Re: Minimal powerpc kernel, miboot users please test (Was Re: modularized powerpc kernel)

[Sven Luther <sven.luther@wanadoo.fr>]

On Wed, Oct 29, 2003 at 02:35:25PM +0100, Gaudenz Steinlin wrote:
> Am Mit, den 29.10.2003 schrieb Sven Luther um 13:57:
> > On Wed, Oct 29, 2003 at 10:22:58AM +0100, Gaudenz Steinlin wrote:
> > > > BTW, the -powerpc kernel fails to boot on my pegasos system, but this is
> > > > probably due to devfs. Do you all run devfs with its cryptic device
> > > > paths, or is there some other trick to it ? The kernel stops after
> > > > having mounted the root partition, first it takes some time to do the
> > > > clock stuff, and finally times out, and then halts. I suppose this is
> > > > due because it doesn't find my non-devfs fstab or something such.
> > > Did you set CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT in your kernel config? You don't need
> > > that for debian-installer.
> > > Normal installations should not run devfs at all (it will not be the
> > > default for sarge) or use devfsd which takes care of compatibility
> > > symlinks and permissions.
> > 
> > No, it was not set.
> > 
> > BTW, are you sure it is not needed ? Peter said to me it is needed some
> > time back, i think, and this maybe why the builtin initrd refuse to boot ?
> 
> Quite sure (Petter please comment if I'm wrong). The typical symptom if
> devfs is not mounted is "Unable to open initial console" not unable to
> mount the initrd. You probaly have to pass devfs=mount to your kernel if
> you boot the installer, although there is also code to mount it in
> /sbin/init.

I don't follow you here. First you say that CONFIG_DEVFS_MOUNT is not
needed, and now you tell me that it is needed. But this would explain
it, as when i boot from the initrd copied to a normal partition, i get
the Unable to open initial console message. I will try again with the
devfs=mount option.

That said, this still don't explains why i cannot boot my normal root
with this powerpc kernel.

> Some time ago I had to pass root=/dev/rd/0 to start the installer
> because of the transistion from /linuxrc to /sbin/init, but I'm not sure
> if this is correct.

Mmm, will try this also.

Friendly,

Sven Luther