Hi, I can confirm the bug on a fresh installed ubuntu server (9.04).

Linux ubuntu 2.6.28-15-server #49-Ubuntu SMP Tue Aug 18 19:30:06 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

It's on a Via VT6421 based S-ATA/P-ATA raid controller for PCI.
(Kon Delock Control 70873)

It's not usable (no /dev/sdX for the devices connected to the controller).

CPU: model name	: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+

Here is the dmesg output:

[    2.072243] input: Macintosh mouse button emulation as /devices/virtual/input/input3
[    2.072285] Driver 'sd' needs updating - please use bus_type methods
[    2.072298] Driver 'sr' needs updating - please use bus_type methods
[    2.072469] sata_via 0000:00:06.0: version 2.4
[    2.072498] sata_via 0000:00:06.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[    2.072609] sata_via 0000:00:06.0: routed to hard irq line 5
[    2.072815] scsi0 : sata_via
[    2.072965] scsi1 : sata_via
[    2.073060] scsi2 : sata_via
[    2.073112] ata1: SATA max UDMA/133 port i16@0xd800 bmdma 0xc800 irq 17
[    2.073117] ata2: SATA max UDMA/133 port i16@0xd400 bmdma 0xc808 irq 17
[    2.073120] ata3: PATA max UDMA/133 port i16@0xd000 bmdma 0xc810 irq 17
[    7.460011] ata1: link is slow to respond, please be patient (ready=0)
[   12.080011] ata1: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[   17.470011] ata1: link is slow to respond, please be patient (ready=0)
[   22.090010] ata1: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[   27.480011] ata1: link is slow to respond, please be patient (ready=0)
[   57.120010] ata1: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[   62.150011] ata1: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[   62.150057] ata1: reset failed, giving up
[   67.540011] ata2: link is slow to respond, please be patient (ready=0)
[   72.160011] ata2: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[   77.550011] ata2: link is slow to respond, please be patient (ready=0)
[   82.170010] ata2: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[   87.560011] ata2: link is slow to respond, please be patient (ready=0)
[  117.200010] ata2: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[  122.230011] ata2: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[  122.230056] ata2: reset failed, giving up
[  122.401603] pata_pdc2027x 0000:00:0c.0: version 1.0

lspci (bridge):
00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo KT266/A/333]
00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8366/A/7 [Apollo KT266/A/333 AGP]

lspci -vv (raid controller):
00:06.0 RAID bus controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6421 IDE RAID Controller (rev 50)
	Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6421 IDE RAID Controller
	Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 32
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
	Region 0: I/O ports at d800 [size=16]
	Region 1: I/O ports at d400 [size=16]
	Region 2: I/O ports at d000 [size=16]
	Region 3: I/O ports at cc00 [size=16]
	Region 4: I/O ports at c800 [size=32]
	Region 5: I/O ports at c400 [size=256]
	Expansion ROM at dffe0000 [disabled] [size=64K]
	Capabilities: [e0] Power Management version 2
		Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
		Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
	Kernel driver in use: sata_via


What information do you need else?