Now updated with the latest firmware version according to the comments! Thanks for the correction!

I've just installed two IBM X3950 boxes with Qlogic HBA-cards (QLA2460) with connection to a SAN. I prefer using Debian so I fired up the Etch AMD64 installer. During the boot of the server I could see that the HBA established a connection to the SAN but I noticed that the HBA:s lost the connection to the SAN when the qla2xxx modules were loaded. After some searching I found out that the firmware needed for the qlogic cards to function properly are not included in the installer. This guide is based on what Bruno Meneuvrier wrote in a posting but with adjustments according to how I made the installation. Start the installer in the usual fashion. Just before detecting disks, press <ALT><F2> and download the firmware needed and install:

wget http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/non-free/f/firmware-nonfree/firmware-qlogic_0.12_all.deb [1]
udpkg -i firmware-qlogic_0.12_all.deb

Now reload the qlogic driver:

modprobe -r qla2xxx
modprobe qla2xxx

Return to the installer <ALT><F1> and continue with the detection of the disks. The disk that is available from the SAN should now be visible when setting up the partitions. Continue the installer until you reach the screen Finish installation. Switch to the second console once again; <ALT><F2>. The firmware file has to be added to the initramfs so:

cp firmware-qlogic_0.12_all.deb target/home/
chroot target
cd home
chmod 755 firmware-qlogic_0.12_all.deb
dpkg -i firmware-qlogic_0.12_all.deb
update-initramfs -uv

Return to installer and finish the installation. After the boot check that your SAN connected disk is available.