[gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alan McKinnon]

Hi,

Brand new install, and the kernel can't access the SATA disks. I don't
have the bandwidth to d/l an entire install CD and I have an up to date
distfiles locally so I used the latest install CD I have - 2005.1

Hardware: Dell Latitude D810 with 80G sata. 
/ on /dev/sda7 (reiser)
/boot on /dev/sda1 (ext2)
ACCEPT_KEYWORDS=~x86, latest udev installed.
/home, /usr, /opt, /var and distfiles on an lvm (all reiser)
Install disk boots fine with full access to the disk. 

On boot the initramfs detects the hardware, but complains it can't find
my / on /dev/sda7. Drop to a shell and the nodes are right there
in /dev. The reiser module is not loaded, but it was configured as a
module by genkernel.

Where could I have made a mistake? At this point I don't really need a
solution, more a pointer to the FM so I can R it :-)

alan

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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Rumen Yotov]

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Alan McKinnon wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Brand new install, and the kernel can't access the SATA disks. I don't
> have the bandwidth to d/l an entire install CD and I have an up to date
> distfiles locally so I used the latest install CD I have - 2005.1
> 
> Hardware: Dell Latitude D810 with 80G sata. 
> / on /dev/sda7 (reiser)
> /boot on /dev/sda1 (ext2)
> ACCEPT_KEYWORDS=~x86, latest udev installed.
> /home, /usr, /opt, /var and distfiles on an lvm (all reiser)
> Install disk boots fine with full access to the disk. 
> 
> On boot the initramfs detects the hardware, but complains it can't find
> my / on /dev/sda7. Drop to a shell and the nodes are right there
> in /dev. The reiser module is not loaded, but it was configured as a
> module by genkernel.
> 
> Where could I have made a mistake? At this point I don't really need a
> solution, more a pointer to the FM so I can R it :-)
> 
> alan
> 
Hi,
Quite null SATA experience but have you put "dolvm2" in Grub's kernel
boot line (for LVM2 boot support).
Second thought/question - have you compiled support for your mobo in the
kernel, plus SATA support?
Your specific SATA chipset might not have been included in default
genkernel config, so you have to customize it.
HTH.Rumen

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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Mick]

On 02/07/06, Rumen Yotov <rumen@qrypto.org> wrote:
> Alan McKinnon wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > Brand new install, and the kernel can't access the SATA disks. I don't
> > have the bandwidth to d/l an entire install CD and I have an up to date
> > distfiles locally so I used the latest install CD I have - 2005.1
> >
> > Hardware: Dell Latitude D810 with 80G sata.
> > / on /dev/sda7 (reiser)
> > /boot on /dev/sda1 (ext2)
> > ACCEPT_KEYWORDS=~x86, latest udev installed.
> > /home, /usr, /opt, /var and distfiles on an lvm (all reiser)
> > Install disk boots fine with full access to the disk.
> >
> > On boot the initramfs detects the hardware, but complains it can't find
> > my / on /dev/sda7. Drop to a shell and the nodes are right there
> > in /dev. The reiser module is not loaded, but it was configured as a
> > module by genkernel.

If your / fs is reiserfs then recompile your kernel with reiserfs in
the kernel (not as a module) and see if it now finds your /.
-- 
Regards,
Mick
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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alan McKinnon]

On Sun, 2006-07-02 at 19:13 +0200, Mick wrote:
> On 02/07/06, Rumen Yotov <rumen@qrypto.org> wrote:
> > Alan McKinnon wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > Brand new install, and the kernel can't access the SATA disks. I don't
> > > have the bandwidth to d/l an entire install CD and I have an up to date
> > > distfiles locally so I used the latest install CD I have - 2005.1
> > >
> > > Hardware: Dell Latitude D810 with 80G sata.
> > > / on /dev/sda7 (reiser)
> > > /boot on /dev/sda1 (ext2)
> > > ACCEPT_KEYWORDS=~x86, latest udev installed.
> > > /home, /usr, /opt, /var and distfiles on an lvm (all reiser)
> > > Install disk boots fine with full access to the disk.
> > >
> > > On boot the initramfs detects the hardware, but complains it can't find
> > > my / on /dev/sda7. Drop to a shell and the nodes are right there
> > > in /dev. The reiser module is not loaded, but it was configured as a
> > > module by genkernel.
> 
> If your / fs is reiserfs then recompile your kernel with reiserfs in
> the kernel (not as a module) and see if it now finds your /.

That's worth a try - it'll take an hour or three to get everything set
up. But correct me if I'm wrong, I thought the whole point of using an
initramfs was to be able to compile *everything* as a module, including
the fs on / ? If not, that might explain why I've always had mixed
results with genkernel...

alan

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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Rumen Yotov]

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Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On Sun, 2006-07-02 at 19:13 +0200, Mick wrote:
>> On 02/07/06, Rumen Yotov <rumen@qrypto.org> wrote:
>>> Alan McKinnon wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> Brand new install, and the kernel can't access the SATA disks. I don't
>>>> have the bandwidth to d/l an entire install CD and I have an up to date
>>>> distfiles locally so I used the latest install CD I have - 2005.1
>>>>
>>>> Hardware: Dell Latitude D810 with 80G sata.
>>>> / on /dev/sda7 (reiser)
>>>> /boot on /dev/sda1 (ext2)
>>>> ACCEPT_KEYWORDS=~x86, latest udev installed.
>>>> /home, /usr, /opt, /var and distfiles on an lvm (all reiser)
>>>> Install disk boots fine with full access to the disk.
>>>>
>>>> On boot the initramfs detects the hardware, but complains it can't find
>>>> my / on /dev/sda7. Drop to a shell and the nodes are right there
>>>> in /dev. The reiser module is not loaded, but it was configured as a
>>>> module by genkernel.
>> If your / fs is reiserfs then recompile your kernel with reiserfs in
>> the kernel (not as a module) and see if it now finds your /.
> 
> That's worth a try - it'll take an hour or three to get everything set
> up. But correct me if I'm wrong, I thought the whole point of using an
> initramfs was to be able to compile *everything* as a module, including
> the fs on / ? If not, that might explain why I've always had mixed
> results with genkernel...
> 
> alan
> 
Hi,
Certainly not *everything* but you could compile as modules some things
which otherwise you won't be able to use as modules (root fs etc.).
IIRC genkernel uses a 'default' config (equal to the one in LiveCD, if
not wrong). The whole idea is to load&mount "initramfs" in memory so to
have the required modules/lvm/raid things to start the real root-fs.
i'm using genkernel but just for the 'auto' initrd/initramfs thing,
otherwise using my custom kernel config with some 12-16 modules.
HTH.Rumen

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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alan McKinnon]

On Mon, 2006-07-03 at 08:28 +0300, Rumen Yotov wrote:
> > That's worth a try - it'll take an hour or three to get everything
> set
> > up. But correct me if I'm wrong, I thought the whole point of using
> an
> > initramfs was to be able to compile *everything* as a module,
> including
> > the fs on / ? If not, that might explain why I've always had mixed
> > results with genkernel...
> > 
> > alan
> > 
> Hi,
> Certainly not *everything* but you could compile as modules some
> things
> which otherwise you won't be able to use as modules (root fs etc.).
> IIRC genkernel uses a 'default' config (equal to the one in LiveCD, if
> not wrong). The whole idea is to load&mount "initramfs" in memory so
> to
> have the required modules/lvm/raid things to start the real root-fs.
> i'm using genkernel but just for the 'auto' initrd/initramfs thing,
> otherwise using my custom kernel config with some 12-16 modules. 

I see that now. Here's what threw me (on Ubuntu):

alan@alanm:~$ cat /boot/ubuntu/config-2.6.15-25-386 | grep -i reiser
CONFIG_REISERFS_FS=m
# CONFIG_REISERFS_CHECK is not set
# CONFIG_REISERFS_PROC_INFO is not set
CONFIG_REISERFS_FS_XATTR=y
CONFIG_REISERFS_FS_POSIX_ACL=y
CONFIG_REISERFS_FS_SECURITY=y

Silly me, assuming that one distro is built the same way as another
one :-)

alan

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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alexander Skwar]

Rumen Yotov wrote:
> Alan McKinnon wrote:


>> up. But correct me if I'm wrong, I thought the whole point of using an
>> initramfs was to be able to compile *everything* as a module, including
>> the fs on / ? If not, that might explain why I've always had mixed
>> results with genkernel...


> Certainly not *everything*

What *not*? IDE can be a module (if you use IDE), same for SCSI modules.

Alexander Skwar
-- 
What, after all, is a halo?  It's only one more thing to keep clean.
		-- Christopher Fry
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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alan McKinnon]

On Sun, 2006-07-02 at 20:22 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On Sun, 2006-07-02 at 19:13 +0200, Mick wrote:
> > On 02/07/06, Rumen Yotov <rumen@qrypto.org> wrote:

> > If your / fs is reiserfs then recompile your kernel with reiserfs in
> > the kernel (not as a module) and see if it now finds your /.
> 
> That's worth a try - it'll take an hour or three to get everything set
> up. But correct me if I'm wrong, I thought the whole point of using an
> initramfs was to be able to compile *everything* as a module, including
> the fs on / ? If not, that might explain why I've always had mixed
> results with genkernel...

update:

I unmerged and remerged genkernel last night and built a new kernel with
reiser compiled in - it seems I was mistaken as to what can be a module
and what can't be. At least this kernel boots now, with some minor
issues that I can sort out later. I must have forgotten to emerge lvm2
onto the real system as I can't get to the lvm partitions and looking
for vg* under ubuntu shows no such file... silly me.

I now have a question about genkernel - I've always had mixed results
with this. The docs and man pages aren't really clear about how it gets
it's .config - it looks like the first time it's run it finds a
standard .config in /usr/share/genkernel, copies that
to /usr/src/linux/.config then runs make. Afterwards the .config gets
saved in /etc/kernels for later re-use. Next time it's run it has to
detect which version to use - does it look at what /usr/src/linux points
to for this?

And the --oldconfig option is confusing also. Normally "make oldconfig"
uses a prior .config and prompts on the console for any options marked
as NEW in the new source tree. But genkernel --oldconfig seems to do
something else altogether. Can someone clear up these points?

alan


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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alexander Skwar]

Alan McKinnon wrote:

> up. But correct me if I'm wrong, I thought the whole point of using an
> initramfs was to be able to compile *everything* as a module, including
> the fs on / ?

You're right, that's ONE of the points of using an initramfs. Another
point would be, that you're able to put / on LVM/Software-RAID.

Alexander Skwar
-- 
What, after all, is a halo?  It's only one more thing to keep clean.
		-- Christopher Fry
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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 12:33:27 +0200, Alexander Skwar wrote:

> You're right, that's ONE of the points of using an initramfs. Another
> point would be, that you're able to put / on LVM/Software-RAID.

You don't need an initramfs to use Software RAID for /, as long as the
necessary modules are built into the kernel. You do need one for LVM.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

When your pet bird sees you reading the newspaper, does he wonder why
you're just sitting there, staring at carpeting?

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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alan McKinnon]

On Mon, 2006-07-03 at 12:21 +0100, Neil Bothwick wrote:
> > You're right, that's ONE of the points of using an initramfs.
> Another
> > point would be, that you're able to put / on LVM/Software-RAID.
> 
> You don't need an initramfs to use Software RAID for /, as long as the
> necessary modules are built into the kernel. You do need one for LVM. 

Why is that? Is it the user-space tools (vgscan, vgchange, etc) needed
to find the volumes at start time?

alan

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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alexander Skwar]

Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On Mon, 2006-07-03 at 12:21 +0100, Neil Bothwick wrote:
>> > You're right, that's ONE of the points of using an initramfs.
>> Another
>> > point would be, that you're able to put / on LVM/Software-RAID.
>> 
>> You don't need an initramfs to use Software RAID for /, as long as the
>> necessary modules are built into the kernel. You do need one for LVM. 
> 
> Why is that? Is it the user-space tools (vgscan, vgchange, etc) needed
> to find the volumes at start time?

Yes, exactly. As you just wrote, with LVM, you need to activate the
VGs, find the PVs and so on. For this, user-space tools are required.

Not so for Software RAID. According to Neil, the kernel can do all
that's required without the help of user-space tools. Neil might
be right in saying so - I'd suppose that he is right.

Alexander Skwar
-- 
Zoe: "Sir, I think you have a problem with your brain being missing."
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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 15:20:58 +0200, Alexander Skwar wrote:

> Not so for Software RAID. According to Neil, the kernel can do all
> that's required without the help of user-space tools. Neil might
> be right in saying so - I'd suppose that he is right.

If I'm not right, it's a miracle that this box has been booting for the
last two years :)

As long as the partitions types are set to Linux raid autodetect (FD) and
the kernel has the necessary options enabled, you don't need any software
to activate the RAID.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Remember, UNIX spelled backwards is XINU.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Can't access disks after install

[Alexander Skwar]

Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 12:33:27 +0200, Alexander Skwar wrote:
> 
>> You're right, that's ONE of the points of using an initramfs. Another
>> point would be, that you're able to put / on LVM/Software-RAID.
> 
> You don't need an initramfs to use Software RAID for /, as long as the
> necessary modules are built into the kernel.

Thanks. Good to know!

Alexander Skwar
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