gmane.linux.debian.fai

Install config help needed

Steve B. — 2012-05-25T00:08:19

Been trying for a week to get FAI to work on a Ubuntu 12.04 with no
success.   I have been testing both a physical and virtual target and same
results. I have FAI 3.4.8 installed.

I get a couple errors running fai-setup that are numeric 65280 but can't
find a description of that error.  It occurs after text.. "Writing Extended
State information.. , Reading task description.... after that a bunch of
configure errors.  The ends with ERROR: live-initranfs was not installed.


Then if I try to do and install pxe loads then a lot of text flies by and
then see....
Begin: Loading essential drivers ... done
Begin: Running /scripts/init-premount ... done
Begin: Mount root file system ... /init: .: line 249: can't open
'scripts/live'

Then a stack dump with what I see others report Kernel panic - not syncing:
Attempt to kill init!


So I've been reading everything I can and purged and re-installed and no
difference.

Can you point to some info or tell me what to fix.

Would switching to a different distro help like D

Fai 4.0.1 Compatible with Debian Lenny?

n43w79 — 2012-05-24T03:28:46

Hi,
Found the latest fai .deb packages here:
http://cdn.debian.net/debian/pool/main/f/fai/fai-server_4.0.1_all.deb
http://cdn.debian.net/debian/pool/main/f/fai/fai-doc_4.0.1_all.deb
Our internal pxe/samba/nfs/dhcp server is still running lenny.
Q1. Is the .deb packages above compatible with lenny?
Q2. If so, what are the gotchas installing the above packages into 
debian lenny?
Q3. Are there any documentation or howto on this subject?
Thanks!
Kwon

whole disk RAID partitioned directly, with Grub BIOS partition

Iordan Iordanov — 2012-05-23T20:32:17

Hello,

We are using FAI 3.48 with Ubuntu 12.04. We are trying to come up with a 
working setup-storage config for whole disk RAID. We've managed to put 
together a configuration with LVM, but we can't get grub2 to install in 
that configuration, so we would like to avoid LVM altogether and keep it 
simple. The working LVM-based config is such:

disk_config raid
raid1  -  sda,sdb - -

disk_config lvm
vg  vg0   md0
vg0-root /    16000 ext4 rw,errors=remount-ro createopts="-m3"
vg0-swap swap 4000  swap sw
vg0-var  /var 5000  ext4 rw                   createopts="-m5"

I will enumerate what we would like to accomplish:

1) Be able to parition /dev/m0 directly without LVM. When paritioning an 
md device, setup-storage tries find a partition /dev/md01, whereas the 
partition really is /dev/md0p1. We tried to do this with:

disk_config /dev/md0

2) We would like to give options to mdadm (e.g. to set metadata to 0.9),

3) We would like to be able to give options to parted (e.g. to create a 
GRUB BIOS boot partition

manual redhat grub configuration?

Thomas Neumann — 2012-05-22T13:54:08

Hello

Maybe someone has already done this. I'm currently a bit at a loss on how
to manually configure a RedHat (or more specifically OracleLinux 6) grub
bootloader.

It seems most of the work is done via /sbin/new-kernel-pkg which is called
automatically while installing a new kernel image. However some parts are
missing. (Namely a default /boot/grub/grub.conf, some symlinks and
/etc/sysconfig/grub)

What I've done so far:

1.) Create a base image

yum --installroot=/tmp/scratch groupinstall Base
chroot /tmp/scratch/ su -
yum remove kernel kernel-firmware
rpm -e kernel --noscripts

[Maybe removing the kernel is a mistake. But I don't need it at this stage
and apart from that it fails to install properly anyhow due to a missing
/etc/fstab]

2.) configure repository

[modify prepareapt hook]
fcopy /etc/yum.repos.d/public-yum-ol6.repo

3.) create files & symlinks

[modify instsoft hook]

$target/etc/sysconfig/grub should contain:

boot=/dev/sda
forcelba=0

default=0
timeout=5
hiddenmenu

ln -sf '../boot/grub/g

Proper way to find out if an (initial) installation is beingperformed?

Thomas Neumann — 2012-05-22T10:56:56

Hello

In the original prepareapt hook, there are (were?) two different if-clauses:

if [ -f /var/run/fai/FAI_INSTALLATION_IN_PROGRESS ]; then

if [ $do_init_tasks -eq 1 ] ; then

I'm not too sure what they are supposed to mean so I ask for
clarification. Judging from the code/names they seem to guard the enclosed
code against running during a softupdate.

a) What's the difference between these two? Is there any?
b) What is the proper/best/most obvious/recommended way to let code run
only during the initial installation?
c) Does install/dirinstall make a difference?

bye
thomas

install 32Bit-packages on 64Bit-system failed

Sabine Schmidt — 2012-05-21T09:14:36

Hello,

is it correct, that a nfsroot for Ubuntu precise 64Bit-architecture 
cannot install packages for 32Bit-achitecture? Our nfsroot don't find 
32Bit-packages in the repository, only 64Bit-packages.
The command 'uptitude update' fetch only the 64Bit-packages. And I get 
the error message "No candidate  version found for <package>".

If I run the command 'aptitude update' outside the nfsroot, the 
32Bit-packages are fetched too. And I can install this packages too.

What can I do, so that 32Bit-packages are installed during the 
fai-installation?

Thanks for your answers.
Regards,
Sabine

setup-storage and partitions greater than 2Tb

George Barnett — 2012-05-21T06:57:26

Hi, 

I have a machine with a 3Tb disk array.  I have been building servers with fan 3.4.7 and the patch setup-storage_gpt-bios-fix (see below).

I have since upgraded to Fai 3.4.8, but I'm no longer able to create partitions bigger than 2Tb using a gps-bios disk label.  Using a GPT label works fine, but this leave the machine in a state where it does not boot.

If I apply the Sizes.pm part of the patch, setup-storage creates partitions that are the correct size, but then there's no partition for parted to set grub_bios on.

I'm not very familiar with the setup-storage code and it's flow, so I'm having trouble debugging.  If anybody could help me with a quicker answer, I would be greatly appreciative!

Thanks,

George


setup-storage_gpt-bios-fix:
--- branches/experimental/patches/setup-storage_gpt-bios-fix (rev 0)
+++ branches/experimental/patches/setup-storage_gpt-bios-fix 2010-09-17 17:04:13 UTC (rev 6057)
< at >< at > -0,0 +1,53 < at >< at >
+2010-09-17 Michael Tautschnig <mt at debian.org>
+
+ * setup-storage/{Parser.pm,Si

Fai-mirror failing after upgrade to Ubuntu 12.04

Jurrie Overgoor — 2012-05-18T15:00:38

Hello everyone,

My FAI setup was working just fine on Ubuntu 11.10. But I decided to 
upgrade to 12.04, and now fai-mirror doesn't work.

There seems to be a bug in aptitude with the -d switch. It creates an 
infinite loop. This is fixed in aptitude 0.6.7-1.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/aptitude/+bug/975793

Now I installed 0.6.7-1 and the infinite loop is gone. But I still don't 
have a correct mirror. The relevant output:

fai-mirror -v /srv/fai/mirror

Download complete and in download only mode
Calling apt-move

Updating from local Packages files...

Moving files...
Skipping files:
[ Lots of files here ]
Moving Files:
[ Lots of files here ]

File deletes disabled, skipping.

Creating Packages files...
Creating Release files...

All done, exiting.
grep: /srv/fai/mirror/dists//Release: No such file or directory

The directories /srv/fai/mirror/dists and /srv/fai/mirror/pool are empty.

Can anyone help me?

With kind regards,

Jurrie

fcopy: Copy newer files only

Andreas Heinlein — 2012-05-02T13:12:47

Hello,

is there any way to make fcopy compare files only based on metadata 
(namely mtime)? The reason is we are using fcopy to copy several huge 
files (VirtualBox Disk Images) in softupdate mode, which of course takes 
ages every time a softupdate is run, even though the file has not 
changed. I read about the -P option in the manpage but don't understand 
how it works. Could someone give me an explanation?

Thanks,
Andreas

Set booting from harddrive as default after successful instalation

Katarzyna Myrek — 2012-04-30T11:28:42

Hi

How can I enable booting straight from harddrive after successful
installation?

I need to use PXE with config:  localboot 0. I am able to set it up using
command fai-chboot -o HOST. But how can I do it automatically?

I edited /usr/lib/fai/subroutines, but it didn't work.  Computer still
tries to boot from pxe, but there isn't any configuration file in
ftfp/pxelinux.cfg (so task chboot issues the command fai-chboot -d). ..

Regards,
Katarzyna Myrek
Registerd Linux user No #508128

setup-storage and EFI boot

Stephan Adig — 2012-04-18T13:36:45

Good Afternoon,

I didn't find it in the manual,
but how can someone setup a EFI boot partition with setup-storage?

Looks like that the UCS Blade Series use EFI...:(


Regards,

\sh

Install Client with more than one NIC

Denny Schierz — 2012-04-18T09:45:37

hi,

I red in the Fai Wiki, that there is no fixed solution for installing clients on eth1, eth2 ... at this time. Is that an old entry, or is there a solution, which isn't documented ?

cu denny

Ubuntu 12.04b2 and nfs-kernel-server problem (incl. fix)

Thomas Neumann — 2012-04-06T15:29:08

Hello

I was updating my Ubuntu FAI-server to 12.04 beta2 and suddenly I couldn't
mount the nfsroots anymore during netinstall.

The reason seems to be related to the upcoming /usr merge
(http://lwn.net/Articles/477467/).

/etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server may contain:

$PREFIX/bin/rpcinfo -u localhost nfs 3 >/dev/null 2>&1 ||
    RPCMOUNTDOPTS="$RPCMOUNTDOPTS --no-nfs-version 3"

But rpcinfo may still be located in /usr/sbin which makes the check fail
and disable nfs3!

Recommended solution: Update to a newer nfs-kernel-server package (e.g.
1:1.2.5-3ubuntu2)

rpcinfo -u localhost nfs 3 >/dev/null 2>&1 ||
    RPCMOUNTDOPTS="$RPCMOUNTDOPTS --no-nfs-version 3"

afterwards test with 'rpcinfo -u localhost nfs 3'
expected result:

program 100003 version 3 ready and waiting

bye
thomas

lost in translation

Thomas Neumann — 2012-04-06T12:53:23

Ich wünsche allen Lesern und Lurkern frohe OsterFAIertage.

SCNR.

Intel NIC

Katarzyna Myrek — 2012-04-05T10:58:33

Hi
I am trying to use fai with Intel Pro/100 M NIC .
I get following error:
e100_request_firmware: Failed to load firmware "e100/d102e_ucode.bin": -2

I already installed firmware-linux-nonfree both on faiserver and in
nfsroot.  And I still have the same error.

ls /lib/modules/2.6.32-5-amd64/kernel/drivers/net | grep -i e100
e100.ko
e1000
e1000e


What should I do now? I have 2.6.32-5-amd64 kernel from debian repository.

Regards,
Olivia

Modifying a static /dev

Colby Funnell — 2012-03-29T23:05:11

Hi,

I am trying to automate the removal and addition of a few device files in a
dirinstall, and i need this to happen as a configuration step as modifying
the basefiles is not an option.

It seems that fai is mounting "none" on $FAI_ROOT/dev, so i am losing all
changes i make via scripts when it unmounts.

Is there a logical place within fai (hook?) that can be used to change the
$FAI_ROOT/dev tree and make it persist, or are my only options to change
the basefiles or fai code?

Thanks.
Colby

Clarification regarding disk_var.sh variable significance?

Thomas Neumann — 2012-03-27T22:48:15

Hello everyone

a simple gpt-enabled disk_config

disk_config disk1 disklabel:gpt
primary    -        1     -           -
primary    swap     8G    swap        sw
primary    /        4G-   xfs         rw

results in

SWAPLIST="/dev/sda2"
BOOT_DEVICE="/dev/sda"
ROOT_PARTITION="/dev/sda3"
BOOT_PARTITION="/dev/sda3"

which seems reasonable. Let's move the root partition into a logical volume

disk_config disk1 disklabel:gpt
primary -            1      -            -
primary swap         8G     swap         sw
primary -            4G-    -            -

disk_config lvm
vg vg_system disk1.3
vg_system-root      /         4G-12G    xfs  rw

results in

SWAPLIST="/dev/sda2"
BOOT_DEVICE="/dev/vg_system/root"
ROOT_PARTITION="/dev/vg_system/root"
(BOOT_PARTITION is unset)

I don't exactly understand what the variables signify. Okay, SWAPLIST is 
straightforward. But why does BOOT_DEVICE change from the physical disk 
device into a logical volume? Why is BOOT_PARTITION suddenly empty?

http://fai-project.org/doc/man/set

Help requested: Howto create a nice GPT layout?

Thomas Neumann — 2012-03-27T13:34:01

Hello

I'd like to create the following layout


disklabel: gpt
1st part: biosboot partition for use with grub2
2nd part: swap partition (8GB size)
3rd part: lvm physical volume (rest of disk)

volume group vg_system
1st logical volume: / with 4-12GB size


os/nfsroot: Ubuntu natty
faiclient: 3.4.7
setup-storage: 1.3

os/faiclient: Ubuntu lucid

As far as I understood http://wiki.fai-project.org/wiki/Setup-storage
there's no way to manually create a 'true' biosboot partition with
setup-storage. The thing that comes closest is an 'unused partition' like

'primary - 10 - -'

and manually flag it as a gpt boot partition later on.

If I use disklabel:gpt-bios, then setup-storage automatically creates a
third primary partition located at the end of the harddisc (last sectors).
It was stated that the partition should be the last 'logical' partition
(e.g. /dev/sda3) but the first 'physical' partition (e.g. sector 63-...)
but gfdisk and parted tell me otherwise.

So - what's the proper way to achieve it? It's okay i

Use apt-cacher instead of deb mirror or fai-mirror?

Martin Seener — 2012-03-21T10:38:55

Hello,

is it suitable to use an apt-cacher running on the same fai-server 
instead of creating a debian mirror or
using fai-mirror as stated in the Doc 3.2?

Greets, Martin

FYI: We´re deploying 9 physical Servers into a data center in Berlin

move basefiles out of config space

Rudy Gevaert — 2012-03-21T10:19:38

Hi,

I was wondering what the best would be to move the extra basefiles out 
of the config space.

We have put our config space in a subversion repository.  We have also 
put some basefiles into it.  This gives us two 'problems':
*) checkout of the config space takes some time because of these big files
*) we need to increase the ram of the machine during the installation 
because of these big files that are in 99% not necessary.

I am thinking of putting the basefiles in a nfsroot (could be the 
install nfsroot).  Where do I need add some magic to tell FAI to look in 
a different dir for the baseimages?


The extrbase hook?  Or is there a better place?

Thanks for any pointer!
Rudy

setup-storage+gpt: alignment aware?

Thomas Neumann — 2012-03-19T22:32:51

Hello list
(or should I address Michael personally since he's probably the only one 
who can answer this?)

Does the setup-storage tool try to create properly aligned GPT 
partitions? Reason for asking is a somewhat discouraging information on 
wikipedia:

Hard disk manufacturers are transitioning to 4096-byte sectors. As of 
2010, the first
such drives continue to present 512-byte physical sectors to the OS, so 
degraded
performance can result when the drive's (hidden) internal 4 KiB sector 
boundaries do
not coincide with the 4 KiB logical blocks, clusters and virtual memory 
pages common
in many operating systems and file systems. This is a particular problem 
on writes
when the drive is forced to perform two read-modify-write operations to 
satisfy a
single misaligned 4 KiB write operation.
Such a misalignment occurs by default if the first partition is placed 
immediately
after the GUID partition table, as the next block is LBA 34. The next 4 
KiB boundary
begins with LBA 40.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wi