So, after much work and never having used Linux before, I have managed to do a full install of Slackware 13.1 on my laptop, and it dual boots with Windows XP, so I can choose which I want. The system I am running this on is a Toshiba laptop, model L505D-S5983. 

 

Question 1 - In order to start Slackware or to boot Unraid off of USB, I have to use the append "acpi=off", or it won't boot. What does the acpi=off command mean? I think I read somewhere that this means my Unraid won't ever spin down the disks. Is that true? Does it do something else? Do I need to fix this, or does acpi=off not really matter? If so, can someone point me to a resource/tutorial? 

 

Question 2 - I have a 4 bay external enclosure that connects via USB. Can I make these external HDDs part of my Unraid array? If so, how? 

 

Thanks to everyone for all the great resources and help. So far, my searching hasn't turned up answers on these questions though.

So, after much work and never having used Linux before, I have managed to do a full install of Slackware 13.1 on my laptop, and it dual boots with Windows XP, so I can choose which I want. The system I am running this on is a Toshiba laptop, model L505D-S5983. 

Glad to here you got it up and running

 

Question 1 - In order to start Slackware or to boot Unraid off of USB, I have to use the append "acpi=off", or it won't boot. What does the acpi=off command mean? I think I read somewhere that this means my Unraid won't ever spin down the disks. Is that true? Does it do something else? Do I need to fix this, or does acpi=off not really matter? If so, can someone point me to a resource/tutorial?   

Take a look here

 

Question 2 - I have a 4 bay external enclosure that connects via USB. Can I make these external HDDs part of my Unraid array? If so, how? 

No, unRAID will not allow you to add drives in a USB enclosure to the array.

Thanks for the links and answers. As a follow up question, my 4 Bay external enclosure can also connect via e-sata.

 

Is there a way to include the 4 bay enclosure in an Unraid if I connect it via e-sata instead of USB?

 

Thanks so much,

 

Atropos

Is there a way to include the 4 bay enclosure in an Unraid if I connect it via e-sata instead of USB?

 

I think this should work.  I have never tried it myself, though I did at one point have an eSATA to SATA cable hooked up to a drive and it worked fine.  If your enclosure does not do anything funky to the drives you may be able to add them to unRAID.