Arch Linux

lookingaty

Member

Registered: 2014-01-16

Posts: 10

[SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

Hey there,
I am trying to install a fresh archlinux system from within an existing archlinux installation. -- I really hope to get help here, I am clueless.
Theoretically this could be posted in the newby section but I think my problem is more special and it's not my first archlinux installation at all.

The facts:
I am renting an ovh server (kimsufi.com) and I want to install archlinux without their special ovh features.
The rescue system (debian) don't let me install archlinux (pacstrap error -> "mount: mount point /mnt/dev/pts does not exist"). Same as here -> https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1231074
Because of that I install archlinux over the webinterface and then I want to install archlinux on another partition.

The problem:
The archlinux system from ovh is working, it is booting fine. My freshly installed system looks to don't boot at all.
There are no logs in /var/log (no dmesg etc.) so I think that it doesn't past grub.
I am clueless what I can do to get it to boot.

What I have tried...
"Pretty everything" I would say but this doesn't help anyone.
pacman -Syu linux mkinitcpio grub <- to be sure everything is installed.
-- Openssh is installed and configured, network is configured, fstab is correct, openssh and netctl is on autostart with systemctl.
mkinitcpio -p linux <- everything ok
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg <- that's also fine
grub-install --recheck /dev/sda <- no problems so far

That's all, I hope I haven't forgotten anything.
Partitions:

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1            4096      526335      261120   83  Linux <--- /boot of the ovh system
/dev/sda2          526336    19398655     9436160   83  Linux <--- / of the ovh system
/dev/sda3   *    19398656    20445183      523264   83  Linux <--- /boot of the fresh system 
/dev/sda4        20445184    26736639     3145728    5  Extended
/dev/sda5        20447232    26736639     3144704   83  Linux <--- / of the fresh system

The bootflag is ignored because grub is installed into MBR.

Please post any ideas, I don't know what I may have forgotten.

Last edited by lookingaty (2014-02-14 21:24:39)

lookingaty

Member

Registered: 2014-01-16

Posts: 10

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

Since nobody seems to have a clue, does anybody have tips how I could start to find a solution?
It is not my first archlinux installation but I am not familiar with things that doesn't need to be used.

My intention is that some module or something else isn't loaded at boot time.
The ovh system is working so it's a good start to look at the differences.
Maybe some of you have better ideas or at least can point how I might find... anything helpfull.

Here's a lsmod, iTCO is weird, the rest is normal? (Please share your experience.)

lsmod at OVH archlinux:

Module                  Size  Used by
coretemp                6334  0
microcode              15216  0
gpio_ich                4536  0
evdev                  11085  2
iTCO_wdt                5407  0
iTCO_vendor_support     1937  1 iTCO_wdt
i915                  657825  1
r8169                  58431  0
video                  11196  1 i915
pcspkr                  2035  0
serio_raw               5049  0
drm_kms_helper         36254  1 i915
i2c_i801               11277  0
lpc_ich                13376  0
mii                     4035  1 r8169
intel_agp              10880  1 i915
drm                   238238  2 i915,drm_kms_helper
shpchp                 25465  0
i2c_algo_bit            5399  1 i915
i2c_core               24164  5 drm,i915,i2c_i801,drm_kms_helper,i2c_algo_bit
intel_gtt              12664  3 i915,intel_agp
processor              24903  0
button                  4677  1 i915
ext4                  474699  2
crc16                   1367  1 ext4
mbcache                 6082  1 ext4
jbd2                   83440  1 ext4
sd_mod                 30821  3
ata_generic             3378  0
pata_acpi               3395  0
ata_piix               25088  2
libata                171112  3 pata_acpi,ata_generic,ata_piix
ehci_pci                4000  0
scsi_mod              130669  2 libata,sd_mod
uhci_hcd               24763  0
ehci_hcd               59252  1 ehci_pci
usbcore               180104  3 uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd,ehci_pci
usb_common              1656  1 usbcore

Last edited by lookingaty (2014-01-19 12:20:02)

TheSaint

Member

From: my computer

Registered: 2007-08-19

Posts: 1,523

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

One possible error is cause by grub, which assign the wrong root hard disk. Grub tempts to swap the hard disks. Root should be (hd0,msdosX|gpt_partX).
While booting do you see something about grub?
Show your grub.cfg

---

do it good first, it will be faster than do it twice the saint

lookingaty

Member

Registered: 2014-01-16

Posts: 10

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

Since it's a server by ovh/kimsufi, I am not able to see what's going on with grub. (I have no idea how to diagnose that problem.)
The grub.cfg seems to be correct.

I tried it again without an extended partition, every partition are primary ones. Still no logs.

Device    Boot     Start       End  Blocks  Id System
/dev/sda1           2048    526335  262144  83 Linux <--- /boot of both systems (only grub.cfg changes)
/dev/sda2         526336  19398655 9436160  83 Linux <--- / of the ovh system
/dev/sda3       19398656  25690111 3145728  83 Linux <--- / of the fresh system

At the moment the grub.cfg points to the OVH archlinux, not the freshly installed one.
I have modified that file by hand to OVH archlinux (sda2; UUID changed of course). OVH archlinux boots.
I can run grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg with the fresh system in arch-chroot again but it won't help.
But I can still do this and post it here.

My grub.cfg:

#
# 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 $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

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$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos2 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos2  bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2
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=en_US
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
  set timeout_style=menu
  set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
  set timeout=5
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_archlinux ###

menuentry "Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel" --class arch-linux --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
        insmod all_video
    fi
    set gfxpayload=keep
    insmod ext2
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid  --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
    else
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid  --set=root 057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
    fi
    echo 'Loading Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel ...'
    linux /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2 rw  quiet
    echo 'Loading Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel initramfs ...'
    initrd /initramfs-linux.img
}


menuentry "Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel (fallback initramfs)" --class arch-linux --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
        insmod all_video
    fi
    set gfxpayload=keep
    insmod ext2
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid  --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
    else
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid  --set=root 057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
    fi
    echo 'Loading Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel ...'
    linux /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2 rw  quiet
    echo 'Loading Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel fallback initramfs ...'
    initrd /initramfs-linux-fallback.img
}

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Arch Linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2' {
        load_video
        set gfxpayload=keep
        insmod gzio
        insmod part_msdos
        insmod ext2
        set root='hd0,msdos1'
        if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
          search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
        else
          search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
        fi
        echo    'Loading Linux linux ...'
        linux   /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2 rw  quiet
        echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
        initrd  /initramfs-linux.img
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Arch Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2' {
        menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-advanced-bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2' {
                load_video
                set gfxpayload=keep
                insmod gzio
                insmod part_msdos
                insmod ext2
                set root='hd0,msdos1'
                if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
                  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
                else
                  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
                fi
                echo    'Loading Linux linux ...'
                linux   /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=bdf22a6f-cc53-41bc-a539-681a16bad2d2 rw  quiet
                echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
                initrd  /initramfs-linux.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/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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###

TheSaint

Member

From: my computer

Registered: 2007-08-19

Posts: 1,523

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

All your entries are pointing to the first partition.
If you have the chance (and you should) press e when the menu entries appeared and go directly to modify the partition pointer and the installation pointer at the kernel line.
Once you succeed, you may change permanently you entry.
One more option, you may copy one entry and modify it at your intent then at boot just try it out.

---

do it good first, it will be faster than do it twice the saint

lookingaty

Member

Registered: 2014-01-16

Posts: 10

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

Wrong, some entries are pointing to the second partition which is the first archlinux installation, the OVH one.
It points to that because 'I have modified that file by hand to OVH archlinux (sda2; UUID changed of course).'

That's the grub.cfg after chrooting into the fresh system and run
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
now it points to the third partition, which is what I want. But the system don't boot then, no logs.

#
# 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 $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

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$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos3 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos3 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos3  992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61
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=en_US
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
  set timeout_style=menu
  set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
  set timeout=5
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_archlinux ###

menuentry "Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel" --class arch-linux --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
        insmod all_video
    fi
    set gfxpayload=keep
    insmod ext2
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid  --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
    else
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid  --set=root 057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
    fi
    echo 'Loading Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel ...'
    linux /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61 rw  quiet
    echo 'Loading Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel initramfs ...'
    initrd /initramfs-linux.img
}


menuentry "Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel (fallback initramfs)" --class arch-linux --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
        insmod all_video
    fi
    set gfxpayload=keep
    insmod ext2
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid  --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
    else
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid  --set=root 057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
    fi
    echo 'Loading Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel ...'
    linux /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61 rw  quiet
    echo 'Loading Arch Linux pkg-linux kernel fallback initramfs ...'
    initrd /initramfs-linux-fallback.img
}

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Arch Linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61' {
        load_video
        set gfxpayload=keep
        insmod gzio
        insmod part_msdos
        insmod ext2
        set root='hd0,msdos1'
        if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
          search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
        else
          search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
        fi
        echo    'Loading Linux linux ...'
        linux   /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61 rw  quiet
        echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
        initrd  /initramfs-linux.img
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Arch Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61' {
        menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-advanced-992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61' {
                load_video
                set gfxpayload=keep
                insmod gzio
                insmod part_msdos
                insmod ext2
                set root='hd0,msdos1'
                if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
                  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
                else
                  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 057c8a71-6eab-4093-80e6-3191386697ff
                fi
                echo    'Loading Linux linux ...'
                linux   /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=992d6bd9-3926-4cd1-93ac-51f913ff7b61 rw  quiet
                echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
                initrd  /initramfs-linux.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/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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###

I appreciate your help but I think you didn't read my posts.
The system is a server so I am not able see what is going on until the network and ssh is booted!
That way I am NOT able to press e (or something) in the boot screen and also cannot see what grub is doing.

My next thing is install another bootloader, never tried that but that might work. (Never used something else than grub.)

Last edited by lookingaty (2014-01-20 16:43:09)

lookingaty

Member

Registered: 2014-01-16

Posts: 10

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

Found out "something new".
It's definitely not the bootloader, I get the same problem with syslinux. (syslinux is much easier to use)

That means that the system must have something like a kernel panic which is not logged...
How do I debug this on a server >.<

edit: For those who are reading;
I'm going to try debugging at boot, trying "netconsole" to run and get the logs to my desktop system.
It's my first time trying something with the initrd, I would really appreciate any help.

Going tomorrow with some tests about that, I've spent enough hours for this today.

Last edited by lookingaty (2014-01-20 20:04:49)

lookingaty

Member

Registered: 2014-01-16

Posts: 10

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

Just another failed result.

I can get netconsole running within OVH archlinux, but not at boot.
A dynamic setup works, I get dmesg messages at my desktop.
As soon as I restart (with netconsole=6666@SERVER_IP/eth0,6666@DESKTOP_IP/GATEWAY_MAC as a kernel parameter with syslinux), I don't get any messages.
OVH archlinux boots with netconsole kernel parameters fine, just no messages on my desktop.
(Yeah, gnu-netcat was installed at that time, according to this wiki -> https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Netconsole )

Next try will be Kdump -> https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kdump
Maybe that will help but it's trial and error all the way.

Last edited by lookingaty (2014-01-26 20:28:55)

lookingaty

Member

Registered: 2014-01-16

Posts: 10

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

I nearly gave up but I found the command 'journalctl' which I had never have heard of.
With this I can see the kernel log (partially I think) and I am able to debug my problem.

For now it looks like it is a network problem, the system is booting without network if I interpret the log correctly.

lookingaty

Member

Registered: 2014-01-16

Posts: 10

Re: [SOLVED] Install archlinux from a archlinux system -system not booting

I've got it, it's working now.
My mistakes were to build a custom kernel and to not know journalctl.
Then I didn't found the NIC inside the log out of journalctl which let me think that the log was incomplete.

The log was complete, the NIC wasn't found/loaded, I had to add the right module (r8169 in my case) to the bootprocess (/etc/modules-load.d/module.conf).
Now I get my ping with the right network-configurations... at least I had a few minutes ago (still working on it).