Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
On Sun, May 03, 2015 at 07:50:54AM +0300, Alexey Eromenko wrote: I'd prefer not to introduce any new dependecies, for portability reasons. cpio is available on any *NIX system. Having the 'preseed.cfg' in the initrd means there is no need to mount a device (like a floppy or second CDROM) See https://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/NetbootFirmware for an example about adding to the cpio initrd. Would like to have floppy support back. - Groeten Geert Stappers -- Leven en laten leven signature.asc Description: Digital signature
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
On Sat, May 02, 2015 at 01:09:34AM +0300, Alexey Eromenko wrote: On Fri, May 01, 2015 at 11:28:32PM +0200, Geert Stappers wrote: I think you are looking for providing a preseed file, hence my advice https://www.google.nl/search?q=virtualbox+host+http+server+for+guests You're correct in that I'm looking to provide preseed file. But host-side HTTP server won't work for my needs, unless VirtualBox has it integrated. My technology is aimed at people, who require *zero* configuration, and should work across all hosts. Like click, click, click... In my words: In an attempt to make some technology available your are hidding other technology with old technology like floppies. Basically I need very minimal (and portable) host-side logic (and move as much complexity into the guest as possible). Do an attended install. Verify that reading from floppy is possible. That is important. It proofs that the Virtualbox host provides a floppy disk controller and that the Vbox guest has a kernel kernel for the f.d.c. Also it shows there is /dev/fd0 (IIRC) Well... you'r right ! /dev/fd0 is the problem ! Yes, I ensured, that VM has floppy controller configured, plus floppy.img inserted. Debian 8 (mini-)kernel (inside amd64-DVD) does NOT see /dev/fd0 ! (part of debian-installer); This works just fine with Debian 6 and 7 ! Post-install Debian 8 kernel _does_ see /dev/fd0, can loop-mount and can read files from it. (after installing from Debian 8 amd64-DVD), so no problem here. Okay, do `ls -l /dev/fd0` in the working system and write down the major and minor node numbers. Next is reading the manaul page of mknod(1). Create a fake /dev/fd1, or even a real /dev/fd1 if virtualbox can provide a second floppy drive. Reboot in the vbox guest into Debian Installer. Get to a shell for commandline access. Use your new skills to create /dev/fd0 Then these commands mkdir floppy mount /dev/fd0 floppy And please report back The natural question: Are those kernels different ? Yes. Think several generations technology, example given i386, i486 and i586. All generations can boot with the oldest. Or thihk All those drivers for audio, blue tooth, printers image scanners. Install without those drivers. (I always assumed it is the *same* kernel) :-) It seems the mini-kernel does not provide me with /proc/config.gz, so I have no clue what's included and what's excluded. How can I check ? Debian ships kernel with the config file. Thanks for finding the problem ! I want the name and location of kernel config of d-i.:-) Groeten Geert Stappers -- Leven en laten leven signature.asc Description: Digital signature
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
I have created /dev/fd0 via. # mknod /dev/fd0 b 2 0 # mkdir floppy Results: mknod never reported any problem, But (!) # mount /dev/fd0 floppy Works in Debian 7 (d-i), and fails in Debain 8 (d-i) with message: mount: mounting /dev/fd0 on floppy failed: No such device or address -- -Alexey Eromenko Technologov -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
On Sat, 2015-05-02 at 16:15 +0300, Alexey Eromenko wrote: I have created /dev/fd0 via. # mknod /dev/fd0 b 2 0 # mkdir floppy Results: mknod never reported any problem, But (!) # mount /dev/fd0 floppy Works in Debian 7 (d-i), and fails in Debain 8 (d-i) with message: mount: mounting /dev/fd0 on floppy failed: No such device or address Right, this was an intentional change. From the kernel changelog, regarding modules to be included in the installer: * udeb: Remove obsolete and unsupported drivers and filesystems - Remove ppa from scsi-modules - Remove floppy-modules, irda-modules, parport-modules, plip-modules, qnx4-modules, reiserfs-modules, ufs-modules Ben. -- Ben Hutchings Q. Which is the greater problem in the world today, ignorance or apathy? A. I don't know and I couldn't care less. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
I ask to reverse decision about floppy-modules, because while physical floppies aren't used in years, this functionality is very much used for virtualization. Like my vbox-unattened patch; Without floppy driver there will not be an automated installer for Debian 8 VMs in VirtualBox. -- -Alexey Eromenko Technologov -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
I have extracted initrd from all 3 medias: Debian(6,7,8)-amd64-DVD, alexey@deb6-xrig:~/debian6-auto/bootiso/install.amd/tmp2$ find . | grep ko | grep floppy ./lib/modules/2.6.32-5-amd64/kernel/drivers/block/floppy.ko alexey@deb6-xrig:~/debian7-auto/bootiso/install.amd/tmp2$ find . | grep ko | grep floppy ./lib/modules/3.2.0-4-amd64/kernel/drivers/block/floppy.ko alexey@deb6-xrig:~/debian8-auto/bootiso/install.amd/tmp2$ find . | grep ko | grep floppy alexey@deb6-xrig:~/debian8-auto/bootiso/install.amd/tmp2$ Basically we have a proof, that Debian 8 d-i kernel lacks drivers/block/floppy.ko module. Which causes the problem. Now what ? Who is responsible for d-i kernels ? Should I open a separate bug ? Thanks for help, -- -Alexey Eromenko Technologov -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
On 05/01/2015 06:09 PM, Alexey Eromenko wrote: [...] Debian 8 (mini-)kernel (inside amd64-DVD) does NOT see /dev/fd0 ! (part of debian-installer); This works just fine with Debian 6 and 7 ! Post-install Debian 8 kernel _does_ see /dev/fd0, can loop-mount and can read files from it. (after installing from Debian 8 amd64-DVD), so no problem here. The natural question: Are those kernels different ? (I always assumed it is the *same* kernel) It seems the mini-kernel does not provide me with /proc/config.gz, so I have no clue what's included and what's excluded. How can I check ? The kernel is the same but the number of modules included in d-i initrd.gz is reduced to bare minimum needed for d-i to boot up. The list of included modules is different on cdrom d-i image, netboot d-i image, and hd-media d-i image. One way to check it out would be to unpack the d-i image initrd.gz and look what is in there. The /proc/config.gz would not help as it would provide info about what is compiled, but not what is included in d-i. The fact that floppy works in final installation likely means the module is in fact compiled but not included in d-i image. Therefore, the way to go would be to figure out which module is needed to provide access to floppy on your platform and then work with kernel team on inclusion of the module in in the d-i initrd. Milan signature.asc Description: OpenPGP digital signature
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
On Sat, 2015-05-02 at 16:50 +0300, Alexey Eromenko wrote: I ask to reverse decision about floppy-modules, because while physical floppies aren't used in years, this functionality is very much used for virtualization. Like my vbox-unattened patch; Without floppy driver there will not be an automated installer for Debian 8 VMs in VirtualBox. You should be able to add the preseed file to the initrd like this: echo preseed.cfg | cpio -o -H newc | gzip initrd.gz Does that not work for you? Ben. -- Ben Hutchings Q. Which is the greater problem in the world today, ignorance or apathy? A. I don't know and I couldn't care less. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
I'd prefer not to introduce any new dependecies, for portability reasons. Would like to have floppy support back.
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
No idea about GNU cpio. Is it compatible with BSD cpio ? I can't easily introduce new dependency for portable code. (host-side must be very portable code) It will require investigation. Besides, this command didn't work for me. (preseed.cfg wasn't added) On Sun, May 3, 2015 at 1:36 AM, Ben Hutchings b...@decadent.org.uk wrote: On Sat, 2015-05-02 at 16:50 +0300, Alexey Eromenko wrote: I ask to reverse decision about floppy-modules, because while physical floppies aren't used in years, this functionality is very much used for virtualization. Like my vbox-unattened patch; Without floppy driver there will not be an automated installer for Debian 8 VMs in VirtualBox. You should be able to add the preseed file to the initrd like this: echo preseed.cfg | cpio -o -H newc | gzip initrd.gz Does that not work for you? Ben. -- Ben Hutchings Q. Which is the greater problem in the world today, ignorance or apathy? A. I don't know and I couldn't care less. -- -Alexey Eromenko Technologov -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
On Sun, 2015-05-03 at 03:50 +0300, Alexey Eromenko wrote: No idea about GNU cpio. Is it compatible with BSD cpio ? I can't easily introduce new dependency for portable code. (host-side must be very portable code) It will require investigation. Besides, this command didn't work for me. (preseed.cfg wasn't added) It certainly works if you use GNU cpio (that's what we use to build the shipped initramfs, after all). FreeBSD cpio also supports the '-H newc' option, but it looks like the NetBSD and OpenBSD equivalent is '-H sv4cpio'. I didn't test any of those, though. Ben. -- Ben Hutchings One of the nice things about standards is that there are so many of them. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
You said I think you are looking for providing a preseed file, hence my advice https://www.google.nl/search?q=virtualbox+host+http+server+for+guests; 1. You're correct in that I'm looking to provide preseed file. But host-side HTTP server won't work for my needs, unless VirtualBox has it integrated. My technology is aimed at people, who require *zero* configuration, and should work across all hosts. Like click, click, click... Basically I need very minimal (and portable) host-side logic (and move as much complexity into the guest as possible). You said: Do an attended install. Verify that reading from floppy is possible. That is important. It proofs that the Virtualbox host provides a floppy disk controller and that the Vbox guest has a kernel kernel for the f.d.c. Also it shows there is /dev/fd0 (IIRC) 2. Well... you'r right ! /dev/fd0 is the problem ! Yes, I ensured, that VM has floppy controller configured, plus floppy.img inserted. Debian 8 (mini-)kernel (inside amd64-DVD) does NOT see /dev/fd0 ! (part of debian-installer); This works just fine with Debian 6 and 7 ! Post-install Debian 8 kernel _does_ see /dev/fd0, can loop-mount and can read files from it. (after installing from Debian 8 amd64-DVD), so no problem here. The natural question: Are those kernels different ? (I always assumed it is the *same* kernel) It seems the mini-kernel does not provide me with /proc/config.gz, so I have no clue what's included and what's excluded. How can I check ? Thanks for finding the problem ! -Alexey -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
Package: debian-installer Version: 20150422 Hi, in older versions of Debian (6.x and 7.x), I could load preseed script from floppy, and it would work. I had to change isolinux / bootloader with preseed/file=/floppy/preseed.cfg: label debian kernel /install.$arch/vmlinuz append initrd=/install.$arch/initrd.gz debian-installer/locale=en_US keymap=us console-setup/layoutcode=us netcfg/choose_interface=auto priority=critical preseed/file=/floppy/preseed.cfg -- Debian 8 returns me Failed to retrieve the preconfiguration file error, with exactly the same setup. I need this feature to enable unattended install of Debian 8 VM in VirtualBox (vbox-unattended feature), where preseed script gets loaded from virtual floppy. https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=10t=46798 Working with debian-8.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso. Official Jessie 8.0 Debian installer. Please fix preseed/file=/floppy/preseed.cfg: As a separate, but related question: is it possible to load preseed script from 2nd CDROM ? (IDE Secondary Slave, or SATA 2nd CD...) I tried preseed/file=/cdrom2/preseed.cfg, but it didn't work. Thanks in advance, -- -Alexey Eromenko Technologov, 01.May.2015. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
control tag -1 moreinfo stop I need this feature to enable unattended install of Debian 8 VM in VirtualBox (vbox-unattended feature), where preseed script gets loaded from virtual floppy. https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=10t=46798 | Unattended Guest OS Install - vbox-unattended | (a.k.a. coffee break system installation) | Postby Technologov ยป 19. Dec 2011, 15:38 Working with debian-8.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso. Official Jessie 8.0 Debian installer. Please fix preseed/file=/floppy/preseed.cfg: First find out where it is broken. Do an attended install. Verify that reading from floppy is possible. That is important. It proofs that the Virtualbox host provides a floppy disk controller and that the Vbox guest has a kernel kernel for the f.d.c. Also it shows there is /dev/fd0 (IIRC) Report you findings. Sent them to 783...@bugs.debian.org Groeten Geert Stappers -- Leven en laten leven -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-bugs-dist-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Bug#783982: D-i: preseed from floppy no longer works !
On Fri, May 01, 2015 at 10:55:36PM +0300, Alexey Eromenko wrote: As a separate, but related question: is it possible to load preseed script from 2nd CDROM ? (IDE Secondary Slave, or SATA 2nd CD...) I tried preseed/file=/cdrom2/preseed.cfg, but it didn't work. I think you are looking for providing a preseed file, hence my advice https://www.google.nl/search?q=virtualbox+host+http+server+for+guests To get 2nd CDROM + preseed/file=/cdrom2/preseed.cfg working: * Detect what 2nd CDROMs is ( IDE Secondary Slave, or SATA 2nd CD... ) * mount -t iso9660 -o ro /dev/detectedCDrom /cdrom2 all done on a computer that is about be installed. Groeten Geert Stappers -- Leven en laten leven signature.asc Description: Digital signature
