Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

STREBLO · 2016-01-31 01:49:38

After trying at least 6 times to install on a ZFS using GRUB, reEFInd , and now systemd-boot (which is what I prefer) I can't seem to get my system to boot using a ZFS root. I'm using a UEFI system with no data sets besides root and I've tried repeatedly with no luck.

Right now I have the system all set up but I just can't seem to get it to boot, on startup I get the boot screen with the two options and after choosing one it restarts the boot sequence and then goes to the firmware interface, after that it reboots.

I'm using a separate drive's FAT partition to boot off.

This is the sequence I went through :

Setup zpool:

zpool create -f -o ashift=12 vault mirror ata-SanDisk_SDSSDXPS480G_152271401093  ata-SanDisk_SDSSDXPS480G_154501401266

zfs create vault/ARCHON
zfs set mountpoint=/ vault/ARCHON
zfs set compression=on vault

zfs create vault/ARCHON/home -o mountpoint=/home

zfs create vault/ARCHON/root -o mountpoint=/root

zpool set bootfs=vault/ARCHON vault

zpool export vault
zpool import -d /dev/disk/by-id -R /mnt vault

mkdir /mnt/boot
mount /dev/sdg1 /mnt/boot

mkdir -p /mnt/etc/zfs
cp /etc/zfs/zpool.cache /mnt/etc/zfs/zpool.cache


pacstrap -i /mnt base base-devel

genfstab -U -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

# Confirm fstab is correct (mount only boot)
nano /mnt/etc/fstab

# Add hooks after block:  keyboard zfs filesystems
nano /mnt/etc/mkinitcpio.conf

arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash

Next I added zfs and did a normal install until bootloader

Bootloader setup:

# Bootloader
pacman -S intel-ucode
bootctl install

# Bootloader - add following to /boot/loader/loader.conf

# default arch
# linux /vmlinuz-linux
# initrd /intel-ucode.img
# initrd /initramfs-linux.img
# options zfs=vault/archon

nano /boot/loader/loader.conf

# End bootloader


echo "Archon" > /etc/hostname

# Edit hosts file
nano /etc/hosts

# Internet
systemctl enable dhcpcd@eno1.service

echo "en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8" >> /etc/locale.gen
locale-gen

passwd

# Check fstab
nano /etc/fstab

# Exit and reboot
exit

umount /mnt/boot

zfs umount -a
zpool export vault

Last edited by jasonwryan (2016-01-31 15:47:29)

whitesnow · 2016-01-31 13:18:26

For systemd-boot I don't know if I really can help you.

I use grub.
And in the grub.cfg I have at least 2 settings regarding the zpool.

zfs=rpool/ROOT/rootfs root=ZFS=rpool/ROOT/rootfs

So for yours I don't know anything.
Did you read:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/In … nux_on_ZFS

The kernel parameters in refind_linux.conf for ZFS should include zfs=bootfs or zfs=zroot so the system can boot from ZFS.

Does this belong to the systemd-boot?

# Bootloader - add following to /boot/loader/loader.conf

# default arch
# linux /vmlinuz-linux
# initrd /intel-ucode.img
# initrd /initramfs-linux.img
# options zfs=vault/archon

I hope you did delete the #.

Would you post your /boot/loader/loader.conf?
Do you have a refind_linux.conf?

graysky · 2016-01-31 13:33:48

IMO, ZFS is a data file system. Not a good choice for a system file system. Save yourself a headache and potential data loss.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-01-31 14:09:05

I know *nothing* about ZFS (as you already know), but:

STREBLO wrote:

Bootloader setup:

# Bootloader
pacman -S intel-ucode
bootctl install

# Bootloader - add following to /boot/loader/loader.conf

# default arch
# linux /vmlinuz-linux
# initrd /intel-ucode.img
# initrd /initramfs-linux.img
# options zfs=vault/archon

nano /boot/loader/loader.conf

# End bootloader

You need to create /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf (or similar) to hold all the configuration details (everything from "linux /vmlinuz-linux" down) rather than placing it in /boot/loader/loader.conf -- the latter file should only have the "timeout" & "default" lines (and these will be overridden anyway if you use the keyboard shortcuts on the bootctl systemd-boot loader screen).

And don't use "#" before the lines, as already mentioned.

See https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … figuration

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2016-01-31 14:09:50)

STREBLO · 2016-01-31 20:30:17

whitesnow wrote:

For systemd-boot I don't know if I really can help you.
I use grub.
And in the grub.cfg I have at least 2 settings regarding the zpool.
zfs=rpool/ROOT/rootfs root=ZFS=rpool/ROOT/rootfs
So for yours I don't know anything.
Did you read:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/In … nux_on_ZFS
The kernel parameters in refind_linux.conf for ZFS should include zfs=bootfs or zfs=zroot so the system can boot from ZFS. 
Does this belong to the systemd-boot?
# Bootloader - add following to /boot/loader/loader.conf

# default arch
# linux /vmlinuz-linux
# initrd /intel-ucode.img
# initrd /initramfs-linux.img
# options zfs=vault/archon
I hope you did delete the #.
Would you post your /boot/loader/loader.conf?
Do you have a refind_linux.conf?

>_< yes I deleted the hash signs, they were there to explain to you what I added.

I says "either" zfs= or rootfs= was fine.

I'm using systemd-boot, not rEFInd.

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

I know *nothing* about ZFS (as you already know), but:
You need to create /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf (or similar) to hold all the configuration details (everything from "linux /vmlinuz-linux" down) rather than placing it in /boot/loader/loader.conf -- the latter file should only have the "timeout" & "default" lines (and these will be overridden anyway if you use the keyboard shortcuts on the bootctl systemd-boot loader screen).

SHIIIII- of course, forgot bout the entry, stand by, attempting...

STREBLO · 2016-01-31 22:25:56

Ok, awesome. It's now booting. Unfortunately its stuck in read only mode and wont connect to internet... Cant change anything because read only.

whitesnow · 2016-02-01 05:32:47

Here this happend similarly.
http://freebsd.1045724.n5.nabble.com/ZF … 89931.html

To me, I don't remember such things happen to me personally.

# zfs get all | grep readonly 
# zfs set readonly=off zroot

so you may try that as a temporary solution.
the

zfs get all | grep readonly

will show you, if it is the zfs property, that causes the readonly.
If so, you should be able to set

zfs set readonly=off vault

and recheck with

zfs get all | grep readonly

it might be inherited by all filesystems (I'm no expert on these details, I now some properties are inherited).
if not, you repeat for every filesystem

zfs set readonly=off vault/archon

Then try to find the reason, there was some more to read on that link, I posted on top. I don't have the time now.

STREBLO · 2016-02-01 07:17:43

whitesnow wrote:

Here this happend similarly.
http://freebsd.1045724.n5.nabble.com/ZF … 89931.html
To me, I don't remember such things happen to me personally.
Then try to find the reason, there was some more to read on that link, I posted on top. I don't have the time now.

I also noticed on boot I'm getting messages:

failed start volatile files and directories
load / save random read

Why would it always stop me from being able to connect from the internet though? Would it be because it can't change anything?

Thanks, I actually found that while looking too, i'm now looking for a permanent solution. I could always run a script on boot but there should be a better way,

Last edited by STREBLO (2016-02-01 07:19:28)

Arch Linux

#1 2016-01-31 01:49:38

Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

#2 2016-01-31 13:18:26

Re: Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

#3 2016-01-31 13:33:48

Re: Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

#4 2016-01-31 14:09:05

Re: Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

#5 2016-01-31 20:30:17

Re: Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

#6 2016-01-31 22:25:56

Re: Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

#7 2016-02-01 05:32:47

Re: Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

#8 2016-02-01 07:17:43

Re: Stuck at boot screen with ZFS root

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