[lug] A challenge...

[Gary Hodges]

Calvin Dodge wrote:

>On Thu, Jul 14, 2005 at 10:21:31AM -0600, Gary Hodges wrote:
>  
>
>>I've been round-and-round with the following machine trying to install 
>>amd64 debian sarge.
>>
>>MB: Tyan K8WE
>>CPUs: 2 x Opteron 244
>>SCSI Controller:  LSI21320RB and another LSI U160 card (not simultaneously)
>>Hard Drives:  Fujitsu U320 drives
>>NIC: Older 3COM
>>
>>Knoppix boots and sees and runs everything.  I have at times gotten as 
>>far as successfully installing GRUB during the installation, but I get a 
>>"Operating System Not Found" error on the reboot.  I could get into more 
>>    
>>
>
>During the install, exactly _where_ are you installing grub to?
>

It says "Master Boot Record"

>If I had a Fedora Core system with this problem, I'd boot it with the
>rescue cd, then do a grub-install on the root of every drive to be safe:
>
>grub-install /dev/sda
>grub-install /dev/sdb
>etc.
>
>If there's a rescue disk for debian, you might try that (it could just
>be configuration ignorance on my part, but I haven't been successful
>trying that fix while running Knoppix).
>
>Hey - actually, a Fedora Core rescue CD might work for you, too. I know
>this because I fixed a friend's Gentoo system with that same problem by
>using the Fedora rescue CD.
>  
>

I tried the Fedora rescue disk without much luck so I went with 
Knoppix.  I have apparently run grub-install correctly as I get back a 
message that says it was successful.  While running grub-install the 
floppy drive is active.  When I check filetimes in /boot the grub files 
are being updated.  However, if I mount the floppy and look at the 
contents nothing is there.  The machine does not boot.  I can mount  a 
floppy and write to it so the drive seems to be OK.

I have several questions to toss out to luggers, though it will be 
tomorrow before I try anything else with this beast.

1.  I'd like to try and install LILO on a floppy with Knoppix but 
haven't been able to.  Anyone have precise step-by-step instructions?

2.  Why doesn't the AMD64 stable installer see my SCSI controller?  I 
have a LSI U160 SCSI controller that I believe should be found without 
trouble.  It uses the sym53c8xx (that's from memory) driver.  The 
installer can't find any drives to partition though.  In the boot 
options it shows as an example this driver.  I've tried it by the 
example, and many other ways, but no go.

3.  I can install the system using a beta installer that used the the 
2.6.10 kernel, though it won't boot afterwards.  I've tried installing 
LILO with this installer but it doesn't work.  It keeps telling me 
something like "Not a partition on a hard drive."  I've also tried 
installing LILO to the floppy at this point without luck.  Is there a 
way I should be able to manually boot the machine using Knoppix?  I see 
references to this but I haven't had any success with attempts like:
/dev/sda1/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1

Maybe tomorrow I'll try installing Ubuntu or Fedora or something else 
just to see if I can get the machine to boot off a hard drive.

>>I'm located in the NOAA building just south of NIST <303-497-6460>.
>>    
>>
>
>I'm working at home today in Loveland. IF I go to the office in Boulder
>tomorrow, I'd be happy to stop by to see what I can do.
>

I'll be in after 12 PM.  Let me know if you are in town and feel like 
stopping by.

Gary