Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of various flavors with RHEL5 I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be PXE-booted/net-installed I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more evidence. When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and then, maybe, it will proceed. But then, when it gets into anaconda, it hangs on a screen that says: --- Error downloading kickstart file: Unable to download the kickstart file. Please modify the kickstart parameter below or press Cancel to proceed as an iteractive installation. http:///cblr/svc/op/ks/system/ The URL is not the problem. I can type that URL into any other machine on the network and get the kickstart file. On the suggestion of a co-worker, I booted the same G5 with a CentOS 6 LiveCD, configured its network interface and was able to bring up the kickstart file in a ForeFox browser. I have loaded/booted several other machines from this samre server, so I am confident that the problem is not on the cobbler server. Being able to get to the KS file with the CentOS LiveCD says to me that the G5 is not the problem. I suspect the problem is somewhere between the two machines. “Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.” Bill Waterson (Calvin & Hobbes) ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: > I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of > various flavors with RHEL5 > > I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be > PXE-booted/net-installed > > I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more > evidence. > > When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and then, > maybe, it will proceed. I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to run spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port. Disabling that (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps. -- Orion Poplawski Technical Manager 303-415-9701 x222 NWRA/CoRA DivisionFAX: 303-415-9702 3380 Mitchell Lane or...@cora.nwra.com Boulder, CO 80301 http://www.cora.nwra.com ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
RE: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
I too have run into this issue. Just like Orion, the solution for me was 'spanning-tree portfast' on the switch port itself on our Cisco switches. The issue seems to be compounded by the fact that kickstart installs seem to insist on requesting a DHCP address 3 times during the install process. Which I think is why the install will sometimes progress further only to fail again at a later point. byron -Original Message- From: cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org [mailto:cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org] On Behalf Of Orion Poplawski Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 1:25 PM To: cobbler mailing list Subject: Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: > I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of > various flavors with RHEL5 > > I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be > PXE-booted/net-installed > > I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more > evidence. > > When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and then, > maybe, it will proceed. I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to run spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port. Disabling that (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps. -- Orion Poplawski Technical Manager 303-415-9701 x222 NWRA/CoRA DivisionFAX: 303-415-9702 3380 Mitchell Lane or...@cora.nwra.com Boulder, CO 80301 http://www.cora.nwra.com ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
RE: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
Hey Sr, I have had this problem a simple kickstart system before, and t was related to reverse DNS resolution, in my case as it was a simple environment I just used the option dns=nodns > From: bpe...@secureworks.com > To: cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org > Subject: RE: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue > Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:37:15 + > > I too have run into this issue. Just like Orion, the solution for me was > 'spanning-tree portfast' on the switch port itself on our Cisco switches. > The issue seems to be compounded by the fact that kickstart installs seem to > insist on requesting a DHCP address 3 times during the install process. > Which I think is why the install will sometimes progress further only to fail > again at a later point. > > > byron > > -Original Message- > From: cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org > [mailto:cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org] On Behalf Of Orion Poplawski > Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 1:25 PM > To: cobbler mailing list > Subject: Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue > > On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: > > I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of > > various flavors with RHEL5 > > > > I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be > > PXE-booted/net-installed > > > > I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more > > evidence. > > > > When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and > > then, maybe, it will proceed. > > I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to run > spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port. Disabling that > (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps. > > > -- > Orion Poplawski > Technical Manager 303-415-9701 x222 > NWRA/CoRA DivisionFAX: 303-415-9702 > 3380 Mitchell Lane or...@cora.nwra.com > Boulder, CO 80301 http://www.cora.nwra.com > ___ > cobbler mailing list > cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org > https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler > ___ > cobbler mailing list > cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org > https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
Hi Dan, I have seen timeout issues like this caused by the switch connected to the server not bringing the port up in time for the PXE request to be answered. In that case I had to enable 'spanning-tree portfast' (in Cisco speak) on the port I was connected to, or disable spanning-tree. HTH Dylan On 10 November 2011 16:47, Dan White wrote: > I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of > various flavors with RHEL5 > > I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be > PXE-booted/net-installed > > I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more > evidence. > > When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and > then, maybe, it will proceed. > But then, when it gets into anaconda, it hangs on a screen that says: > > --- > Error downloading kickstart file: > > Unable to download the kickstart file. Please modify the > kickstart parameter below or press Cancel to proceed as an > iteractive installation. > > http:///cblr/svc/op/ks/system/ Cobbler> > > > The URL is not the problem. I can type that URL into any other machine on > the network and get the kickstart file. > On the suggestion of a co-worker, I booted the same G5 with a CentOS 6 > LiveCD, configured its network interface and was able to bring up the > kickstart file in a ForeFox browser. > > I have loaded/booted several other machines from this samre server, so I > am confident that the problem is not on the cobbler server. Being able to > get to the KS file with the CentOS LiveCD says to me that the G5 is not the > problem. I suspect the problem is somewhere between the two machines. > > “Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere > in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.” > Bill Waterson (Calvin & Hobbes) > ___ > cobbler mailing list > cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org > https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler > -- http://about.me/dylanswift http://tungle.me/dylanswift http://emailcharter.org/index.html ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
Where do I add this option ? On Nov 10, 2011, at 4:09 PM, antonio teixeira gomes jr wrote: > Hey Sr, > > I have had this problem a simple kickstart system before, and t was related > to reverse DNS resolution, in my case as it was a simple environment I just > used the option dns=nodns > > > From: bpe...@secureworks.com > > To: cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org > > Subject: RE: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue > > Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:37:15 + > > > > I too have run into this issue. Just like Orion, the solution for me was > > 'spanning-tree portfast' on the switch port itself on our Cisco switches. > > The issue seems to be compounded by the fact that kickstart installs seem > > to insist on requesting a DHCP address 3 times during the install process. > > Which I think is why the install will sometimes progress further only to > > fail again at a later point. > > > > > > byron > > > > -Original Message- > > From: cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org > > [mailto:cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org] On Behalf Of Orion Poplawski > > Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 1:25 PM > > To: cobbler mailing list > > Subject: Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue > > > > On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: > > > I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of > > > various flavors with RHEL5 > > > > > > I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be > > > PXE-booted/net-installed > > > > > > I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more > > > evidence. > > > > > > When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and > > > then, maybe, it will proceed ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
On Nov 10, 2011, at 1:11 PM, Orion Poplawski wrote: > On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: >> I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of >> various flavors with RHEL5 >> >> I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be >> PXE-booted/net-installed >> >> I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more >> evidence. >> >> When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and >> then, maybe, it will proceed. > > I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to run > spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port. Disabling that > (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps. OK, that could explain the PXE-boot problem, but what about the other part ? When it gets into anaconda, it hangs on a screen that says: --- Error downloading kickstart file: Unable to download the kickstart file. Please modify the kickstart parameter below or press Cancel to proceed as an iteractive installation. http:///cblr/svc/op/ks/system/ The URL is not the problem. I can type that URL into any other machine on the network and get the kickstart file. On the suggestion of a co-worker, I booted the same G5 with a CentOS 6 LiveCD, configured its network interface and was able to bring up the kickstart file in a ForeFox browser. I have loaded/booted several other machines from this samre server, so I am confident that the problem is not on the cobbler server. Being able to get to the KS file with the CentOS LiveCD says to me that the G5 is not the problem. I suspect the problem is somewhere between the two machines. ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
Dan White wrote: >On Nov 10, 2011, at 1:11 PM, Orion Poplawski wrote: > >> On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: >>> I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of >>> various flavors with RHEL5 >>> >>> I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be >>> PXE-booted/net-installed >>> >>> I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more >>> evidence. >>> >>> When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and >>> then, maybe, it will proceed. >> >> I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to run >> spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port. Disabling that >> (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps. > >OK, that could explain the PXE-boot problem, but what about the other part ? > >When it gets into anaconda, it hangs on a screen that says: >--- >Error downloading kickstart file: > >Unable to download the kickstart file. Please modify the >kickstart parameter below or press Cancel to proceed as an >iteractive installation. > >http:///cblr/svc/op/ks/system/ > >The URL is not the problem. I can type that URL into any other machine on the >network and get the kickstart file. >On the suggestion of a co-worker, I booted the same G5 with a CentOS 6 LiveCD, >configured its network interface and was able to bring up the kickstart file >in a ForeFox browser. > >I have loaded/booted several other machines from this samre server, so I am >confident that the problem is not on the cobbler server. Being able to get to >the KS file with the CentOS LiveCD says to me that the G5 is not the problem. >I suspect the problem is somewhere between the two machines. I have encountered this twice in recent days. In each case, I just rebooted the target, and this time it worked. Sure would like to know what's causing this. ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
Hi everybody, Dan White wrote: On Nov 10, 2011, at 1:11 PM, Orion Poplawski wrote: On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of various flavors with RHEL5 I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be PXE-booted/net-installed I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more evidence. When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and then, maybe, it will proceed. I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to run spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port. Disabling that (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps. OK, that could explain the PXE-boot problem, but what about the other part ? When it gets into anaconda, it hangs on a screen that says: --- Error downloading kickstart file: Unable to download the kickstart file. Please modify the kickstart parameter below or press Cancel to proceed as an iteractive installation. http:///cblr/svc/op/ks/system/ The URL is not the problem. I can type that URL into any other machine on the network and get the kickstart file. On the suggestion of a co-worker, I booted the same G5 with a CentOS 6 LiveCD, configured its network interface and was able to bring up the kickstart file in a ForeFox browser. I have loaded/booted several other machines from this samre server, so I am confident that the problem is not on the cobbler server. Being able to get to the KS file with the CentOS LiveCD says to me that the G5 is not the problem. I suspect the problem is somewhere between the two machines. I have encountered this twice in recent days. In each case, I just rebooted the target, and this time it worked. Sure would like to know what's causing this. In do have the same problem: During pre-install it says Error downloading kickstart file when I then just hit o.k. WITHOUT changing the location of the kickstart file it works! Could that be a too short timeout? Why doens't it work the first time it tries to get the kickstart file from the server? Cheers, Jens <>___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
Check the apache logs up on the Cobbler server, but it sounds like your network is flaky, so Kickstarting is generally going to be an issue. 2011/11/11 Jens Ahrens : > Hi everybody, >> >> Dan White wrote: >> >>> On Nov 10, 2011, at 1:11 PM, Orion Poplawski wrote: >>> On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: > > I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of > various flavors with RHEL5 > > I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be > PXE-booted/net-installed > > I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need > more evidence. > > When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and > then, maybe, it will proceed. I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to run spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port. Disabling that (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps. >>> >>> OK, that could explain the PXE-boot problem, but what about the other >>> part ? >>> >>> When it gets into anaconda, it hangs on a screen that says: >>> --- >>> Error downloading kickstart file: >>> >>> Unable to download the kickstart file. Please modify the >>> kickstart parameter below or press Cancel to proceed as an >>> iteractive installation. >>> >>> http:///cblr/svc/op/ks/system/>> Cobbler> >>> >>> The URL is not the problem. I can type that URL into any other machine >>> on the network and get the kickstart file. >>> On the suggestion of a co-worker, I booted the same G5 with a CentOS 6 >>> LiveCD, configured its network interface and was able to bring up the >>> kickstart file in a ForeFox browser. >>> >>> I have loaded/booted several other machines from this samre server, so I >>> am confident that the problem is not on the cobbler server. Being able to >>> get to the KS file with the CentOS LiveCD says to me that the G5 is not the >>> problem. I suspect the problem is somewhere between the two machines. >> >> I have encountered this twice in recent days. In each case, I just >> rebooted the target, and this time it worked. Sure would like to know >> what's causing this. > > In do have the same problem: During pre-install it says > > Error downloading kickstart file > > > when I then just hit o.k. WITHOUT changing the location of the kickstart > file it works! > Could that be a too short timeout? Why doens't it work the first time it > tries to get the kickstart file from the server? > > Cheers, > Jens > > ___ > cobbler mailing list > cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org > https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler > > ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
On 11 November 2011 01:23, Dan White wrote: > On Nov 10, 2011, at 1:11 PM, Orion Poplawski wrote: > > > On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: > >> I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant boxen of > various flavors with RHEL5 > >> > >> I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be > PXE-booted/net-installed > >> > >> I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need > more evidence. > >> > >> When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few times and > then, maybe, it will proceed. > > > > I've seen issues somewhat similar on switches that take a long time to > run > > spanning tree protocol checks before bringing up the port. Disabling > that > > (port-fast in cisco lingo I think) helps. > > OK, that could explain the PXE-boot problem, but what about the other part > ? > > When it gets into anaconda, it hangs on a screen that says: > --- > Error downloading kickstart file: > > Unable to download the kickstart file. Please modify the > kickstart parameter below or press Cancel to proceed as an > iteractive installation. > > http:///cblr/svc/op/ks/system/ Cobbler> > Hi Dan, if it is spanning-tree that causes the problem, then I can confirm that I have seen the port go down again after successfully PXE'ing only to start the whole spanning-tree timeout again once it reconfigures the interface ready for downloading an OS. And I do seem to recall that I only saw this behaviour on HP kit (I work for an IBM/HP house). Dylan -- http://about.me/dylanswift http://tungle.me/dylanswift http://emailcharter.org/index.html ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
RE: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue
On a cisco switch: First trace the Ethernet cable from the problem server to the port on the switch and note it down. Log into the switch and run something similar to this: --- enable configure terminal interface switchport mode access spanning-tree portfast exit exit write memory exit --- where is fastethernet for 10/100 mbps ports and gigabitethernet for 1000 mbps ports and is the port number you wrote down. you will need something like '0/' directly in front of the port number typically on single switches and sometimes '1/0/'. on stacked switches and blade based switches the '1' in '1/0/' may need to be changed to reflect witch switch in the stack or which blade number in the blade chassis. Your network admin should be able to explain or take care of this for you. HTH byron -Original Message- From: cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org [mailto:cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org] On Behalf Of Dan White Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 8:23 PM To: cobbler mailing list Subject: Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue Where do I add this option ? On Nov 10, 2011, at 4:09 PM, antonio teixeira gomes jr wrote: > Hey Sr, > > I have had this problem a simple kickstart system before, and t was > related to reverse DNS resolution, in my case as it was a simple > environment I just used the option dns=nodns > > > From: bpe...@secureworks.com > > To: cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org > > Subject: RE: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue > > Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:37:15 + > > > > I too have run into this issue. Just like Orion, the solution for me was > > 'spanning-tree portfast' on the switch port itself on our Cisco switches. > > The issue seems to be compounded by the fact that kickstart installs seem > > to insist on requesting a DHCP address 3 times during the install process. > > Which I think is why the install will sometimes progress further only to > > fail again at a later point. > > > > > > byron > > > > -Original Message- > > From: cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org > > [mailto:cobbler-boun...@lists.fedorahosted.org] On Behalf Of Orion > > Poplawski > > Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 1:25 PM > > To: cobbler mailing list > > Subject: Re: Weird Kickstart Problem In Search of a Clue > > > > On 11/10/2011 09:47 AM, Dan White wrote: > > > I have set up a cobbler server to kickstart/build HP ProLiant > > > boxen of various flavors with RHEL5 > > > > > > I have a particularly stubborn DL380 G5 that refuses to be > > > PXE-booted/net-installed > > > > > > I suspect a FUBAR from the guy that manages the DNS/DHCP, but I need more > > > evidence. > > > > > > When it tries to PXE-boot, I get "PXE-E11: ARP Timeout" a few > > > times and then, maybe, it will proceed ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler ___ cobbler mailing list cobbler@lists.fedorahosted.org https://fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/cobbler
