Re: [ANNOUNCE] Red Hat Linux 9 XFS DVD Released

[Mogens Kjaer <mk@xxxxxx>]

Stefan Smietanowski wrote:
...

> There is a bug with using GRUB as a bootloader. Either use LILO or
> use one of the following workarounds:
>
> * Make a seperate /boot partition and use some other filesystem than
>   xfs on it. That way you won't get the issue and you can use xfs
>   without getting any problems.
>
> * Run the installer all the way until it asks if you should create
>   a boot disk or not.
>   If you're using the graphical installer press CTRL-ALT-F5.
>   If you're using the text installer, press ALT-F5.
>   You'll see an interesting page ending with a GRUB error
>   "Can't find file".
>   Above it are two lines. The first one is something like:
>   "root (hd0,0)"
>   After that you'll find a line with something like this (these lines
>   are different depending on your type of hard drive and partitioning:
>   "install /boot/grub/stage1 d .........."
>   Write both lines down literally. Note that there exists a space
>   after "(hd0)" in some places and not in others. Make sure you really
>   get it right.
>   Go back to the installer by using ALT-F7 if using the graphical
>   installer or ALT-F1 if using text.

Instead of switching back to the installer, you can also switch
to a shell (ALT-F2), and do a:

chroot /mnt/sysimage
/sbin/grub --batch --nofloppy --device-map=/boot/grub/device.map

and give the two commands again (in my case):

root (hd0,0)
install /boot/grub/stage1 d (hd0) /boot/grub/stage2 p 
(hd0,0)/boot/grub/grub.conf
quit

and ctrl-D to exit chroot.

(the install ... line is one line).

Then you can go back to the installer.

Interestingly, the command above is exactly the same the
installer gives in stage2.img /usr/lib/booty/bootloaderInfo.py
one has:

...
            rhpl.executil.execWithRedirect( "/sbin/grub-install",
                                    ["/sbin/grub-install", "--just-copy"],
                                    stdout = "/dev/tty5", stderr = 
"/dev/tty5",
                                    root = instRoot)

            # get the stage files synced to disk
            import isys
            isys.sync()
            isys.sync()
            isys.sync()

            # really install the bootloader
            p = os.pipe()
            os.write(p[1], cmd + '\n')
            os.close(p[1])
            rhpl.executil.execWithRedirect('/sbin/grub' ,
                                   [ "grub",  "--batch", "--no-floppy",

"--device-map=/boot/grub/device.map" ],
                                   stdin = p[0],
                                   stdout = "/dev/tty5", stderr = 
"/dev/tty5",
                                   root = instRoot)
            os.close(p[0])

...

I'm wondering if these sync's aren't enough on
an XFS filesystem... Hm, I'll try and put 100 extra...

Mogens

--
Mogens Kjaer, Carlsberg A/S, Computer Department
Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark
Phone: +45 33 27 53 25, Fax: +45 33 27 47 08
Email: mk@xxxxxx Homepage: http://www.crc.dk