Bug#305230: Fwd: Bug#305230: [sparc64] [rc3] [netinstall] RC3 does not work on Ultra5 with both kernels 2.4 and 2.6

[Jurij Smakov <jurij@wooyd.org>]

On Thu, 21 Apr 2005, Frederic Lehobey wrote:

> I did this several times on the same hardware as David (I attended his
> first attempt and own several pieces of said hardware: I can perform
> any test you require).  I tried with automatic and manual
> partitioning of RC3 netboot
> (http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/testing/main/installer-sparc/rc3/images/sparc64/netboot/).
> I checked (with parted) that disklabel was "sun" and accurate (the
> /dev/hda3 is "Whole disk"), though I have not been able to follow the
> advice you give for partman (have missed something? does it require
> expert mode?).  Pressing enter where you said does not give any choice
> regarding disklabel.

Right, the choice of the disklabel (partition table) type is only offered 
in the expert mode, but pressing Enter on the disk description still 
should offer you to create a new empty partition table, which is type 
"sun" by default on sparc. That's what I was referring to.

> It fails every time at first reboot as described in the bug report.
> Here are the relevant lines (for kernel 2.4) I have copied by hand:
>
> ide0 at 0x1fe02c0000-0x1fe02c0007,0x1fe02c0000a on irq 4,7e0
> ide1 at 0x1fe02c0010-0x1fe02c0017,0x1fe02c0001a on irq 4,7e0 (shared with ide 0)
> Partition check:
> hda:end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 0
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 2
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 4
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 6
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 8
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 10
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 12
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 14
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 0
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 2
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 4
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 6
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 8
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 10
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 12
> end_request: I/O error, dev 03:00 (hda), sector 14
> unable to read partition table
> [...]
> VFS: Cannot open root device "hda2" or 03:02
> Please append a correct "root=" boot option
> Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mound root fs on 03:02
> Press L1-A to return to the boot prom

I have just tried an RC3 netboot installation on my Ultra5 and I see these 
messages as well, but they do _not_ break the installation :-(. Please try 
creating an empty new partition table as I've described, maybe this will 
help.

Thanks and best regards,

Jurij Smakov                                        jurij@wooyd.org
Key: http://www.wooyd.org/pgpkey/                   KeyID: C99E03CC