I recommend to download from the web, these are the most recent drivers.

  1. Alternative 1: Download Windows AMD-RAID drivers from ASUS web page

    Go to the ASUS download center and select your product (Product Type: "Motherboards", Product Series: "ASUS Prime", and Product Model: "PRIME B350-PLUS"). This will lead you to the ASUS PRIME B350-PLUS support page. Select "driver and utility" and "Windows 10 64-bit" as your OS. This will show a long list with all drivers available (Graphics, BIOS, Audio, LAN, …, SATA, …). If the list does not show up, try with a different browser (I had problems with one version of Firefox). From the list, download the "SATA" driver. This will start the download of a ZIP file. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to your USB stick. This will create two directories on your USB stick: SATA and RAID. Make sure that the directory RAID contains the two subdirectories RAID_bottom and RAID_driver.

    Optional: Once you are on the ASUS PRIME B350-PLUS support page, you can also download the latest BIOS updates. Download the "BIOS" and the "BIOS-Utilities" ZIP files and store them on your USB stick. Extract both files on the USB stick. This yields an executable file named BRenamerI and one file named PRIME-B350-PLUS-ASUS-3806.CAP where 3806 is the version number and might be different for you. Run the BRenamerI.exe. It will rename the file PRIME-B350-PLUS-ASUS-3806.CAP to PRB350PS.CAP. That's all. But you need this renamed file when patching the BIOS. If BRenamerI tells you it cannot find the file, make sure both the executable and the .CAP file are stored in the same directory on the USB stick.

  2. Alternative 2: Copy Windows AMD-RAID drivers from ASUS Mainboard Support DVD to USB

    Open your DVD drive (drive letter "E" in this paragraph) and navigate to the directory E:\Drivers\RAID. (The drive letter "E:" may need to be exchanged depending on your setup). In this directory you will find two directories: The AHCI and the RAID directory. The latter contains the drivers you need. Copy this directory, E:\Drivers\RAID\RAID to your USB device (drive letter G: in this guide). Make sure that the copied directory G:\RAID contains the two subdirectories RAID_bottom and RAID_driver.

1.1.3 Action 3: Copy Linux AMD RAID drivers to USB stick

Go to the AMD support center and manually select your driver. In step 1, product type, choose "Chipsets". In step 2, product family, select "AMD socket AM4/Ryzen processor". In step 3, product, select "B350" or "X370" or "A320". In step 4, operating system, choose "Linux x8664". In step 5, push the button "Display results". This will update the current page. Scroll down to "AMD Socket AM4 RAID Driver" or search for it. You will find an entry "Linux" with a link named "64-bit" next to it. By clicking on the link, you will be taken to the AMD RAID driver for Linux page. There is a manual on this page, but it contains incomplete and outdated instructions. If you are desperate, you may take a look. Otherwise just download the driver package by clicking on the "Download" link. Save the file raid_linux_driver_8_01_00_039_public.zip. Extract the ZIP file to your USB stick and make sure that your USB stick now contains a directory named driver_sdk.

1.1.4 Summary

After having performed actions 1 to 3, you have a bootable Ubuntu/Kubuntu USB stick with additional directories driver_sdk and RAID on it, and optionally a BIOS patch file named PRB350PS.CAP or similar, depending on your mainboard type. Do not forget to safely remove your USB stick and take it with you.

1.2 Step 2 (Optional): Create Windows 10 installation DVD

If you do not have a Windows 10 64-bit installation DVD or USB stick and need to install Windows 10 from scratch, you will need a Windows 10 64-bit installation DVD.

1.2.1 Alternative 1: Create Windows 10 installation DVD/USB stick with Linux

First of all, go to the Microsoft "Download Windows 10" page. This will redirect you to the Download Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO File) page. As edition, choose "Windows 10" and confirm. Then choose your favourite language and confirm. Click on "64-bit Download" and start the download of the ISO image.

After the file has been downloaded, use an ISO image burning tool, e.g. K3b. With K3b, open the "Tools" meny entry and click on "Burn Image". Choose the downloaded file and burn it on a DVD.

1.2.2 Alternative 2: Create Windows 10 installation DVD/USB stick with Windows

Go to the Microsoft "Download Windows 10" page and follow the instructions on this page to create a bootable Windows 10 64-bit installation DVD. This involves downloading and running the Media Creation Tool. Be sure to choose the option to create an installation DVD/USB stick for another computer and proceed.

1.3 Step 3: Backup and/or convert your running Linux/Windows installation

Now get back to the PC where you want to use AMD-RAID. This step is only necessary (and at the same time possible) to perform if you have already Ubuntu and/or Windows 10 installed on your PC. If not, you can skip this entire step (all actions) and continue with the next step. If you have a Windows 10 installation already running on AMD-RAID, you can keep it and convert it without the need of a new installation which is very nice! Just follow all the actions below.

1.3.1 Action 1: Backup all your files

Needless to say, all data on disks that are not yet used in an AMD-RAID array but will so in the future are lost. Additionally, if anything goes wrong you might end up with unforeseen data loss. Therefore, make a backup of all your files on all attached disks.

1.3.2 Action 2: Change MBR to GPT on any disks you want to boot from

The Linux AMD-RAID driver only works in UEFI boot mode. Therefore we will change to UEFI boot mode in the next step. By that, any device that you have booted from in BIOS mode will not be able to boot any more, unless you convert the partition tables on the disks. BIOS uses MBR partition tables, while UEFI uses GPT partition tables.

Honestly, I do not know how to convert MBR to GPT on Linux. I hope there is a tool out there that can do it, but I cannot assist you in this step. Please let me know if you have successfully done it, and I will include it in this guide.

In recent Windows 10 builds there is a tool named mbr2gpt included that not only changes the partition tables but also adjusts the Windows boot setup to make UEFI boot possible. You can either try this in a running Windows 10 installation or from a Windows 10 installation environment (Windows 10 install DVD).

  1. Convert your existing Windows 10 installation from MBR to GPT

    WARNING! The conversion cannot be undone. Once you have switched from MBR to GPT, you can only boot with UEFI enabled.

    You can either try this in a running Windows 10 system or from the Windows 10 installation DVD. This recipe is derived from this article of John Savill from ITProToday.

    1. Alternative 1: Convert from within a running Windows 10 MBR system

      You can try to convert your system from MBR to GPT even when Windows 10 is already installed on the disk. To do this, open a command line as administrator (Tap Windows key, type cmd and the command line should appear on top of the search list, right-click on the item and select "Run as Administrator"). Confirm that you allow system changes. In the command line, type mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS. If the validation is successful, issue mbr2gpt /convert /allowFullOS.

      If the validation is not successful, mbr2gpt may indicate what has gone wrong in its error log. Please have a look at the file %WINDIR%\setuperr.log (usually %WINDIR% is C:\WINDOWS, so look at the file C:\WINDOWS\setuperr.log_. In my case, an unused partition was too close at the end of the disk, so I had to delete that partition with the disk manager and try again.

      After conversion has finished successfully, reboot and enter UEFI setup (hit DEL or F2 during reboot). Change to UEFI boot mode, i. e. disable the CSM (Compatibility support module). In the ASUS UEFI you have to switch to "Advanced mode" (press F7), select the "Boot" menu category, and click on the CSM (Compatibility Support Module) entry. Switch the "Launch CSM" from "Auto" to "Disabled", confirm, save with F10 and reboot.

      Depending on your drive setup, you need to change the boot order of your devices or invoke the boot menu. Windows will show up in the boot menu as "Windows Boot Manager (AMD-RAID)".

    2. Alternative 2: Convert your existing Windows 10 installation from Windows 10 installation DVD

      Reboot your machine and enter setup by pressing DEL or F2. If in EZ-Mode, switch to Advanced Mode (F7) and select the "Boot" category. Change the Compatibility support module from "Auto" to "Disabled". Confirm the notice that you are aware that you need the correct UEFI boot loaders. Save and reboot by pressing F10 and confirm.

      Press F8 during reboot to enter boot menu and boot from your Windows 10 installation DVD. Select the correct language, confirm.

      If you have Windows 10 already installed on the AMD-RAID, you will need to load the AMD-RAID drivers before changing the disk from MBR to GPT. Select "install". Setup will complain that drivers are missing. Choose the drivers from the USB drive where you did copy them before. The drive letter probably changed, in my case it was drive C: now.

      Open the folder C:\RAID\RAID_bottom\WT64A and click OK. Make sure that only drivers are shown that match your hardware (the check box needs to be ticked). Choose the topmost driver from the list (rcbottom.inf) and click on Continue.

      Windows complains again that a driver is missing. Now open the folder C:\RAID\RAID_driver\WT64A and click OK. Choose the rcraid.inf driver on top of the list and the installation will continue and ask you for a product key. Choose "I do not have a product key".

      At the next possible opportunity cancel the installation, e. g. when Windows asks whether you want to keep your files or overwrite them. After confirming that you really want to interrupt the installation, this brings you back to the screen where you can choose to install Windows or repair the computer.

      Choose to repair the computer and start a command line.

      Now you have to find out which drive letter corresponds to your Windows 10 installation. In my case, it was drive F:. Try to enter the drive by typing e.g. F:, hit enter, and type dir. From the amount of free space you should be able to tell whether it is your USB stick (typically 2-32 GB free), your DVD drive (0 free) or your harddisk (several 100 GB to some TB free space).

      Issue the command mbr2gpt /validate /disk:f. (Be sure to replace f with your corresponding drive letter). If validation is successful, issue the command mbr2gpt /convert /disk:f

      If the validation is not successful, mbr2gpt may indicate what has gone wrong in its error log. Please have a look at the file %WINDIR%\setuperr.log (usually %WINDIR% is X:\WINDOWS, so look at the file X:\WINDOWS\setuperr.log), fix the problem and try again.

      After conversion has finished, reboot and enter UEFI setup. Change to UEFI boot mode, i. e. disable the CSM (Compatibility support module). In the ASUS UEFI you have to switch to "Advanced mode" (press F7), select the "Boot" menu category, and click on the CSM (Compatibility Support Module) entry. Switch the "Launch CSM" from "Auto" to "Disabled", confirm, save with F10 and reboot.

      Depending on your drive setup, you need to change the boot order of your devices or invoke the boot menu. Windows will show up in the boot menu as "Windows Boot Manager (AMD-RAID)".

1.4 Step 4: Setup UEFI and create AMD-RAID array(s)

Now with your USB stick prepared in step 1, we are now going to setup (and optionally patch) the UEFI. This includes enabling UEFI boot, activating the AMD-RAID controller and creating an array.

1.4.1 Action 1 (Optional): Patch UEFI

WARNING! All UEFI settings will be lost in this step and you have to redo the settings (see actions 2 and 3).

Reboot your Computer and enter setup by pressing DEL or F2. If UEFI starts in "EZ Mode", enter "Advanced Mode" by pressing F7. In the menu, choose the "Tool" entry and invoke the "ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility". In the dialog that appears, choose "via Storage Device(s)" and click on "Next".

In the file dialog that opens, select the USB stick and on the USB stick select the file PRB350PS.CAP that was created in an earlier step. Confirm you want to update the BIOS and watch the progress bar. After a few minutes, the update has finished, a message appears and the system will automatically reboot.

After the reboot, a boot message appears that tells you to press the F1 key to setup UEFI. Due to patching the UEFI, all settings are now back to defaults and you will have to setup your UEFI again (see next actions). Press the F1 key to enter UEFI and continue with the next action.

1.4.2 Action 2: Enable UEFI boot

If not yet in UEFI, reboot your Computer and enter setup by pressing DEL or F2. If UEFI starts in "EZ Mode", enter "Advanced Mode" by pressing F7. In the menu, choose the "Boot" entry and click on the CSM (Compatibility Support Module) entry. Switch the "Launch CSM" from "Auto" to "Disabled" and confirm in the next dialog box.

1.4.3 Action 3: Enable AMD-RAID in UEFI

In the UEFI Advanced Mode, choose the "Advanced" menu entry an select "SATA configuration". Then, change the "SATA mode" from "AHCI" to "RAID". Press F10 to save and exit.

In the dialog box that opens, make sure that both "Launch CSM" has been set to "Disabled" and "SATA Mode" is changed to "RAID". Confirm and reboot.

1.4.4 Action 4: Create AMD-RAID

WARNING! When you create or delete RAID arrays, all data on the disks are lost. Therefore, make sure you have a backup of all your files!

  1. Which RAID to choose?

    I have been using two identical 2 TB disks and RAID1 (mirror), such that if one disk fails I can still work with the other disk without any data loss. I am very happy with that. In my previous system, I had a similar setup and it saved me twice from severe data loss due to corrupt disks. As I am a bit lazy with backups (about once a month) I did not loose a single byte of data. Of course, depending on your needs, you might want to choose a different setup.

    Enter UEFI by rebooting and hitting either DEL or F2 during reboot. In the UEFI EZ mode, have a look at the UEFI BIOS version (see top left, under "Information".

  2. Alternative 1: UEFI version earlier than 3806

    With UEFI versions earlier than 3806 there is a separate ROM that is not integrated in the UEFI Utility but rather uses its own tool to manage RAID. It announces itself with a separate screen during boot. In order to manage RAID, you need to enter this utility by pressing Ctrl-R as the displayed text tells you. With this tool, create a RAID array. Once you are done, save the changes and exit the tool, which will reboot your computer.

  3. Alternative 2: UEFI version 3806 or later

    Starting with UEFI BIOS version 3806, the configuration is integrated in the UEFI utility. If in "EZ Mode", change to "Advanced Mode" by hitting F7. Select the "Advanced" menu entry and click on "RAIDXpert2 Configuration utility" at the bottom. By selecting "Array Management", you can create RAID arrays, manage their properties or delete them. Press F10 to exit and save changes once you are done, which will reboot your computer.

1.5 Step 5: Install Windows 10 64-bit on AMD-RAID

Insert the Windows 10 installation DVD/USB stick in your system. Make sure that UEFI boot is enabled. Reboot your system and press F8 to enter boot menu. Boot the Windows 10 installation medium.

Windows setup will complain that drivers are missing. Choose the drivers from the USB drive where you did copy them before in step 1. The drive letter of the USB drive did probably change, in my case it was drive C: now.

Open the folder C:\RAID\RAID_bottom\WT64A and click OK. Make sure that only drivers are shown that match your hardware (the check box needs to be ticked). Choose the topmost driver from the list (rcbottom.inf) and click on Continue.

Windows complains again that a driver is missing. Now open the folder C:\RAID\RAID_driver\WT64A and click OK. Choose the rcraid.inf driver on top of the list and the installation will continue. Finish the installation.

Congratulation! You are now using Windows 10 64-bit on AMD-RAID in UEFI boot mode.

1.6 Step 6: Install Ubuntu on AMD-RAID

In order for this step to be successful, you need to have the "CSM (Compatibility Support Module)" disabled in UEFI, set the SATA mode to "RAID" and created an AMD-RAID array with help of the UEFI or AMD-RAID BIOS (see step 4). You also need a bootable USB stick with Ubuntu and to have added the driver_sdk directory of the Linux AMD-RAID drivers to it (see step 1).

Reboot your PC and press F8 during reboot in order to open the boot menu. Choose the USB stick as boot medium. Watch Ubuntu booting and once the Welcome screen opens select "Try Kubuntu". Do not press "Install Kubuntu" yet, we first have to compile and insert the AMD-RAID kernel module before you will be able to install!

1.6.1 Action 1: Compile and insert AMD-RAID kernel module, install Ubuntu

Open a Terminal (e. g. "Konsole" on Kubuntu). Probably your boot device is mounted as /cdrom. You can check this by issuing the command lsblk and check for the "MOUNTPOINT" column. Ignore the loop file system and take what is left.

On Kubuntu, you first need to install the package build-essential in order to be able to use make, gcc and other development tools. Therefore, issue sudo apt-get install build-essential. On Ubuntu, this package is already installed.

Copy the driver_sdk directory to your home directory by typing cp -ap /cdrom/driver_sdk ~. Change to the directory with cd ~/driver_sdk.

Next, you will need to edit one source file and add a missing include file to it, because otherwise you will not be able to compile the driver. However, the driver license that you accepted by downloading the driver forbids any derivative work. Is adding a missing line a derivative work? As I am no lawyer, I do not have an answer to that. Please judge on your own whether the license allows you to make this change. I will not take any responsibility if you decide to do so, do it own your own risk!

If you come to the conclusion that you still want to edit, edit the file e. g. by issuing sudo nano ~/driver_sdk/src/rc_mem_ops.c and add the line #include "linux/signal.h" = before the first =#include you find in the file. Save the file by typing Ctrl-X and confirm.

Back to the shell, issue the command sudo ./install. This will compile the kernel module, copy it to the kernel modules directory and run depmod.

Remove the AHCI module with the command sudo rmmod ahci and insert the freshly built AMD-RAID kernel module by entering sudo modprobe rcraid.

Check that the module got inserted and the RAID array has been detected by looking at the kernel messages: dmesg | tail -50. The output should look similar to the following:

rcraid: loading out-of-tree module taints kernel.
rcraid: module license 'Proprietary' taints kernel.
Disabling lock debugging due to kernel taint
rcraid: module verification failed: signature and/or required key missing - tainting kernel
<5>AMD, Inc. rcraid raid driver version 8.1.0 build_number 8.1.0-00039 built Mar 30 2018
<5>rcraid built on kubuntu by root on Fri Mar 30 13:58:58 UTC 2018
<5>rcraid: cmd_q_depth 512, tag_q_depth 16, max_xfer 448, use_swl 0xffffffff
<5>rcraid_probe_one: vendor = 0x1022 device 0x43bd
<5>rcraid_probe_one: vendor = 0x1022 device 0x7916
<5>rcraid_probe_one: Total adapters matched 2
<5>rcraid: rc_init_adapter 64 bit DMA enabled
<6>### rc_init_adapter(): RC_EnableZPODD = 0
<3>rcraid:0 request_threaded_irq irq 297
<5>rcraid: card 0: AMD, Inc. AHCI
<5>rcraid: rc_init_adapter 64 bit DMA enabled
<6>### rc_init_adapter(): RC_EnableZPODD = 0
<3>rcraid:1 request_threaded_irq irq 308
<5>rcraid: card 1: AMD, Inc. AHCI
<6>rcraid: rc_event: config change detected on bus 0
scsi host0: AMD, Inc. AMD-RAID
scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access     AMD-RAID Array 01         8.1  PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
scsi 0:0:24:0: Processor         AMD-RAID Configuration    V1.2 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
scsi 0:1:0:0: CD-ROM            HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50  TN03 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] 3905925120 512-byte logical blocks: (2.00 TB/1.82 TiB)
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 00 06 00 00
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] Write cache: disabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
scsi 0:0:24:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 3
sr 0:1:0:0: [sr0] scsi-1 drive
cdrom: Uniform CD-ROM driver Revision: 3.20
sr 0:1:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr0
sr 0:1:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 5
 sdb: sdb1 sdb2 sdb3
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#1 FAILED Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_SENSE
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#1 Sense Key : Illegal Request [current]
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#1 Add. Sense: Invalid message error
sd 0:0:0:0: [sdb] tag#1 CDB: ATA command pass through(16) 85 06 20 00 05 00 fe 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 ef 00

Congratulations! You now have access to the AMD-RAID system from Ubuntu Linux and can continue the install process. Press the "Install Kubuntu" icon on your desktop and install Kubuntu.

But wait - do not reboot after installation has finished! Although you could install Ubuntu now, you have to be aware that the driver still needs to be loaded when Ubuntu starts. This means that the kernel module rcraid.ko needs to be inserted into the initial ram disk (initrd) before you can boot your system. And always when you update the kernel, you need to install the rcraid.ko driver anew.

1.6.2 Action 2: Chroot to installed Ubuntu and add AMD-RAID driver to initrd

Let's assume for this section that you installed Ubuntu on /dev/sdb5. Now we have to prepare the installed system in order to compile the AMD-RAID kernel module on it.

First, mount the device such that you can access it: sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /mnt. Before using chroot to enter the system, we need to provide it with some essential information. To do so, enter for dir in /dev /dev/pts /proc /sys /run; do sudo mount --bind $dir /mnt/$dir; done, then sudo cp /proc/mounts /mnt/etc/mtab, and finally sudo mount -o bind /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/etc/resolv.conf.

Copy the AMD-RAID Driver SDK to the system: sudo cp -a ~/driver_sdk /mnt/root.

Now enter the system by typing sudo chroot /mnt /bin/bash. Again, for Kubuntu you have to install the build-essential package: apt install build-essential.

Then, compile the driver with the following commands: cd /root/driver_sdk ; ./install. This will compile and insert the driver in the initial ram disk (initrd) for all kernels on the system.

After the install script finishes, you can leave the chroot system by typing exit in the shell and reboot.

While rebooting, you may prefer to enter UEFI by hitting DEL or F2 in order to check and adjust the boot order to your liking. You should arrange the order such that Ubuntu boots first; from the Ubuntu boot loader you can still start Windows Boot Manager if you like. Otherwise, if Windows Boot Manager is first, you cannot start Ubuntu from it. Therefore, keep Ubuntu first.

1.6.3 Action 3: Add KDE backport to Kubuntu 17.10

Kubuntu 17.10 has a very early version of the KDE Plasma Desktop with lots of bugs that lead to unexpected crashes of KDE programs. I strongly recommend to install the latest KDE backports, otherwise your Kubuntu experience might end with a disappointment. In your freshly installed Kubuntu system, execute the following commands:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports sudo apt update sudo apt full-upgrade

This will pull over 100 packages and install them on your system. My experience is that KDE Plasma runs very well afterwards.

1.6.4 Action 4: Keep the system up to date

Every time you install a new kernel, you need to add the AMD-RAID drivers to the initrd. This involves the following step (after a new kernel is installed and Ubuntu asks you to reboot):

sudo -u root -- sh -c "cd /root/driver_sdk; ./install"

If you forgot to do this, boot an older kernel where you had AMD-RAID support added and run the above command. This should almost always work. If also this fails, get back to action 2 of this step: Boot from the Ubuntu USB stick, chroot to the installed system and fix errors this way.

Author: Martin Weber

Created: 2018-06-01 Fr 22:17

Emacs 25.2.1 (Org mode 8.2.10)

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