Package: installation-reports
Debian-installer-version: netinst CD i386 12-12-2004 from http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/
uname -a: <The result of running uname -a on a shell prompt>
Date: 12-12-2004
Method: netinst CD, downloads from ftp.freenet.de
Machine: 1U server with Gigabyte Dual-P3 mainboard Processor: Dual P3 1.2 GHz Memory: 2 GB Root Device: /dev/md0 (RAID-1 hda+hdc Maxtor 120 GB) Root Size/partition table: md0 115 GB xfs /, md1 2 GB swap Output of lspci and lspci -n:
Base System Installation Checklist: [O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
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: [O] Install boot loader: [E] Reboot: [O]
Comments/Problems:
I had difficulty installing the boot loader.
1st attempt:
3 partitions, 64 MB md0 ext3 /boot, 2 GB md1 swap, 115 GB md2 xfs /
GRUB appeared to install a boot loader, but system did not boot, "unable to load operating system" or words to that effect, I didn't pursue the matter.
2nd attempt:
As above, but with LILO instead of GRUB. Failed to boot, LILO printed "9A 9A 9A" etc. error message.
3rd attempt:
2 partitions, 115 GB md0 xfs /, 2 GB md1 swap
The installer offered two options for installing LILO, but it wasn't clear to me what the difference was, both involved /dev/md0. One failed immediately, the other gave an error
"LILO exited with error code (1)"
Running LILO manually on a separate console, I got an error message to the effect that LILO refused to install an MBR on /dev/md0 because this would destroy the file system.
Solution (to the last error, no idea about the others):
This is a documented issue with LILO vs. XFS, apparently the XFS superblock would be overwritten if an MBR were installed on an XFS partition. I was able to install LILO and boot successfully after adding the line "raid-extra-boot=mbr-only" to /target/etc/lilo.conf. This instructs LILO to install the MBR on /dev/hda and /dev/hdc, but not on /dev/md0.
Synopsis:
If booting from an XFS partition on software RAID, the installer should probably automatically select LILO, install the MBR on /dev/mdX and add the line "raid-extra-boot=mbr-only" to lilo.conf. AFAIK GRUB does not currently support booting from XFS.
Sincerely, Chris Ferebee
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