[Linux-ia64] Linux 2.4.5 boot hangs at "SCSI(0): Verifying chip"

Booting Linux 2.4.5 on a Lion, it sometimes hangs at "SCSI(0): Verifying
chip..."  When it hangs there, you can't break in with ITP, it gets a bus
timeout. Other times, it boots.  Has anyone else seen this?  If so, is it a
known problem with Linux, firmware, or what?  Is there a workaround?

Thanks,
David Robboy