HDD Errors...What are they and how do I stop them?
 

I am working on getting my server up and running, but everytime I let a script run, it eventually stops with some error (I'm doing this through Putty). When I check the physical machine, I get stuff like:
hdd: irq timeout: error=0x00
hdd:ATAPI reset complete
...

I get a list of various irq and status timeouts, and then the ATAPI reset complete messages. It make Putty quit working, SCP disconnect, and my script stop. If I hit a few keys, I can get back to the prompt, but nothing can connect (Putty or SCP) and I have to reboot.

What processor and motherboard are you running? Also what chipset is on the motherboard? This defiantly sounds like a hardware problem, rather than a Linux problem. Unfortunately Linux really does not like VIA and SIS chipsets. If your motherboard has either one of those chipsets, you may have allot of trouble getting your server to run. :(

It's an old Compaq Presario. I don't really know about the chipset...
http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Compaq_P...588_A63872_003

What Linux distro are you running? You might want to try kernel 2.6.15, I heard that it clears up allot of errors.

I am using CentOS 4.2...what kernel is that, or how do I find out?

You get the kernel from http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6 and you can follow one of these guides to compile it. http://www.eth0.us/taxonomy/term/12 Its pretty easy to compile a kernel. :)