Kernel panic with new install of 2012.08

[Raimy]

Okay, here's what I got:

mount -o loop /mnt/nottobe/boot/initrd-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs.img /mnt/tobe - mount: mount point /mnt/tobe does not exist

ls -l /mnt/tobbe/dev/ - ls: cannot access /mnt/tobbe/dev/: No such file or directory

ls -l /mnt/nottobe/boot/ shows

total 10732
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root root     440 Dec  8 18:43 boot.backup.mapper_isw_cgbfdccija_M17XR4_RAID0
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root root     440 Jan 27  2012 boot.backup.sda
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root      24 Dec  8 18:32 config -> config-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  133482 May 23  2012 config-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  517632 Dec  8 18:43 gfxmenu*
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root    4096 Dec  8 18:43 grub/
-rw------- 1 root root 6284556 Dec  8 18:43 initrd-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs.img
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root      28 Jun 12 12:48 initrd.img -> initrd-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs.img
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root      32 Jun 26 13:57 kernel.h -> /boot/kernel.h-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    1493 Jun 26 13:57 kernel.h-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  164504 May 17  2011 memtest-4.20
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  254766 Nov  5  2006 message-graphic
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root      28 Jun 12 12:51 System.map -> System.map-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1313890 May 23  2012 System.map-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root root     256 Dec  8 18:43 us.klt
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root      25 Jun 12 12:48 vmlinuz -> vmlinuz-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2283872 May 23  2012 vmlinuz-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs

ls -l  /mnt/nottobe/dev/ - the output is way over what I can post here. I couldn't even scroll up to the beginning of it.

I do appreciate your help!

[Raimy]

Things may be different these days, but last time I checked into booting a RAID installed system the kernel, initrd image, and grub files needed to be on a separate boot partition, not within the RAID itself. I would think this could be accomplished with a USB stick with one partition, with grub installed to the MBR of the USB stick.

I never found a real need to actually have a RAID setup on a home computer, so beyond some initial playing with the concept, back in 2001 - 2002, never really set one up to hold the operating system itself.

Would this be something worth trying?

[Raimy]

I found a post here on the forums that maybe could help, I don't really understand it all but it's similar to my predicament.  It's from 2010 - http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php?topic=73362.0

[kjpetrie]

Sadly, that's about mounting a raid within an already booted system. We know the livecd can do that or it wouldn't be able to install to your drives. The problem seems to be in the mkinitrd script which creates a temporary file system for the kernel to use while booting, before it mounts the real partitions. This gives it access to drivers it needs to access the real partitions, I think (not quite clear why this two step process is needed). To work, the initial ram disc (initrd.img for short) needs content identical to the real stuff so the kernel doesn't notice when it changes over, so it has to be made on the machine during installation to match what's actually there.

The script which does this doesn't cope with RAID very well because there are too many variations, some of which are bodges for MS which are non-standard and difficult to know about, which means it is difficult to get a kernel to boot from a RAID. It's almost there, but not quite.

O-P's workaround of putting a /boot partition on a USB stick would probably make things possible. As grub appears to be working, you could probably still install the boot loader to the MBR of the RAID, although there are issues to be considered:

1. With Grub on the USB stick you would have to change the BIOS settings to boot from that, but you could use a Windows disc to restore the Windows boot loader to the RAID MBR. That would mean the machine could boot Windows in the standard way if the USB stick were removed. On the other hand, until you do that, Windows could only boot when the stick is present.

2. With Grub on the RAID you would not have to change the BIOS settings, providing it could find the USB stick. Windows would be booted by Grub even if the USB stick were removed.

Which you prefer would be your decision.

At least it would get you going.

[Raimy]

Other than minor things, PCLinuxOS has always worked flawlessly for me so I never even thought it would be a problem. I'll keep all this in mind but what I think I'm going to do is contact the manufacturer and see if I can downgrade from the 2 500gb drives to a single 750gb drive. I'll loose 250 gigs but at least I'll have my favorite OS.

I do thank you for your time and your help. 

[Just17]

Other than minor things, PCLinuxOS has always worked flawlessly for me so I never even thought it would be a problem. I'll keep all this in mind but what I think I'm going to do is contact the manufacturer and see if I can downgrade from the 2 500gb drives to a single 750gb drive. I'll loose 250 gigs but at least I'll have my favorite OS.

I do thank you for your time and your help. 

You should have the option of breaking the RAID set up so you have two separate disks.
You could then reinstall Windows on one and PCLOS on the other ......  'never the twain shall meet'

[Raimy]

Other than minor things, PCLinuxOS has always worked flawlessly for me so I never even thought it would be a problem. I'll keep all this in mind but what I think I'm going to do is contact the manufacturer and see if I can downgrade from the 2 500gb drives to a single 750gb drive. I'll loose 250 gigs but at least I'll have my favorite OS.

I do thank you for your time and your help.  

You should have the option of breaking the RAID set up so you have two separate disks.
You could then reinstall Windows on one and PCLOS on the other ......  'never the twain shall meet'

Is that something that is possible and easy to do? In case I can't make the switch it would be good to know what all my options are.

[Just17]

Other than minor things, PCLinuxOS has always worked flawlessly for me so I never even thought it would be a problem. I'll keep all this in mind but what I think I'm going to do is contact the manufacturer and see if I can downgrade from the 2 500gb drives to a single 750gb drive. I'll loose 250 gigs but at least I'll have my favorite OS.

I do thank you for your time and your help.  

You should have the option of breaking the RAID set up so you have two separate disks.
You could then reinstall Windows on one and PCLOS on the other ......  'never the twain shall meet'

Is that something that is possible and easy to do? In case I can't make the switch it would be good to know what all my options are.

I am not familiar with the particular hardware, but from what little I have read about it, it is supplied in different set up configurations, including RAID, so I can only say it *should* not be very difficult to do for someone who has a little experience.

Maybe the supplier could advise ....  or even provide a different set up configuration if you are not comfortable attempting it yourself.

You would of course need to do a fresh install of Windows and Linux, having saved any files to backup that you wish to keep. So be sure you have the required media and drivers etc to do a fresh install.

[Raimy]

I called the manufacturer and I'm swapping out the drives. Problem gone away! 

But thanks for all your help guys. As always this forum is great.