• Bug#265174: netwinder rc1 fail

    From Kyle McMartin@1:229/2 to All on Thu Aug 12 04:10:08 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    Package: installation-reports

    Debian-installer-version: rc1
    uname -a: nil
    Date: Wed, Aug 11, 2004
    Method: Netbooted netwinder from tftp

    Machine: corel netwinder
    Processor: intel sa110
    Memory: 64m
    Root Device: /dev/hda
    Root Size/partition table:
    /dev/hda1 20M ext2r0
    /dev/hda2 2G ext3
    /dev/hda3 swap
    Output of lspci:
    ..

    Base System Installation Checklist:

    Initial boot worked: [O]
    Configure network HW: [O]
    Config network: [O]
    Detect CD: [O]
    Load installer modules: [O]
    Detect hard drives: [O]
    Partition hard drives: [O]
    Create file systems: [O]
    Mount partitions: [O]
    Install base system: [E]
    Install boot loader: [ ]
    Reboot: [O]
    [O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it

    Comments/Problems:

    Installer installed riscstation kernel on my netwinder. As a result the
    machine did not come back after reboot.

    Also, if a /boot partition exists, could the vmlinuz symlink be put in /boot?

    Due to the way the netwinder firmware works, it looks for a file on a partition, following symlinks. Since the vmlinuz symlink is on / it's useless because it's looking with /boot as it's base.

    Since the firmware can't mount >ext2r0, it would be better if this was enforced more strictly, you almost certainly need a /boot partition.

    Regards,
    --
    Kyle McMartin


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  • From Martin Michlmayr@1:229/2 to All on Thu Aug 12 12:00:18 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    * Kyle McMartin <[email protected]> [2004-08-11 21:51]:
    Installer installed riscstation kernel on my netwinder. As a result the machine did not come back after reboot.

    Do you have /var/log/syslog?

    Also, if a /boot partition exists, could the vmlinuz symlink be put
    in /boot?

    I think we could make that the default on ARM.

    Since the firmware can't mount >ext2r0, it would be better if this
    was enforced more strictly, you almost certainly need a /boot
    partition.

    I'll put in some checks.
    --
    Martin Michlmayr
    [email protected]


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  • From Sven Luther@1:229/2 to Kyle McMartin on Thu Aug 12 12:50:05 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    On Wed, Aug 11, 2004 at 09:51:31PM -0400, Kyle McMartin wrote:
    Package: installation-reports

    Debian-installer-version: rc1
    uname -a: nil
    Date: Wed, Aug 11, 2004
    Method: Netbooted netwinder from tftp

    Machine: corel netwinder
    Processor: intel sa110
    Memory: 64m
    Root Device: /dev/hda
    Root Size/partition table:
    /dev/hda1 20M ext2r0
    /dev/hda2 2G ext3
    /dev/hda3 swap
    Output of lspci:
    ..

    Base System Installation Checklist:

    Initial boot worked: [O]
    Configure network HW: [O]
    Config network: [O]
    Detect CD: [O]
    Load installer modules: [O]
    Detect hard drives: [O]
    Partition hard drives: [O]
    Create file systems: [O]
    Mount partitions: [O]
    Install base system: [E]
    Install boot loader: [ ]
    Reboot: [O]
    [O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it

    Comments/Problems:

    Installer installed riscstation kernel on my netwinder. As a result the machine did not come back after reboot.

    Also, if a /boot partition exists, could the vmlinuz symlink be put in /boot?

    Due to the way the netwinder firmware works, it looks for a file on a partition, following symlinks. Since the vmlinuz symlink is on / it's useless because it's looking with /boot as it's base.

    Since the firmware can't mount >ext2r0, it would be better if this was enforced more strictly, you almost certainly need a /boot partition.

    you don't have a boot loader, and thus use nobootloader to tell you the kernel and stuff ?

    Can you try the daily builds, a see if the new nobootloader with explicit
    /boot partition mention makes sense for you.

    Someone could even add explicit firmware instuctions, like it is done in the powerpc/chrp_pegasos case.

    But i agree that you probably need link_in_boot to be set.

    Friendly,

    Sven Luther


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  • From Kyle McMartin@1:229/2 to Sven Luther on Thu Aug 12 18:10:13 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    On Thu, Aug 12, 2004 at 12:24:06PM +0200, Sven Luther wrote:
    you don't have a boot loader, and thus use nobootloader to tell you the kernel
    and stuff ?

    Yes, but if I have my firmware already set to use /vmlinuz, it would be
    much simpler to just put the symlink someplace where it's useful.

    Can you try the daily builds, a see if the new nobootloader with explicit /boot partition mention makes sense for you.

    Ok.

    But i agree that you probably need link_in_boot to be set.

    Nod.

    Cheers,
    --
    Kyle McMartin


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  • From Kyle McMartin@1:229/2 to Martin Michlmayr on Thu Aug 12 18:20:04 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    On Thu, Aug 12, 2004 at 10:39:54AM +0100, Martin Michlmayr wrote:
    Do you have /var/log/syslog?

    I can fetch it, it will be mildly involved though.

    I think we could make that the default on ARM.

    Alrighty.

    I'll put in some checks.

    Cheers,
    --
    Kyle McMartin


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  • From Martin Michlmayr@1:229/2 to All on Sat Aug 14 01:30:10 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    * tbm <[email protected]> [2004-08-12 10:39]:
    Since the firmware can't mount >ext2r0, it would be better if this
    was enforced more strictly, you almost certainly need a /boot
    partition.

    I'll put in some checks.

    I just recalled that I wrote those checks already. Did you not see
    them and what exactly did you try to do?
    --
    Martin Michlmayr
    [email protected]


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  • From Kyle McMartin@1:229/2 to Martin Michlmayr on Sat Aug 14 04:00:08 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    On Sat, Aug 14, 2004 at 12:05:05AM +0100, Martin Michlmayr wrote:
    I just recalled that I wrote those checks already. Did you not see
    them and what exactly did you try to do?

    I'm not sure, I didn't bump into anything. I knew enought o make the
    partition, so if I'm supposed to accidently trigger it, then I missed
    it.

    I guess I was expecting it to actually remind me. I'll do another
    install tomorrow afternoon est and try to trip it.

    Cheers,
    --
    Kyle McMartin


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  • From Martin Michlmayr@1:229/2 to All on Sat Aug 14 18:40:09 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    * Kyle McMartin <[email protected]> [2004-08-13 21:32]:
    I guess I was expecting it to actually remind me. I'll do another
    install tomorrow afternoon est and try to trip it.

    No, it checks after you'r finishing partitioning and complains if it
    wasn't done properly.

    The documentation should say what you need (but of course it doesn't
    do so yet).
    --
    Martin Michlmayr
    [email protected]


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  • From Kyle McMartin@1:229/2 to Martin Michlmayr on Sat Aug 14 19:30:11 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    On Sat, Aug 14, 2004 at 05:28:09PM +0100, Martin Michlmayr wrote:
    No, it checks after you'r finishing partitioning and complains if it
    wasn't done properly.

    The documentation should say what you need (but of course it doesn't
    do so yet).

    Excellent, in that case just the kernel is an issue.
    --
    Kyle McMartin


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  • From Martin Michlmayr@1:229/2 to All on Sun Aug 15 19:40:09 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    * Kyle McMartin <[email protected]> [2004-08-13 21:32]:
    I guess I was expecting it to actually remind me. I'll do another
    install tomorrow afternoon est and try to trip it.

    FWIW, I tried one today and the right kernel got installed.
    --
    Martin Michlmayr
    [email protected]


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  • From Martin Michlmayr@1:229/2 to All on Sun Aug 15 20:40:09 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    * Kyle McMartin <[email protected]> [2004-08-15 14:18]:
    On Sun, Aug 15, 2004 at 06:28:11PM +0100, Martin Michlmayr wrote:
    FWIW, I tried one today and the right kernel got installed.
    Awesome, can't wait for rc2 then

    There was no change... I'm sure it will install the right kernel if
    you try again.

    base-installer is quite fragile with regards to installing the kernel. Sometimes such things happen for no apparent reason.
    --
    Martin Michlmayr
    [email protected]


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  • From Kyle McMartin@1:229/2 to Martin Michlmayr on Sun Aug 15 20:40:10 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    On Sun, Aug 15, 2004 at 06:28:11PM +0100, Martin Michlmayr wrote:
    FWIW, I tried one today and the right kernel got installed.

    Awesome, can't wait for rc2 then

    Cheers,
    --
    Kyle McMartin


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  • From Sven Luther@1:229/2 to Martin Michlmayr on Mon Aug 16 12:30:14 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    On Sun, Aug 15, 2004 at 07:22:10PM +0100, Martin Michlmayr wrote:
    * Kyle McMartin <[email protected]> [2004-08-15 14:18]:
    On Sun, Aug 15, 2004 at 06:28:11PM +0100, Martin Michlmayr wrote:
    FWIW, I tried one today and the right kernel got installed.
    Awesome, can't wait for rc2 then

    There was no change... I'm sure it will install the right kernel if
    you try again.

    base-installer is quite fragile with regards to installing the kernel. Sometimes such things happen for no apparent reason.

    Yes, indeed. Maybe it was not a good idea to merge the base and kernel installers after all. Now, if kernel-package was debconfified, it would be easier too.

    Martin, did you do any work on nobootloader ? If not, and you tell me what are the boot instructions needed for the different arm boxes that need it, i will be glad to add the necessary code to it.

    Friendly,

    Sven Luther


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  • From Martin Michlmayr@1:229/2 to All on Mon Aug 16 13:40:09 2004
    XPost: linux.debian.maint.boot
    From: [email protected]

    * Sven Luther <[email protected]> [2004-08-16 12:19]:
    Martin, did you do any work on nobootloader ? If not, and you tell me what are
    the boot instructions needed for the different arm boxes that need it, i will be glad to add the necessary code to it.

    I've done it already.
    --
    Martin Michlmayr
    [email protected]


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