[gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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Hi,

After a few solved problems, I am still unable to completely boot using
grub:2, and now I just can't find anything else to fiddle with.

So I would really appreciate if someone could take a look at my
configuration:

- system is amd64;
- hard disk partitioning:
  - two first primary partitions, unused (for now);
  - third (/dev/sda3) is /boot partition, kernel built and in place;
  - extended partition as fourth partition;
  - logical partition (/dev/sda5) is "/" linux partition, ext4 formated;
- emerged  the following, before building kernel;
  - genkernel ;
  - media-gfx/splashutils-1.5.4.4-r1;
  - media-gfx/splash-themes-gentoo-20101212-r1 ;
  - sys-apps/v86d-0.1.10;
- genkernel command line:
    genkernel all \
        --color --menuconfig --splash=natural_gentoo \
        --splash-res=1024x768,1280x1024,1366x768,1440x900 \
        --mountboot --install  --unionfs --real-root=/dev/sda5 \
        --ramdisk-modules --postclear
- kernel built with:
  - CONFIG_FB_UVESA=y
  - CONFIG_INITRAMFS_SOURCE="/usr/share/v86d/initramfs"
  - CONFIG_EXT4_FS=y
  - CONFIG_EXT4_FS_POSIX_ACL=y
  - CONFIG_EXT4_FS_SECURITY=y
- grub2 defaults (/etc/defaults/grub2) only difference from original:
  GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="init=/linuxrc real_root=/dev/sda5
video=uvesafb,mtrr:3,ywrap splash=silent,fadein,theme:natural_gentoo
nodevfs udev devfs=nomount CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 quiet"

- sample extract from grub:0 config file, used in a working (a bit older)
system:
    title=Gentoo Linux (3.8.13-gentoo)
    root (hd0,1)
    kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-3.8.13-gentoo ro root=/dev/ram0 \
        init=/linuxrc real_root=/dev/sda4 vga=791
splash=silent,theme:natural_gentoo \
        console=tty1 verbose nodevfs udev devfs=nomount CONSOLE=/dev/tty1
quiet
    initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-3.8.13-gentoo


Now the boot stops showing the messages (after the Tux logos appeared):

Can't open cfg file //etc/splash/natural_gentoo/640x480.cfg
No verbose picture specified in the theme
No silent picture specified in the theme
No verbose picture specified in the theme
Can't open cfg file //etc/splash/natural_gentoo/640x480.cfg
No verbose picture specified in the theme
No silent picture specified in the theme
!! Block device /dev/sda5 is not a valid root device


The last line explains the ones preceding it.

Any hints on where to look at?

Thanks
Francisco

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Michael Hampicke]

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Am 26.08.2013 17:41, schrieb Francisco Ares:
> Hi,
> 
> After a few solved problems, I am still unable to completely boot using
> grub:2, and now I just can't find anything else to fiddle with.
> 
> So I would really appreciate if someone could take a look at my
> configuration:
> 
> - system is amd64;
> - hard disk partitioning:
>   - two first primary partitions, unused (for now);
>   - third (/dev/sda3) is /boot partition, kernel built and in place;
>   - extended partition as fourth partition;
>   - logical partition (/dev/sda5) is "/" linux partition, ext4 formated;
> - emerged  the following, before building kernel;
>   - genkernel ;
>   - media-gfx/splashutils-1.5.4.4-r1;
>   - media-gfx/splash-themes-gentoo-20101212-r1 ;
>   - sys-apps/v86d-0.1.10;
> - genkernel command line:
>     genkernel all \
>         --color --menuconfig --splash=natural_gentoo \
>         --splash-res=1024x768,1280x1024,1366x768,1440x900 \
>         --mountboot --install  --unionfs --real-root=/dev/sda5 \
>         --ramdisk-modules --postclear
> - kernel built with:
>   - CONFIG_FB_UVESA=y
>   - CONFIG_INITRAMFS_SOURCE="/usr/share/v86d/initramfs"
>   - CONFIG_EXT4_FS=y
>   - CONFIG_EXT4_FS_POSIX_ACL=y
>   - CONFIG_EXT4_FS_SECURITY=y
> - grub2 defaults (/etc/defaults/grub2) only difference from original:
>   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="init=/linuxrc real_root=/dev/sda5
> video=uvesafb,mtrr:3,ywrap splash=silent,fadein,theme:natural_gentoo
> nodevfs udev devfs=nomount CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 quiet"
> 
> - sample extract from grub:0 config file, used in a working (a bit older)
> system:
>     title=Gentoo Linux (3.8.13-gentoo)
>     root (hd0,1)
>     kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-3.8.13-gentoo ro root=/dev/ram0 \
>         init=/linuxrc real_root=/dev/sda4 vga=791
> splash=silent,theme:natural_gentoo \
>         console=tty1 verbose nodevfs udev devfs=nomount CONSOLE=/dev/tty1
> quiet
>     initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-3.8.13-gentoo
> 
> 
> Now the boot stops showing the messages (after the Tux logos appeared):
> 
> Can't open cfg file //etc/splash/natural_gentoo/640x480.cfg
> No verbose picture specified in the theme
> No silent picture specified in the theme
> No verbose picture specified in the theme
> Can't open cfg file //etc/splash/natural_gentoo/640x480.cfg
> No verbose picture specified in the theme
> No silent picture specified in the theme
> !! Block device /dev/sda5 is not a valid root device
> 
> 
> The last line explains the ones preceding it.
> 
> Any hints on where to look at?
> 
> Thanks
> Francisco
> 

Have you tried generating a grub2 config file via grub2-mkconfig. You
should try that and see if you can boot. Then adjust the configuration
to your needs.

On first glance, everything in your setup looks the way it's supposed to
be, but I suspect your customized grub2 cfg.


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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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Hi, Michael, thanks for you reply.

Please forgive me for not having mentioned grub2-mkconfig and
grub2-install. The mentioned grub.cfg was a sample from a working system,
with legacy grub:0, from which I have recovered parts of the kernel command
line parameters.

After "genkernel" finished to build the kernel, I've issued:

grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
grub2-install /dev/sda

Sorry for this.
Francisco



2013/8/26 Michael Hampicke <mh@hadt.biz>

> Am 26.08.2013 17:41, schrieb Francisco Ares:
> > Hi,
> >
> > After a few solved problems, I am still unable to completely boot using
> > grub:2, and now I just can't find anything else to fiddle with.
> >
> > So I would really appreciate if someone could take a look at my
> > configuration:
> >
> > - system is amd64;
> > - hard disk partitioning:
> >   - two first primary partitions, unused (for now);
> >   - third (/dev/sda3) is /boot partition, kernel built and in place;
> >   - extended partition as fourth partition;
> >   - logical partition (/dev/sda5) is "/" linux partition, ext4 formated;
> > - emerged  the following, before building kernel;
> >   - genkernel ;
> >   - media-gfx/splashutils-1.5.4.4-r1;
> >   - media-gfx/splash-themes-gentoo-20101212-r1 ;
> >   - sys-apps/v86d-0.1.10;
> > - genkernel command line:
> >     genkernel all \
> >         --color --menuconfig --splash=natural_gentoo \
> >         --splash-res=1024x768,1280x1024,1366x768,1440x900 \
> >         --mountboot --install  --unionfs --real-root=/dev/sda5 \
> >         --ramdisk-modules --postclear
> > - kernel built with:
> >   - CONFIG_FB_UVESA=y
> >   - CONFIG_INITRAMFS_SOURCE="/usr/share/v86d/initramfs"
> >   - CONFIG_EXT4_FS=y
> >   - CONFIG_EXT4_FS_POSIX_ACL=y
> >   - CONFIG_EXT4_FS_SECURITY=y
> > - grub2 defaults (/etc/defaults/grub2) only difference from original:
> >   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="init=/linuxrc real_root=/dev/sda5
> > video=uvesafb,mtrr:3,ywrap splash=silent,fadein,theme:natural_gentoo
> > nodevfs udev devfs=nomount CONSOLE=/dev/tty1 quiet"
> >
> > - sample extract from grub:0 config file, used in a working (a bit older)
> > system:
> >     title=Gentoo Linux (3.8.13-gentoo)
> >     root (hd0,1)
> >     kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-3.8.13-gentoo ro root=/dev/ram0
> \
> >         init=/linuxrc real_root=/dev/sda4 vga=791
> > splash=silent,theme:natural_gentoo \
> >         console=tty1 verbose nodevfs udev devfs=nomount CONSOLE=/dev/tty1
> > quiet
> >     initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-3.8.13-gentoo
> >
> >
> > Now the boot stops showing the messages (after the Tux logos appeared):
> >
> > Can't open cfg file //etc/splash/natural_gentoo/640x480.cfg
> > No verbose picture specified in the theme
> > No silent picture specified in the theme
> > No verbose picture specified in the theme
> > Can't open cfg file //etc/splash/natural_gentoo/640x480.cfg
> > No verbose picture specified in the theme
> > No silent picture specified in the theme
> > !! Block device /dev/sda5 is not a valid root device
> >
> >
> > The last line explains the ones preceding it.
> >
> > Any hints on where to look at?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Francisco
> >
>
> Have you tried generating a grub2 config file via grub2-mkconfig. You
> should try that and see if you can boot. Then adjust the configuration
> to your needs.
>
> On first glance, everything in your setup looks the way it's supposed to
> be, but I suspect your customized grub2 cfg.
>
>

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Michael Hampicke]

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Am 26.08.2013 20:11, schrieb Francisco Ares:
> Hi, Michael, thanks for you reply.
> 
> Please forgive me for not having mentioned grub2-mkconfig and
> grub2-install. The mentioned grub.cfg was a sample from a working system,
> with legacy grub:0, from which I have recovered parts of the kernel command
> line parameters.
> 
> After "genkernel" finished to build the kernel, I've issued:
> 
> grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
> grub2-install /dev/sda
> 
> Sorry for this.
> Francisco
On a failed boot, can you reach the rescue system from the initramfs?
(The message is something like "enter password for rescue or ctrl+d) If
so, are you able mount your actual root partiton (sda5) manually?


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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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2013/8/27 Michael Hampicke <mh@hadt.biz>

> Am 26.08.2013 20:11, schrieb Francisco Ares:
> > Hi, Michael, thanks for you reply.
> >
> > Please forgive me for not having mentioned grub2-mkconfig and
> > grub2-install. The mentioned grub.cfg was a sample from a working system,
> > with legacy grub:0, from which I have recovered parts of the kernel
> command
> > line parameters.
> >
> > After "genkernel" finished to build the kernel, I've issued:
> >
> > grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
> > grub2-install /dev/sda
> >
> > Sorry for this.
> > Francisco
> On a failed boot, can you reach the rescue system from the initramfs?
> (The message is something like "enter password for rescue or ctrl+d) If
> so, are you able mount your actual root partiton (sda5) manually?
>
>
No, unfortunately. But I am able to use the grub console prior to boot.

By doing so, I have listed the command about to be used to boot the first
entry in the grub menu, it installs some modules. In regard of file
systems, it only loads a ext2 module, and the root partition is ext4
formated.

Although this kernel has ext2, ext3 and ext4 built in (not modules), can
this be a cue?  Right now I am preparing to format the root partition as
ext2, just to check this out.

Thanks again
Francisco

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Wang Xuerui]

2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>:
> In regard of file systems,
> it only loads a ext2 module, and the root partition is ext4 formated.
>
> Although this kernel has ext2, ext3 and ext4 built in (not modules), can
> this be a cue?  Right now I am preparing to format the root partition as
> ext2, just to check this out.

Well, GRUB modules are *GRUB* modules, that is, they're there only for
GRUB to be able to understand your partition table and read your
filesystems. After successfully reading the kernel into memory and
passing control to it, they're not relevant any more, so you really
don't have to reformat /.

Instead, focus on your initramfs as the error shows some inconsistency
between the expected and actual initramfs content. Also that last line
seems to come from initramfs, based on its appearance (unlike dmesg
lines). You may understand your problem better there.

Hope that helps.

Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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2013/8/27 Wang Xuerui <idontknw.wang@gmail.com>

> 2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>:
> > In regard of file systems,
> > it only loads a ext2 module, and the root partition is ext4 formated.
> >
> > Although this kernel has ext2, ext3 and ext4 built in (not modules), can
> > this be a cue?  Right now I am preparing to format the root partition as
> > ext2, just to check this out.
>
> Well, GRUB modules are *GRUB* modules, that is, they're there only for
> GRUB to be able to understand your partition table and read your
> filesystems. After successfully reading the kernel into memory and
> passing control to it, they're not relevant any more, so you really
> don't have to reformat /.
>
> Instead, focus on your initramfs as the error shows some inconsistency
> between the expected and actual initramfs content. Also that last line
> seems to come from initramfs, based on its appearance (unlike dmesg
> lines). You may understand your problem better there.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
>
Thanks for your reply, Wang

You are probably right, because using the grub console interface, it was
possible to mount any other partitions using commands like

root=(hd0,msdos5)

I have used genkernel to build both the kernel and the initramfs, so I
don't know what could be wrong. In fact, I have never tried to build my own
initramfs.

Any hints on how to diagnose a initramfs?  AFAIK it is a filesystem.  How
can I mount it to check its contents?

Thanks again,
Francisco

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Tue, 27 Aug 2013 08:31:05 -0300, Francisco Ares wrote:

> Any hints on how to diagnose a initramfs?  AFAIK it is a filesystem.
> How can I mount it to check its contents?

http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2009/07/how-to-view-modify-and-recreate-initrd-img/


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Why is the word abbreviation so long?

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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2013/8/27 Neil Bothwick <neil@digimed.co.uk>

> On Tue, 27 Aug 2013 08:31:05 -0300, Francisco Ares wrote:
>
> > Any hints on how to diagnose a initramfs?  AFAIK it is a filesystem.
> > How can I mount it to check its contents?
>
>
> http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2009/07/how-to-view-modify-and-recreate-initrd-img/
>
>
> --
> Neil Bothwick
>
> Why is the word abbreviation so long?
>


Thanks, Neil, gonna check it right now.

Francisco

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>

>
> 2013/8/27 Michael Hampicke <mh@hadt.biz>
>
>> Am 26.08.2013 20:11, schrieb Francisco Ares:
>> > Hi, Michael, thanks for you reply.
>> >
>> > Please forgive me for not having mentioned grub2-mkconfig and
>> > grub2-install. The mentioned grub.cfg was a sample from a working
>> system,
>> > with legacy grub:0, from which I have recovered parts of the kernel
>> command
>> > line parameters.
>> >
>> > After "genkernel" finished to build the kernel, I've issued:
>> >
>> > grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
>> > grub2-install /dev/sda
>> >
>> > Sorry for this.
>> > Francisco
>> On a failed boot, can you reach the rescue system from the initramfs?
>> (The message is something like "enter password for rescue or ctrl+d) If
>> so, are you able mount your actual root partiton (sda5) manually?
>>
>>
> No, unfortunately. But I am able to use the grub console prior to boot.
>
> By doing so, I have listed the command about to be used to boot the first
> entry in the grub menu, it installs some modules. In regard of file
> systems, it only loads a ext2 module, and the root partition is ext4
> formated.
>
> Although this kernel has ext2, ext3 and ext4 built in (not modules), can
> this be a cue?  Right now I am preparing to format the root partition as
> ext2, just to check this out.
>
> Thanks again
> Francisco
>
>
It didn't work, so I suppose the embedded ext2, ext3 and ext4 in the kernel
is not the issue, and might be working.  Going to explore the grub console
now.

Thanks
Francisco

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>

>
> 2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>
>
>>
>> 2013/8/27 Michael Hampicke <mh@hadt.biz>
>>
>>> Am 26.08.2013 20:11, schrieb Francisco Ares:
>>> > Hi, Michael, thanks for you reply.
>>> >
>>> > Please forgive me for not having mentioned grub2-mkconfig and
>>> > grub2-install. The mentioned grub.cfg was a sample from a working
>>> system,
>>> > with legacy grub:0, from which I have recovered parts of the kernel
>>> command
>>> > line parameters.
>>> >
>>> > After "genkernel" finished to build the kernel, I've issued:
>>> >
>>> > grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
>>> > grub2-install /dev/sda
>>> >
>>> > Sorry for this.
>>> > Francisco
>>> On a failed boot, can you reach the rescue system from the initramfs?
>>> (The message is something like "enter password for rescue or ctrl+d) If
>>> so, are you able mount your actual root partiton (sda5) manually?
>>>
>>>
>> No, unfortunately. But I am able to use the grub console prior to boot.
>>
>> By doing so, I have listed the command about to be used to boot the first
>> entry in the grub menu, it installs some modules. In regard of file
>> systems, it only loads a ext2 module, and the root partition is ext4
>> formated.
>>
>> Although this kernel has ext2, ext3 and ext4 built in (not modules), can
>> this be a cue?  Right now I am preparing to format the root partition as
>> ext2, just to check this out.
>>
>> Thanks again
>> Francisco
>>
>>
> It didn't work, so I suppose the embedded ext2, ext3 and ext4 in the
> kernel is not the issue, and might be working.  Going to explore the grub
> console now.
>
> Thanks
> Francisco
>


In the grub console, prior to boot, I was able to mount any partition using
commands like:

root=(hd0,msdos5)

and then listing the directory tree structure with " ls / " gave the
expected results.

Francisco

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>

>
> 2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>
>
>>
>> 2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>
>>
>>>
>>> 2013/8/27 Michael Hampicke <mh@hadt.biz>
>>>
>>>> Am 26.08.2013 20:11, schrieb Francisco Ares:
>>>> > Hi, Michael, thanks for you reply.
>>>> >
>>>> > Please forgive me for not having mentioned grub2-mkconfig and
>>>> > grub2-install. The mentioned grub.cfg was a sample from a working
>>>> system,
>>>> > with legacy grub:0, from which I have recovered parts of the kernel
>>>> command
>>>> > line parameters.
>>>> >
>>>> > After "genkernel" finished to build the kernel, I've issued:
>>>> >
>>>> > grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
>>>> > grub2-install /dev/sda
>>>> >
>>>> > Sorry for this.
>>>> > Francisco
>>>> On a failed boot, can you reach the rescue system from the initramfs?
>>>> (The message is something like "enter password for rescue or ctrl+d) If
>>>> so, are you able mount your actual root partiton (sda5) manually?
>>>>
>>>>
>>> No, unfortunately. But I am able to use the grub console prior to boot.
>>>
>>> By doing so, I have listed the command about to be used to boot the
>>> first entry in the grub menu, it installs some modules. In regard of file
>>> systems, it only loads a ext2 module, and the root partition is ext4
>>> formated.
>>>
>>> Although this kernel has ext2, ext3 and ext4 built in (not modules), can
>>> this be a cue?  Right now I am preparing to format the root partition as
>>> ext2, just to check this out.
>>>
>>> Thanks again
>>> Francisco
>>>
>>>
>> It didn't work, so I suppose the embedded ext2, ext3 and ext4 in the
>> kernel is not the issue, and might be working.  Going to explore the grub
>> console now.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Francisco
>>
>
>
> In the grub console, prior to boot, I was able to mount any partition
> using commands like:
>
> root=(hd0,msdos5)
>
> and then listing the directory tree structure with " ls / " gave the
> expected results.
>
> Francisco
>
>

I think I might have found it.  Although I have selected in the kernel
"menuconfig" to compress the initramfs using gzip and deselected all other
decompression forms. a simple "file initramfs-xxx" told me that it was "XZ
compressed data", so now I am rebuilding the kernel with all decompression
algorithms built in.

I will (hope) soon post the results.

Thanks,
Francisco

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>

>
> 2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>
>
>>
>> 2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>
>>
>>>
>>> 2013/8/27 Francisco Ares <frares@gmail.com>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> 2013/8/27 Michael Hampicke <mh@hadt.biz>
>>>>
>>>>> Am 26.08.2013 20:11, schrieb Francisco Ares:
>>>>> > Hi, Michael, thanks for you reply.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Please forgive me for not having mentioned grub2-mkconfig and
>>>>> > grub2-install. The mentioned grub.cfg was a sample from a working
>>>>> system,
>>>>> > with legacy grub:0, from which I have recovered parts of the kernel
>>>>> command
>>>>> > line parameters.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > After "genkernel" finished to build the kernel, I've issued:
>>>>> >
>>>>> > grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
>>>>> > grub2-install /dev/sda
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Sorry for this.
>>>>> > Francisco
>>>>> On a failed boot, can you reach the rescue system from the initramfs?
>>>>> (The message is something like "enter password for rescue or ctrl+d) If
>>>>> so, are you able mount your actual root partiton (sda5) manually?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> No, unfortunately. But I am able to use the grub console prior to boot.
>>>>
>>>> By doing so, I have listed the command about to be used to boot the
>>>> first entry in the grub menu, it installs some modules. In regard of file
>>>> systems, it only loads a ext2 module, and the root partition is ext4
>>>> formated.
>>>>
>>>> Although this kernel has ext2, ext3 and ext4 built in (not modules),
>>>> can this be a cue?  Right now I am preparing to format the root partition
>>>> as ext2, just to check this out.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again
>>>> Francisco
>>>>
>>>>
>>> It didn't work, so I suppose the embedded ext2, ext3 and ext4 in the
>>> kernel is not the issue, and might be working.  Going to explore the grub
>>> console now.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> Francisco
>>>
>>
>>
>> In the grub console, prior to boot, I was able to mount any partition
>> using commands like:
>>
>> root=(hd0,msdos5)
>>
>> and then listing the directory tree structure with " ls / " gave the
>> expected results.
>>
>> Francisco
>>
>>
>
> I think I might have found it.  Although I have selected in the kernel
> "menuconfig" to compress the initramfs using gzip and deselected all other
> decompression forms. a simple "file initramfs-xxx" told me that it was "XZ
> compressed data", so now I am rebuilding the kernel with all decompression
> algorithms built in.
>
> I will (hope) soon post the results.
>
> Thanks,
> Francisco
>


It did not work :-(

Francisco

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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Michael Hampicke]

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Am 27.08.2013 22:40, schrieb Francisco Ares:
>>
>> I think I might have found it.  Although I have selected in the kernel
>> "menuconfig" to compress the initramfs using gzip and deselected all other
>> decompression forms. a simple "file initramfs-xxx" told me that it was "XZ
>> compressed data", so now I am rebuilding the kernel with all decompression
>> algorithms built in.
>>
>> I will (hope) soon post the results.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Francisco
>>
> 
> 
> It did not work :-(
> 

You could try generating an initramfs with dracut - see if that works.
You possible have to change the name of the initramfs in grub.cfg. Files
generated with dracut don't have *genkernel* in it's filename.

If you can boot with dracut initramfs, you can investigate why the
initramfs of genkernel does not work.


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Re: [gentoo-user] grub2 or kernel config - unable to properly boot

[Francisco Ares]

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2013/8/28 Michael Hampicke <mh@hadt.biz>

> Am 27.08.2013 22:40, schrieb Francisco Ares:
> >>
> >> I think I might have found it.  Although I have selected in the kernel
> >> "menuconfig" to compress the initramfs using gzip and deselected all
> other
> >> decompression forms. a simple "file initramfs-xxx" told me that it was
> "XZ
> >> compressed data", so now I am rebuilding the kernel with all
> decompression
> >> algorithms built in.
> >>
> >> I will (hope) soon post the results.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Francisco
> >>
> >
> >
> > It did not work :-(
> >
>
> You could try generating an initramfs with dracut - see if that works.
> You possible have to change the name of the initramfs in grub.cfg. Files
> generated with dracut don't have *genkernel* in it's filename.
>
> If you can boot with dracut initramfs, you can investigate why the
> initramfs of genkernel does not work.
>
>
Thanks, Michael, gonna read about dracut and try it out.

Right now "gentoo-sources-3.10.7" is being built, still using genkernel (I
was using gentoo-sources-3.8.13).

Meanwhile: the profile for this new install is
"default/linux/amd64/13.0/no-multilib" - and I see that the directory where
grub2 stores modules in /boot/grub2 is named "i386-pc".  Switching to a
multilib profile and issuing an "emerge -pvuDN world", I see that, for
instance, glibc is queued to be rebuilt with "multilib" use flag.

What I mean is: does genkernel uses the binaries already available in the
filesystem it works on, or does it build its own ones?  If so, is genkernel
+ grub2 compatible with a "no-multilib" profile?  I guess so, specially
after reading grub2 documentation, but, on the other hand, in a working
system, I could see that busybox from the initramfs (thanks, Neil!) and the
one in the root filesystem are different.

Thanks again!
Francisco

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