[SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

Agravain · 2012-10-03 22:05:42

Hi everyone,

I have been playing (or fighting better) with Arch to try to do what I will expose to you now:

I have an old eeepc, which had Arch installed. The eeepc has sda 8Gb and sdb 32Gb. The last installation I did, I just installed all the OS on sdb, and used sda just as a removable media.

Now, I reinstalled it, but trying the following:

sda1 /home

sdb1 /swap
sdb2 /boot *bootable
sdb3 /

I changed on BIOS the boot priority of hard drives (so the sdb boots first). But when I try to enter to Arch through GRUB, it says something like that (I doesn't have it in English): error: you must load the kernel first.

So, the thing is: Is it possible to do what I want to do? Do I need to do something not explained on arch wiki?

Thanks for you attention.

David

Last edited by Agravain (2012-10-04 15:35:29)

Scimmia · 2012-10-03 22:11:11

post up your GRUB configuration.

Agravain · 2012-10-03 22:49:17

I'm trying to copy it to my bootable arch usb but I can't. Is it possible or I need 2 usbs (1 for booting and 1 to copy in)? I'm feeling so stupid...

Trilby · 2012-10-03 22:53:17

If your bootable usb was created by dd'ing an iso, then no, you will not be able to save anything to it. If you're bootable usb has an installed arch system on it, then you should be able to copy to it just like another other usb. Given the problem, I'm assuming you have the former.

But you shouldn't need to copy it to any usb. Boot into your live media (the bootable usb), mount sdb2, then post the grub config from sdb2 to the forums or to pastebin.

Agravain · 2012-10-03 23:28:04

Well, it is created with LinuxLive usb creator, so it is write protected anyway.

The one I have is created with the grub-mkconfig command. If I must copy it manually, it can take ages...

Anyway, I copied it to another usb

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
insmod part_gpt
insmod part_msdos
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
set default="0"

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function load_video {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos3 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos3 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos3  94cbc613-4bb8-4dca-96e3-8a9ab1ba79ae
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 94cbc613-4bb8-4dca-96e3-8a9ab1ba79ae
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=ca_ES
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
set timeout=5
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Arch GNU/Linux, amb el Linux core repo kernel' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-core repo kernel-true-94cbc613-4bb8-4dca-96e3-8a9ab1ba79ae' {
	load_video
	set gfxpayload=keep
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd1,msdos2'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos2 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos2 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos2  6e01a560-bc93-4b5f-b4eb-bd766bc4ed69
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 6e01a560-bc93-4b5f-b4eb-bd766bc4ed69
	fi
	echo	'S'està carregant el Linux core repo kernel ...'
	linux	/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=94cbc613-4bb8-4dca-96e3-8a9ab1ba79ae ro  quiet
	echo	'S'està carregant la ramdisk inicial ...'
	initrd	/initramfs-linux.img
}
menuentry 'Arch GNU/Linux, with Linux core repo kernel (Fallback initramfs)' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-core repo kernel-fallback-94cbc613-4bb8-4dca-96e3-8a9ab1ba79ae' {
	load_video
	set gfxpayload=keep
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd1,msdos2'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos2 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos2 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos2  6e01a560-bc93-4b5f-b4eb-bd766bc4ed69
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 6e01a560-bc93-4b5f-b4eb-bd766bc4ed69
	fi
	echo	'S'està carregant el Linux core repo kernel ...'
	linux	/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=94cbc613-4bb8-4dca-96e3-8a9ab1ba79ae ro  quiet
	echo	'S'està carregant la ramdisk inicial ...'
	initrd	/initramfs-linux-fallback.img
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
  source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

When trying to get it working, I tried a simpler config like that but didn't work.

menuentry "Arch Linux" {
    set root=(hd1,2)
    linux /vmlinuz-linux root=/dev/sdb3 ro
    initrd /initramfs-linux.img

Thanks for the answers.

David

Trilby · 2012-10-04 00:15:17

I don't use grub2, but shouldn't that be "(hd1,1)" to point to your boot parition?

The partition numbers start at zero while the device node numbering starts at one, so sdb2 is (hd1,1).

nomorewindows · 2012-10-04 00:55:13

There's nothing wrong with putting grub on both drives. Then you can boot from whichever painful configuration you end up in. If nothing else, you can chainload into the other drive, but you should be able to use the out-of-order drive to boot the kernel on the second drive. Just as long as you call everything on the second drive, to boot from the second drive.

DSpider · 2012-10-04 06:05:31

The title is a bit misleading. I thought it was about a RAID, LVM or Btrfs multiple volume configuration. From a 2012 Arch Linux "live" installation medium:

- mount the root partition to /mnt.
- mount the separate boot partition (if you have one) to /mnt/boot.
- run "arch-chroot /mnt" and install GRUB according to the instructions from the Beginners' Guide: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Be … bootloader

Note: Please do not use /dev/sdaX in the below command. You may use /dev/sdb if you installed Arch there, as long as you set that drive to boot first from the BIOS settings.

Agravain · 2012-10-04 10:19:31

Trilby wrote:

I don't use grub2, but shouldn't that be "(hd1,1)" to point to your boot parition?
The partition numbers start at zero while the device node numbering starts at one, so sdb2 is (hd1,1).

Hmmm, I think that it is as I say. If device node starts at 1, 1=1, 2=2, etc. (sda3 = hd0,3 // sdb1 = hd1,1). If I'm wrong, please let me know it.

DSpider wrote:

The title is a bit misleading. I thought it was about a RAID, LVM or Btrfs multiple volume configuration.

I'm sorry if it is. Give me a better title and I will change it.

DSpider wrote:

From a 2012 Arch Linux "live" installation medium:
- mount the root partition to /mnt.
- mount the separate boot partition (if you have one) to /mnt/boot.
- run "arch-chroot /mnt" and install GRUB according to the instructions from the Beginners' Guide: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Be … bootloader

I have followed the guide step by step.

nomorewindows wrote:

There's nothing wrong with putting grub on both drives. Then you can boot from whichever painful configuration you end up in. If nothing else, you can chainload into the other drive, but you should be able to use the out-of-order drive to boot the kernel on the second drive. Just as long as you call everything on the second drive, to boot from the second drive.

I have installed GRUB only on /boot (sdb2). Should I install it on sda too?

Thanks for your answers and time.

David

DSpider · 2012-10-04 10:58:48

Well, a better title would be "Installing Arch on /dev/sdb".

Agravain wrote:

I have installed GRUB only on /boot (sdb2). Should I install it on sda too?

Which part of "Please do not use /dev/sdaX in the below command. You may use /dev/sdb if you installed Arch there, as long as you set that drive to boot first from the BIOS settings" did you not understand?

Mount the root partition FIRST, mount the boot partition SECOND (if you have one), chroot, and run:

# grub-install --target=i386-pc --recheck /dev/sdb
# cp /usr/share/locale/en\@quot/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo /boot/grub/locale/en.mo
# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

If it still doesn't boot, then you need to go into the BIOS, set the sdb drive (by brand or model name, whatever it's called) to boot first, and exit by saving the changes (usually F10).

Alternatively, use Syslinux.

Last edited by DSpider (2012-10-04 11:04:54)

Agravain · 2012-10-04 11:35:03

DSpider wrote:

Which part of "Please do not use /dev/sdaX in the below command. You may use /dev/sdb if you installed Arch there, as long as you set that drive to boot first from the BIOS settings" did you not understand?

Sounds quite aggressive... But as I said, I installed grub on sdb, not sda. And as I said too in the 1st post, I changed the boot priority on bios...

Thanks for the answer

PS: Title changed.

DSpider · 2012-10-04 12:21:54

Doh! Instead of /dev/sdaX, in your case would be /dev/sdbX. It means to install to the whole drive (i.e. to the MBR, as in "/dev/sdb"), not to a partition (as in "/dev/sdb2"). That's what the "X" symbolizes. A partition. This is basic stuff, man... Ok, you know what? This isn't going to work out. Here's some spoon feeding, after which I'm not posting here anymore. It's explained in the Beginners' Guide pretty well, I think. If you can't follow instructions, you're either not very literate (in English) or just plain trolling. So here it goes; pop in the latest Arch CD/USB stick/whatever and run:

# mount /dev/sdb3 /mnt       #Your root partition.
# mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt/boot  #Your separate boot partition.
# arch-chroot /mnt
# grub-install --target=i386-pc --recheck /dev/sdb
# cp /usr/share/locale/en\@quot/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo /boot/grub/locale/en.mo
# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Done. GRUB is now installed. Unless you partitioned it as GPT (for which you'd need an additional 2 MiB partition), your Arch install should now boot just fine.

You're welcome. Don't forget to mark the topic as solved (by editing the first post).

Arch Linux

#1 2012-10-03 22:05:42

[SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#2 2012-10-03 22:11:11

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#3 2012-10-03 22:49:17

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#4 2012-10-03 22:53:17

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#5 2012-10-03 23:28:04

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#6 2012-10-04 00:15:17

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#7 2012-10-04 00:55:13

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#8 2012-10-04 06:05:31

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#9 2012-10-04 10:19:31

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#10 2012-10-04 10:58:48

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#11 2012-10-04 11:35:03

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

#12 2012-10-04 12:21:54

Re: [SOLVED] Installing Arch on /dev/sdb with /home on /dev/sda

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