sil3124 sata controller panics kernel

[Dieter BSD]

> The Silicon Image web site does have updated firmware for them (from
> 6/23/2010, yet many cards have older versions), including both RAID and
> non-RAID.  I use the non-RAID.
>
> Go to http://www.siliconimage.com/support/ and choose the Sil3124 from
> the dropdown menu.

Thanks.  I don't suppose you have the URL that choosing 3124 is supposed
to send you to?  I tried 3 different browsers and their "fine" menu
does a big fat nothing on any of them.  One browser found 29 problems
with the page.  I guess their web site is the same "fine" quality as
their firmware.  (Skimming through the support page will tell you that
their firmware leaves something to be desired.)

My boards have firmware 6.3.18 (c) 1997-2006 and a "RAID" sticker.
I plan to try the latest non-raid firmware, assuming I can find it,
and can find a way to install it.  I tried siliconimage's search,
and google, no joy.

Does siis(4) need the board's firmware?  If not, is there some way
to have the kernel shut it off?  I hunted through the mainboard's
"fine" firmware yet again, but cannot find any way to avoid the
firmware on expansion boards, nor any way to avoid an expansion card
being in the list of bootable devices.