[SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

gardenair · 2024-01-21 05:01:52

hi,
I have just installed Arch Linux on my old desktop computer. It has a legacy BIOS option only. I have created 5 partitions of the hard disk.

root@archiso ~ # fdisk /dev/sda

root@archiso ~# fdisk /dev/sda
Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.39.2).
Device Boot Start End    Sector Size          ID    Type
/dev/sda1 * 2048 1026047 1024000 500M 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 1026048 5220351 4194304    2G    82    Linux swap /Solaris
/dev/sda3 5220353 277850111 272629760 130G 83    Linux
/dev/sda4 277850112 488397167 210547056 10.4G 5    Extended
/dev/sda5 277852160 488397167 210545008 10.4G 83    Linux
i.e
1- /boot
2- /swap
3- /root
4- /home

Formated as
root@archiso ~ # mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1
root@archiso ~ # mkswap /dev/sda2
root@archiso ~ # mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3
root@archiso ~ # mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda5
Now mounting the partitions.
root@archiso ~ # mkdir –p /boot
root@archiso ~ # mount /dev/sda1 /boot
root@archiso ~ # swapon /dev/sda2
root@archiso ~ # mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
root@archiso ~ # mkdir –p /mnt/home
root@archiso ~ # mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/home
root@archiso ~ # lsblk
sda1
sda1 8:1 0 500M 0 part /boot
sda2 8:2 0 2G 0 part [swap]
sda3 8:3 0 130G 0 part /mnt
sd41 8:4 0 1K 0 part
sda5 8:5 0 100.4G 0 part /home

Install Arch files
root@archiso ~ # pacstrap -i /mnt base linux linux-firmware sudo vim
Generate the fstab File
root@archiso ~ # genfstab -U -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
root@archiso ~ # lsblk
sda
sda1 8:1 0 500M 0 part
sda2 8:2 0 2G 0 part [swap]
sda3 8:3 0 130G 0 part /mnt
sd41 8:4 0 1K 0 part
sda5 8:5 0 100.4G 0 part /home

The thing which I don't understand is why the /boot partition is not mounted when I apply genfstab command. Though I have installed complete Arch Linux with Xfce. The boot partition is not mounted and its related files are not inside /the boot partition.

Kindly guide me.
gardenair

Last edited by gardenair (2024-01-23 17:42:43)

jonno2002 · 2024-01-21 05:19:59

because you didnt mount the /boot partition in the right place, you mounted it to /boot instead of /mnt/boot.

EDIT: make sure you mount /root first before mounting /boot

Last edited by jonno2002 (2024-01-21 05:21:36)

gardenair · 2024-01-21 05:51:58

Thanks for the reply Well first I even tried with /mnt/boot but still, it does mount the boot partition.

jonno2002 · 2024-01-21 06:21:46

did you mount root first THEN mount boot after ?
like this:

root@archiso ~ # swapon  /dev/sda2
root@archiso ~ # mount  /dev/sda3 /mnt
root@archiso ~ # mkdir  –p  /mnt/boot
root@archiso ~ # mount  /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
root@archiso ~ #  mkdir –p  /mnt/home
root@archiso ~ # mount /dev/sda5  /mnt/home

gardenair · 2024-01-21 10:46:18

I mount the /boot partition first then swap at third I mount / i.e root partition then at last /home.

root@archiso ~ # mkdir –p /mnt/boot
root@archiso ~ # mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
root@archiso ~ # swapon /dev/sda2
root@archiso ~ # mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
root@archiso ~ # mkdir –p /mnt/home
root@archiso ~ # mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/home

Head_on_a_Stick · 2024-01-21 10:52:31

Follow jonno2002's steps instead. You're covering up /mnt/boot/ when you mount /dev/sda3 under /mnt. Confirm that with `ls /mnt`.

I have to ask though: why do you think you need 3 separate partitions? That just looks like trouble waiting to happen. A single root partition is fine for a non-UEFI system and you won't have to worry about space requirements for the root, /home/ & /boot/ partitions.

And please use code tags rather than quote tags when posting terminal output.

gardenair · 2024-01-22 09:58:39

Thanks for the reply. Well I know instead to create a new /boot partition I can keep it with root ,make swap and home partition. I can even create a single " / " partition and enjoy Arch.
The query is, what is the proper order and mounting technique (Legacy BIOS) if someone want separate boot partition, swap partition , root partition and home partition ?
Thanks in advance.

d.ALT · 2024-01-22 10:41:28

Just follow the steps in order they're represented in 1.11 > https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … le_systems
Root partition (eg.: /dev/sda1) is mounted onto /mnt, then go for remainings (mkdir, mount then, mkdir, mount then, and so on...)

Last edited by d.ALT (2024-01-22 10:41:47)

gardenair · 2024-01-22 11:47:00

"d.ALT"I also tried as write down . With your kind direction still I can't see separate root partition mounted asfter "genfstab" command.

d.ALT · 2024-01-22 13:41:48

Just follows the steps suggested by jonno2002: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 7#p2145197

gardenair · 2024-01-23 04:47:30

"jonno2002" Thanks for the valuable guidance. Well I should be thankful if you kindly elaborate it. The think Which I understand is for Legacy BIOS option always mount /mnt first then rest of the partitions. The partitions are now mounting account to your reply. Thanks for it.

Just adding more if you allow me in my past in case of UEFI systems may I mount the EFI system partition as following order ?

sda1 /boot/efi
sda2 swap
sda3 /
sda4 /home

root@archiso ~ # mkdir  –p  /mnt/efi
root@archiso ~ # mount  /dev/sda1 /mnt/efi
root@archiso ~ # swapon  /dev/sda2
root@archiso ~ # mount  /dev/sda3 /mnt
root@archiso ~ #  mkdir –p  /mnt/home
root@archiso ~ # mount /dev/sda4  /mnt/home

Thanks a lot for your valuable guidance for helping me.

Last edited by gardenair (2024-01-23 04:54:22)

Scimmia · 2024-01-23 04:49:16

You're not getting it. You can't mount /mnt/efi then mount /mnt. You're hiding the ESP completely.

gardenair · 2024-01-23 05:17:01

well nothing is hiding. The

root@archiso ~ # genfstab  -U -p  /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

shows all the mounted partitions which is a good sign for me.

Remaining in the arch help there is also UEFI mounting help with that reference i get question in my mind that in case of UEFI how may I may mount it .
Though in my post I ask about the legacy partition mounting but I added other query which is separate from my post/question.

d.ALT · 2024-01-23 07:18:07

gardenair wrote:

sda1 /boot/efi

root@archiso ~ # mkdir  –p  /mnt/efi
root@archiso ~ # mount  /dev/sda1 /mnt/efi

Typo?

Anyway, as you correctly understood, the # mount /dev/sda4 /mnt/home step you've done was preformed after an mkdir (on the mounted $ROOT) and after you mounted your $ROOT. Same approach has to be done for all other mountpoints which are below $ROOT (as Scimmia already told you).
At this point I'm not understanding why you've done a step in the right direction, but the other not.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2024-01-23 07:53:32

gardenair wrote:

well nothing is hiding

Yes it is.

Look:

# mkdir -p /mnt/efi
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/efi
# mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
# ls /mnt
# findmnt /mnt
TARGET SOURCE    FSTYPE OPTIONS
/mnt   /dev/sda2 btrfs  rw,relatime,space_cache=v2,subvolid=5,subvol=/
# umount /mnt
# ls /mnt
efi
#

gardenair · 2024-01-23 16:59:44

Thanks for the guidance. Well, the gist which I understood is "/" root should always mounted first and the rest whatever partitions are should be mounted under " /mnt" . So in short /mnt is the base for all. It is a basic concept which I was neglecting in the installation process. This approach applies both to "Legacy" and "UEFI". Appreciate "jonno2002"," d.ALT" " Head_on_a_Stick" and " Scimmia " for the valuable guidance.

seth · 2024-01-23 17:27:33

The gist is that the order of layered mounts matter

mount /dev/sda /mnt/foo
mount /dev/sdb /mnt

/mnt will now reflect /dev/sdb - whatever was there before is hidden by that - whether you're doing this w/ the root partition or a bind mount into your /home partition does not matter at all.

Please always remember to mark resolved threads by editing your initial posts subject - so others will know that there's no task left, but maybe a solution to find.
Thanks.

Arch Linux

#1 2024-01-21 05:01:52

[SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#2 2024-01-21 05:19:59

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#3 2024-01-21 05:51:58

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#4 2024-01-21 06:21:46

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#5 2024-01-21 10:46:18

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#6 2024-01-21 10:52:31

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#7 2024-01-22 09:58:39

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#8 2024-01-22 10:41:28

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#9 2024-01-22 11:47:00

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#10 2024-01-22 13:41:48

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#11 2024-01-23 04:47:30

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#12 2024-01-23 04:49:16

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#13 2024-01-23 05:17:01

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#14 2024-01-23 07:18:07

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#15 2024-01-23 07:53:32

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#16 2024-01-23 16:59:44

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

#17 2024-01-23 17:27:33

Re: [SOLVED] boot partition is not mounting.

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