BUG: In debian installer

[Dennis Wicks]

When installing a kernel that uses an initrd the install process
abends because the default in /etc/kernel-img.conf is wrong and
when the installer responds with, I preseme, a CR then dpkg is
aborted. As far as I have been able to determine there is
now way to continue from this point. All options result in the
/etc/kernel-img.conf file being replaced with the one containing the
do_initrd = No option that causes the problem. Following is the
contents of /var/log/messages leading up to the abort. The prompt and
response is flagged with >>>>>


Selecting previously deselected package kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390.
Unpacking kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390 (from
.../kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390_2.6.8-5_s390.deb) ...

You are attempting to install an initrd kernel image (version 2.6.8-2-s390)
This will not work unless you have configured your boot loader to use
initrd. (An initrd image is a kernel image that expects to use an INITial
Ram Disk to mount a minimal root file system into RAM and use that for
booting).


I repeat, You need to configure your boot loader -- please read your
bootloader documentation for details on how to add initrd images.

If you have already done so, and you wish to get rid of this message,
please put
"do_initrd = Yes"
in /etc/kernel-img.conf. Note that this is optional, but if you do not,
you will continue to see this message whenever you install a kernel
image using initrd.

Do you want to stop now? [Y/n]Ok, Aborting

dpkg: error processing
/var/cache/apt/archives/kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390_2.6.8-5_s390.deb
(--unpack)
:
subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390_2.6.8-5_s390.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[Frans Pop]

(CCing debian-boot and quoting full message as that is the proper list for
this subject)

Post by Dennis Wicks
When installing a kernel that uses an initrd the install process
abends because the default in /etc/kernel-img.conf is wrong and
when the installer responds with, I preseme, a CR then dpkg is
aborted. As far as I have been able to determine there is
now way to continue from this point. All options result in the
/etc/kernel-img.conf file being replaced with the one containing the
do_initrd = No option that causes the problem. Following is the
contents of /var/log/messages leading up to the abort. The prompt and
response is flagged with >>>>>
Selecting previously deselected package kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390.
Unpacking kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390 (from
.../kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390_2.6.8-5_s390.deb) ...
You are attempting to install an initrd kernel image (version
2.6.8-2-s390) This will not work unless you have configured your boot
loader to use initrd. (An initrd image is a kernel image that expects
to use an INITial Ram Disk to mount a minimal root file system into RAM
and use that for booting).
I repeat, You need to configure your boot loader -- please read your
bootloader documentation for details on how to add initrd images.
If you have already done so, and you wish to get rid of this message,
please put
"do_initrd = Yes"
in /etc/kernel-img.conf. Note that this is optional, but if you do not,
you will continue to see this message whenever you install a kernel
image using initrd.

Do you want to stop now? [Y/n]Ok, Aborting

dpkg: error processing
/var/cache/apt/archives/kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390_2.6.8-5_s390.deb
(--unpack)
subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
/var/cache/apt/archives/kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390_2.6.8-5_s390.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Did you boot the installer with the 2.4.27 kernel?
If so, you were possibly bitten by a bug that was identified (for powerpc)
and solved. The bug was that the decision whether or not an initrd is
needed was made on the version of the kernel the installer was booted
with, rather than the kernel the user has chosen for the new system.

Could you please file an installation report [1] for this issue with
details of you installation so we can check if its been resolved?

[1] http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/report-template

Cheers,
FJP

[Bastian Blank]

Post by Frans Pop
Did you boot the installer with the 2.4.27 kernel?

s390 only support 2.4.27.

Post by Frans Pop
If so, you were possibly bitten by a bug that was identified (for powerpc)
and solved. The bug was that the decision whether or not an initrd is
needed was made on the version of the kernel the installer was booted
with, rather than the kernel the user has chosen for the new system.

Nope, 2.6 is not supported by the installer.

Bastian

[Bastian Blank]

Post by Dennis Wicks
Selecting previously deselected package kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390.
Unpacking kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390 (from
..../kernel-image-2.6.8-2-s390_2.6.8-5_s390.deb) ...

D-I does not support installation with 2.6 yet, don't even try it.

Bastian