There seems to be quite a lot of confusion about root-RAID out there.
> > to /mnt/newroot/boot. Then after running "lilo -r /mnt/newroot" I get
> > the following error:
> > "Sorry, don't know how to handle device 0x0900"
> >
> > What does the above mean and how to i fix it?
>
> It does mean that lilo doesn't know anything about md device. Change the
> line containing "root=" in lilo conf to "root=0x900". This way lilo tells
> the kernel properly where from mount the root fs.
This shouldn't be necessary. The root= line in /etc/lilo.conf is simply a
pointer to a filesystem that is passed to the init scripts. It doesn't require
reading of that filesystem, so lilo shouldn't have a problem with it pointing to
a RAID array. I have root=/dev/md? in my machines with no problems.
If lilo is reporting "Sorry, don't know how to handle device 0x0900", that means
it is being asked to read from or write to /dev/md0. The lines in your lilo.conf
that might require this include the "boot=", "install=", "map=", "loader=" and
"image=" lines. If any of these lines points to something on /dev/md0, or if any
of them is missing and the default (mostly in /boot) is on /dev/md0, and lilo
cannot handle /dev/md0, then you will get this message. You can get round it by:
(a) Getting the latest patched lilo from RedHat or applying the lilo.raid1 patch
and rebuilding it yourself (if /dev/md0 is RAID-1)
(b) Providing lilo with the geometry of one of the devices in the array (again
if /dev/md0 is RAID-1)
(c) Using a slightly-adapted grub instead of lilo (again if /dev/md0 is RAID-1)
(d) Making sure the files to which these lines point are not on a software-RAID
array.
Check the mailing list archives for instructions on these methods.
> Yes. Put everything needed to run lilo to a non-raided partition.
Almost. But not exactly. Put everything needed to *boot from* lilo on a
non-raided partition. lilo.conf doesn't have to be on a non-raided partition
itself. It isn't read during the boot process. It is read when installing lilo.
At this time, your system is fully operational, so lilo can easily read it from
a RAID array. The best advice would be to leave it in /etc, where it should be
by default. Nor do you need /dev or any of its devices on a non-RAIDed
partition. In fact, all you need on a non-RAIDed partition is the kernel image,
the system map, boot.b and associated files. In other words, the files that live
in /boot by default. So the simplest strategy is to stick with the default
filesystem structure, and have /boot on its own tiny partition. Then you can use
a bog standard /etc/lilo.conf, and run lilo straight without the need to pass it
parameters.
Cheers,
Bruno Prior [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Egon Eckert
> Sent: 26 October 1999 18:18
> To: Marcos Lopez
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Root RAID and unmounting /boot
>
>
> > to /mnt/newroot/boot. Then after running "lilo -r /mnt/newroot" I get
> > the following error:
> > "Sorry, don't know how to handle device 0x0900"
> >
> > What does the above mean and how to i fix it?
>
> It does mean that lilo doesn't know anything about md device. Change the
> line containing "root=" in lilo conf to "root=0x900". This way lilo tells
> the kernel properly where from mount the root fs.
>
> > it get hammered. I think i am close just have to figure out this lilo
> > thing.
>
> Yes. Put everything needed to run lilo to a non-raided partition.
>
> For example, this is my 'ls -lR /mnt/hda7' :
>
> boot:
> total 23
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 512 Jul 28 16:09 boot.0300
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 4540 Feb 2 1999 boot.b
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 612 Feb 2 1999 chain.b
> -rw------- 1 root root 14336 Jul 28 16:09 map
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 620 Feb 2 1999 os2_d.b
>
> dev:
> total 0
> brw-rw---- 1 root disk 3, 0 Jul 21 1998 hda
> brw-rw---- 1 root disk 3, 7 Jul 21 1998 hda7
>
> lilo:
> total 933
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 176 Jul 28 14:43 lilo.conf
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 451591 Jul 28 15:49 zImage
> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 494994 Feb 4 1999 zImage-bak
>
> Then run lilo like this:
>
> archiv:/home/egon# lilo -r /mnt/hda7 -C /lilo/lilo.conf
> Added Linux-smp *
> Added Linux-bak
> archiv:/home/egon#
>
> Here's my lilo.conf:
>
> boot=/dev/hda
> root=0x900
> install=/boot/boot.b
> map=/boot/mapvga=ext
> delay=30
> image=/lilo/zImage
> label=Linux-smp
> image=/lilo/zImage-bak
> label=Linux-bak
> read-only
>
>
> Simple.
>
> Egon
>
>
