Re: Installation problem on HP DL360 G6 server

[Emmanuel Chantry <echantry@gmail.com>]

Le 12/02/2010 23:25, Michael Mohn a écrit :
> Am 12.02.2010 um 23:16:14 schrieb Emmanuel Chantry:
>
>    
> > Le 12/02/2010 22:30, Stan Hoeppner a écrit :
> >      
> > > Emmanuel Chantry put forth on 2/12/2010 12:32 PM:
> > >
> > >        
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > I've  tried to install a Debian Lenny on HP DL360 G6 server.
> > > > I have a RAID 5 smart array configured.
> > > > I use auto install with preseed. My partition are created through LVMs.
> > > >
> > > > The first time I install Debian, everything is ok.
> > > > But when I try to install again over the existing installation with the
> > > > same preseed configuration, I have an error message : "Volume group name
> > > > already in use" with a continue/go back.
> > > > If I choose continue, I have another error message "No root filesystem
> > > > found".
> > > >
> > > > Anyone else has had this error ? Is there a solution for that problem ?
> > > >
> > > >          
> > > The first thing you should ask yourself, and should tell us, is why are you
> > > reinstalling over a fresh installation?  That right there is odd behavior.
> > >
> > > Is there actually something you want to accomplish with this Proliant server, or
> > > do you just enjoy playing with the Debian installer?
> > >
> > > Another question:  You already have the SmartArray controller presenting you
> > > with a single large block device.  Why are you even using LVM?  Is there
> > > something you are trying to accomplish that can't be accomplished by slicing
> > > that big block up with good 'ol primary and logical partitions?  Do you *need*
> > > LVM or are you using it because it's *neat*?
> > >
> > >
> > >        
> > I've reinstalling over a fresh installation because if one day I have to reinstall OS for some reason I will install over an existing one.
> > I must validate the HP server for my company, we have many software under Linux we're currently using. I try to establish a procedure as simple as possible with minimal handling for our technicians.
> >
> > LVM is used to allow me to extend a volume if needed for example if I must store a lot of data and my volume and I haven't  enough space.
> >
> > We have many different HP servers with 3, 4, 6 disks, but sometimes we don't mount all the disk in the active RAID, there are spares for extending LVM volumes.
> >      
>
>
> you should add a preinstall script, that deletes all partitions, i think.
> that way, there is a defined state to start the installation.
>
> bye,
>
> Michael.
>
>
>    
I've tried to use a preinstall script with :

d-i preseed/early_command string \
        wget http://indus.mydomain/remove_parts.sh -O 
/tmp/remove_parts.sh; sh /tmp/remove_parts.sh

My script is like that :

#!/bin/sh

DISK='/dev/sda'
VG='debian'

echo "Installing required software utilities"
anna-install parted-udeb
anna-install lvm2-udeb

modprobe dm-mod
modprobe md-mod

# Remove each partition
echo "Removing existing partitions on disk $DISK"

vgremove -f VG

for v_partition in $(parted -s $DISK print | grep "^ " | tr -s ' ' | cut 
-d ' ' -f2)
do
   parted -s $DISK rm ${v_partition}
done

echo "All partitions removed"

This method works on a virtual machine without problems. But when I try 
this on my HP server it fails. My install is in amd64 not i386.
I've watched the steps of install in the debug console and it seems that 
in amd64, installation steps are not in the same order.

In i386 my anna-install command for udeb packages is done but in amd64 
is queued for later install, and my script fails.

Any idea ?

Emmanuel