mkinitcpio and Knoppix

TheGrudge · 2007-02-22 09:48:16

Hi,

I want to clone a running Archlinux system into a VMWARE Server Image. I've done backups with rsync for so long and it worked every time I needed to clone or restore a system.
But now I'm running into some difficulties I cannot solve.

I started the virtual machine with Knoppix, prepared the hard disk and did a

rsync -avn --numeric-ids --delete --exclude=/sys --exclude=/proc root@someIP.in.our.network:/ /

I changed /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/menu.lst to the new device names (hda1->sda1) and reinstalled GRUB:

$> grub
grub> root (hd0,1)
grub> setup (hd0)
grub> quit

I created the folders /proc and /sys and did a reboot.
But after loading the initial ramdisk I get some errors:

:: Loading Initramfs
ERROR: Failed to parse block device name for '/dev/sda2'
ERROR: root fs cannot be detected.
kinit: unable to mount root fs on device (hd0,0)
kinit: init not found

I don't know what's wrong, because (hd0,0) is not configured anywhere.
My grub.lst:

# (0) Arch Linux
title Arch Linux
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda2 ro quiet
initrd /boot/kernel26.img
title Arch Linux (failsafe)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda2 ro init 1
initrd /boot/kernel26.img

I wanted to create new initramfs images, but this fails because the kernel version of the Knoppix DVD doesn't fit with my installation

"cannot find /lib/modules/2.6.15".................

my kernel version is 2.6.20...

So what should I do? Is it possible to boot with the kernel from the hard disk or is my problem located elsewhere??

TheGrudge · 2007-02-22 13:55:13

Hmmm I guess I have to create a new initramfs, but it seems to be impossible to boot from a Live CD and use my current kernel for booting the rescue system.
I found some thread where somebody had the same problem and he solved it by running mkinitcpio again... but I cannot get it to work without my current installed kernel image.
Any ideas what I can do?

codemac · 2007-02-22 16:18:00

mkinitcpio should have -k parameter that specifies which kernel to create for. After that it should just be mount -o bind

TheGrudge · 2007-02-22 19:37:54

Ok will try this at work tomorrow... thank you!

phrakture · 2007-02-23 03:30:30

I think you're mistaken. The error from kinit is related to the error above it. Paraphrasing the error:

/dev/sda2 not found

You need to verify that sda2 actually works. Are you sure it's not hda2? Are you sure it's not sda1?

TheGrudge · 2007-02-23 06:42:33

Yes I'm sure...

phrakture · 2007-02-23 08:17:27

In that case, this error:

ERROR: Failed to parse block device name for '/dev/sda2'

indicates that the device node could not be found. This is most likely because the module for your disk was not loaded at this point. VMWare needs some odd module for disks, i think - one that can't be autodetects... BusLogic or something? Try loading that in the MODULES="" list for you mkinitcpio image.

TheGrudge · 2007-02-23 13:47:41

It worked! Did a

mkinitcpio -M

and put all listed modules in the config. Then I rebuild the initramfs and rebooted!! ;-)

Arch Linux

#1 2007-02-22 09:48:16

mkinitcpio and Knoppix

#2 2007-02-22 13:55:13

Re: mkinitcpio and Knoppix

#3 2007-02-22 16:18:00

Re: mkinitcpio and Knoppix

#4 2007-02-22 19:37:54

Re: mkinitcpio and Knoppix

#5 2007-02-23 03:30:30

Re: mkinitcpio and Knoppix

#6 2007-02-23 06:42:33

Re: mkinitcpio and Knoppix

#7 2007-02-23 08:17:27

Re: mkinitcpio and Knoppix

#8 2007-02-23 13:47:41

Re: mkinitcpio and Knoppix

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