>> is it running on a machine with a serverworks chipset by any chance?
> 
> 
> What are the known issues with a serverworks chipset?  That might be my 
> problem?
> 
> # lspci
> 00:00.0 Host bridge: Broadcom (formerly ServerWorks) CNB20HE Host Bridge 
> (rev 23)
> 00:00.1 PCI bridge: Broadcom (formerly ServerWorks) CNB20LE Host Bridge 
> (rev 01)
> 00:00.2 Host bridge: Broadcom (formerly ServerWorks) CNB20HE Host Bridge 
> (rev 01)
> 00:00.3 Host bridge: Broadcom (formerly ServerWorks) CNB20HE Host Bridge 
> (rev 01)
> 00:04.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82557/8/9 [Ethernet Pro 
> 100] (rev 08)
> 00:05.0 SCSI storage controller: Adaptec AIC-7899P U160/m (rev 01)
> 00:05.1 SCSI storage controller: Adaptec AIC-7899P U160/m (rev 01)
> 00:06.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82557/8/9 [Ethernet Pro 
> 100] (rev 08)
> 00:0f.0 ISA bridge: Broadcom (formerly ServerWorks) OSB4 South Bridge 
> (rev 50)
> 00:0f.1 IDE interface: Broadcom (formerly ServerWorks) OSB4 IDE Controller
> 00:0f.2 USB Controller: Broadcom (formerly ServerWorks) OSB4/CSB5 OHCI 
> USB Controller (rev 04)
> 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage XL AGP 2X 
> (rev 27)
> 02:01.0 RAID bus controller: LSI Logic / Symbios Logic MegaRAID (rev 01)

the RAID card seems to be an LSI one so i think this is perhaps where 
the issue is - Are there any workarounds?