I would like it all to be 100% automatic, but there are practical limitations.
As it happens, the kernel DOES print out the IDE chipset at boot time,
IF it recognizes it. This currently works only for the PCI chipsets,
such as the RZ1000, CMD640 (PCI version), and Intel 430FX Triton.
The non-PCI chipsets are NOT automatically detected -- the IDE driver does
not even look for them unless a special parameter is specified at boot time.
This is mostly because we don't know how to look for those chipsets safely,
and the manufacturers haven't exactly been forthcoming with the information.
Cheers,
-ml