[gentoo-user] Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[gentoo-user] Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[David Kuhl]

I'm so stuck with this Gentoo laptop.  It started with a standard
update which was the first in three months.  Then when the X didn't
run due to xorg-server getting upgraded, the 3.3.8 gen kernel was
suppose to be built with KSM.  That failed due to mkfs_ext2.h.  The a
beta of genkernel was used and which built the kernel and initramfs,
but the rest of the machine looks like it's gone.  All the LVM2
partitions are broke:  /home /var /opt /usr.  What's the best way to
get this back without loosing the system?  Thanks

Re: [gentoo-user] Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[Florian Philipp]

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Am 03.07.2012 20:00, schrieb David Kuhl:
> I'm so stuck with this Gentoo laptop.  It started with a standard
> update which was the first in three months.  Then when the X didn't
> run due to xorg-server getting upgraded, the 3.3.8 gen kernel was
> suppose to be built with KSM.  That failed due to mkfs_ext2.h.  The a
> beta of genkernel was used and which built the kernel and initramfs,
> but the rest of the machine looks like it's gone.  All the LVM2
> partitions are broke:  /home /var /opt /usr.  What's the best way to
> get this back without loosing the system?  Thanks
> 

Step one: Do a full disk backup. Boot to a live-CD, then back everything
up with dd or -- if available -- ddrescue.

Step two: Replace broken partitions with `mount --bind` versions from
the live-CD. Then chroot into your system. Refer to the Gentoo Handbook
for details.

Step three: Do you still have /etc? In that case, you can try to restore
the LVM metadata from backups that are automatically created by certain
operations.

Try `vgcfgrestore --list <volume group>` from a to see what is available.

Step four: Post more info.

Regards,
Florian Philipp


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Re: [gentoo-user] Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[Alex Schuster]

David Kuhl writes:

> I'm so stuck with this Gentoo laptop.  It started with a standard
> update which was the first in three months.  Then when the X didn't
> run due to xorg-server getting upgraded, the 3.3.8 gen kernel was
> suppose to be built with KSM.  That failed due to mkfs_ext2.h.  The a
> beta of genkernel was used and which built the kernel and initramfs,
> but the rest of the machine looks like it's gone.  All the LVM2
> partitions are broke:  /home /var /opt /usr.  What's the best way to
> get this back without loosing the system?  Thanks

Did you use genkernel with --lvm, or is it activated in genkernel.conf?

Does lvscan still list the logical volumes? Assuming you get to a prompt
and can use your system without the missing partitions, if not you need to
use a live CD. Maybe they are just inactive, and vgchange -a y will make
them active and you can continue booting?
Does your old kernel (the one without KMS and so without X, but with a
working text console) find the LVMs?

	Wonko

[gentoo-user] Re: Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[Nikos Chantziaras]

On 03/07/12 21:35, Florian Philipp wrote:
> Am 03.07.2012 20:00, schrieb David Kuhl:
>> I'm so stuck with this Gentoo laptop.  It started with a standard
>> update which was the first in three months.  Then when the X didn't
>> run due to xorg-server getting upgraded, the 3.3.8 gen kernel was
>> suppose to be built with KSM.  That failed due to mkfs_ext2.h.  The a
>> beta of genkernel was used and which built the kernel and initramfs,
>> but the rest of the machine looks like it's gone.  All the LVM2
>> partitions are broke:  /home /var /opt /usr.  What's the best way to
>> get this back without loosing the system?  Thanks
>>
>
> Step one: Do a full disk backup. Boot to a live-CD, then back everything
> up with dd or -- if available -- ddrescue.
>
> Step two: ...

... install Ubuntu (or one of its spin-offs.)  Having a laptop with 
Gentoo that wasn't updated for months looks to me like the wrong usage 
case for Gentoo.  If you want periods of several months of base package 
stability, you do not use a rolling-release distro.  With Gentoo you 
need to update often and *pay attention* to the changes.

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[Michael Orlitzky]

On 07/03/12 17:16, Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> On 03/07/12 21:35, Florian Philipp wrote:
>> Am 03.07.2012 20:00, schrieb David Kuhl:
>>> I'm so stuck with this Gentoo laptop.  It started with a standard
>>> update which was the first in three months.  Then when the X didn't
>>> run due to xorg-server getting upgraded, the 3.3.8 gen kernel was
>>> suppose to be built with KSM.  That failed due to mkfs_ext2.h.  The a
>>> beta of genkernel was used and which built the kernel and initramfs,
>>> but the rest of the machine looks like it's gone.  All the LVM2
>>> partitions are broke:  /home /var /opt /usr.  What's the best way to
>>> get this back without loosing the system?  Thanks
>>>
>>
>> Step one: Do a full disk backup. Boot to a live-CD, then back everything
>> up with dd or -- if available -- ddrescue.
>>
>> Step two: ...
> 
> ... install Ubuntu (or one of its spin-offs.)  Having a laptop with
> Gentoo that wasn't updated for months looks to me like the wrong usage
> case for Gentoo.  If you want periods of several months of base package
> stability, you do not use a rolling-release distro.  With Gentoo you
> need to update often and *pay attention* to the changes.

Six months to a year isn't really (and shouldn't) be a big deal. Just
look at the output of `emerge -puDN world`, and do the upgrades a few at
a time. Stop when you upgrade something major to make sure everything
works, then go back to what you were doing.

Devs take this into account when adding/removing features.. many
proposals have a "wait a year" step.

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[Philip Webb]

120704 Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> Am 03.07.2012 20:00, schrieb David Kuhl:
>> I'm so stuck with this Gentoo laptop.
>> It started with a standard update which was the first in three months.
>> Then when the X didn't run due to xorg-server getting upgraded,
>> the 3.3.8 gen kernel was suppose to be built with KSM.
>> That failed due to mkfs_ext2.h.
>> The a beta of genkernel was used and which built the kernel and initramfs,
>> but the rest of the machine looks like it's gone.
>> All the LVM2 partitions are broke:  /home /var /opt /usr.
>> What's the best way to get this back without loosing the system?
> ... install Ubuntu (or one of its spin-offs).
> Having a laptop with Gentoo that wasn't updated for months
> looks to me like the wrong usage case for Gentoo.

I disagree: I update my netbook & my stand-by machine once/year.
However, I never-ever do a simple 'emerge world':
I always do 'emerge -Dup world', then work thro' the listed pkgs
a few at a time, taking note of warnings, failures etc.

I suspect DK sb using Gentoo-sources for his kernel
-- I've never used Genkernel -- & looking carefully at the options.
Compile everything into the kernel : avoid using modules.

As for LVM, boot from Systemrescue, which should recognise them:
if it does, the problem is elsewhere (eg kernel);
if not, he will have to recreate LVM & hope he has back-ups.

Why does he need KSM ? -- Google found an article which advises :
"if you need to run multiple virtual machines
on a host where memory is a constraint, then KSM is your solution".
Why would he need to do that on a laptop ?

Also, it helps not to boot straight into the GUI :
I boot to a raw login prompt, then 'startx',
which allows me to do system jobs by logging in as 'root' & using CLI.
Yes, it's ok to login as 'root' if you're not using a GUI or the I/net,
or even with the I/net if you're careful (you wb using Lynx or Wget).

Finally -- with a (big smile) -- don't panic !  We've all been there
& with Gentoo the solution is usually not far away once you find it.

-- 
========================,,============================================
SUPPORT     ___________//___,   Philip Webb
ELECTRIC   /] [] [] [] [] []|   Cities Centre, University of Toronto
TRANSIT    `-O----------O---'   purslowatchassdotutorontodotca

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[Alex Schuster]

Philip Webb writes:

> 120704 Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> > Am 03.07.2012 20:00, schrieb David Kuhl:

> >> What's the best way to get this back without loosing the system?
> > ... install Ubuntu (or one of its spin-offs).

Ieeeek !


> Why does he need KSM ? -- Google found an article which advises :
> "if you need to run multiple virtual machines
> on a host where memory is a constraint, then KSM is your solution".
> Why would he need to do that on a laptop ?

KMS != KSM :)

	Wonko

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[Philip Webb]

120704 Alex Schuster wrote:
> Philip Webb writes:
>> 120704 Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
>>> ... install Ubuntu (or one of its spin-offs).
> Ieeeek !

My view exactly (grin).

>> Why does he need KSM ? -- Google found an article which advises :
>> "if you need to run multiple virtual machines
>> on a host where memory is a constraint, then KSM is your solution".
>> Why would he need to do that on a laptop ?
> KMS != KSM :)

No, of course it isn't, but that's what the OP wrote.
Yes, there's an article in the Gentoo Wiki re KMS,
which does seem of interest if you're juggling laptop displays.
OTOH that doesn't seem to be the source of his problems, eg LVM,
so my advice to him wb to deal with one issue at a time.

-- 
========================,,============================================
SUPPORT     ___________//___,   Philip Webb
ELECTRIC   /] [] [] [] [] []|   Cities Centre, University of Toronto
TRANSIT    `-O----------O---'   purslowatchassdotutorontodotca

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Gentoo Laptop Looks to be Trashed

[Ric de France]

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On 4 July 2012 07:16, Nikos Chantziaras <realnc@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> ... install Ubuntu (or one of its spin-offs.)  Having a laptop with Gentoo
> that wasn't updated for months looks to me like the wrong usage case for
> Gentoo.  If you want periods of several months of base package stability,
> you do not use a rolling-release distro.  With Gentoo you need to update
> often and *pay attention* to the changes.
>
>
>
My experiences differ with this somewhat. The longest between updates on a
Gentoo system I had was 18 months. I did *pay attention*, and that is what
got me through and updated. I would not recommend this for most users.

...Ric
-- 
Ric de France
Ph: +61412945554 (international) or 0412945554 (Australia)
 --> Do you, uh... Gentoo? Gentoooo-hooo!! <--
--> http://www.gentoo.org/main/en/about.xml <--

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