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Bug#814288: Generates corrupt (?) initrd images



Package: initramfs-tools
Version: 0.120

I have a rather odd case where update-initramfs sometimes generates good
initrds and sometimes it does not.  I'm not sure if the bug lies here or
in the kernel, but after sinking hours into investigating this issues
I'm very confident there is a bug somewhere.  I figure I will start with
this package and see where we get.

Kernel info, for the record:

-----
Linux debian-workstation 3.16.0-4-amd64 #1 SMP Debian
3.16.7-ckt20-1+deb8u3 (2016-01-17) x86_64 GNU/Linux
-----

Every initrd generated on the target machine with "update-initramfs -k
all -u" causes a kernel panic on the next boot:

-----
Initramfs unpacking failed: no cpio magic
/bin/sh: error while loading shared libraries: libc.so.6: cannot open
shared object file: No such file or directory
(usual "attempted to kill init" flood)
-----

However, if I boot from the amd64-8.1.0 netinstall CD in rescue mode and
select the options that will chroot me into the root volume of the
target machine and run the same update-initramfs command there, then the
machine boots.

I captured an example of a working and a broken initrd.  If I extract
them (gunzip < $file | cpio -i -dv) and diff the two trees, only one
file reports as being different: /etc/boottime.kmap.gz .  If I gunzip
this file in both trees, diff reports no differences.

I am at a total loss to explain this behavior.  The same
update-initramfs / mkinitramfs are used to build both, since I am
chroot'd into the root volume when building from the rescue CD.  The
only different pieces are the running kernel, and various mounts (/dev,
/proc, etc.).  The same kernel is used to actually boot both generated
initrds.

Since the initrds are not small, I'm linking them instead of attaching them.

Working:
<http://static.chrishowie.com/files/initrd.img-3.16.0-4-amd64.working>

Broken:
<http://static.chrishowie.com/files/initrd.img-3.16.0-4-amd64.broken>

Thanks for your time,

-- 
Chris Howie
http://www.chrishowie.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Crazycomputers

If you correspond with me on a regular basis, please read this document:
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