Bug 163324

Summary:	20 seconds of blank screen with no feedback makes it seem like installer has crashed
Product:	Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4	Reporter:	Mike MacCana <mmaccana>
Component:	anaconda	Assignee:	Anaconda Maintenance Team <anaconda-maint-list>
Status:	CLOSED INSUFFICIENT_DATA	QA Contact:	Mike McLean <mikem>
Severity:	medium	Docs Contact:
Priority:	medium
Version:	4.0
Target Milestone:	---
Target Release:	---
Hardware:	All
OS:	Linux
Whiteboard:
Fixed In Version:		Doc Type:	Bug Fix
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Clone Of:		Environment:
Last Closed:	2007-08-24 21:29:26 UTC	Type:	---
Regression:	---	Mount Type:	---
Documentation:	---	CRM:
Verified Versions:		Category:	---
oVirt Team:	---	RHEL 7.3 requirements from Atomic Host:
Cloudforms Team:	---	Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:

Description Mike MacCana 2005-07-15 05:40:55 UTC

Description of problem:
Even on a 100MB networks, mounting an NFS install tree can take a while. Timing
the installer, from hitting enter on the NFS server and directory page, to
starting anaconda, reveals there's often about 20 seconds of time where no
visible feedback is displayed. In GLS classes, many students new to Linux
actually think the install has crashed at this point.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):


How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.Install from an NFS server  

Actual results:
In nearly every situation, there will be a long period of time where no text or
visible activity occurs on screen. Indeed, the installer appears to be crashed.

Expected results:
A dialog letting the users know what is happening during this delay.

Additional info:

Comment 1 Jeremy Katz 2005-07-15 11:46:07 UTC

Is there a specific point that takes a while?  Can you look at tty3 and see what
the last message is where it's stalling out or if the messages are just
continuing to move forward?

Comment 2 Mike MacCana 2005-07-15 13:00:29 UTC

It's just a busy server. The problem is particularly noticable during GLS
classes, where 10 or 14 students often install systems simultaneously. 20
seconds is as bad as it gets, but even at five seconds the lack of feedback is
worrying.

Comment 3 Jeremy Katz 2005-07-15 13:15:26 UTC

And even then, I need to know more specifically where things are when you're
wanting more feedback.  Especially since there are regularly that many (or more)
machines installing and pulling stuff from the servers I use and I don't notice
anything in particular.

Comment 4 Mike MacCana 2005-07-16 08:04:32 UTC

Sure Jeremy. I have next week off from work, but the week after I'll be doing a
multiple install and will time things then and post the results.

Comment 5 Chris Lumens 2005-10-05 16:53:43 UTC

Any updates on this one?

Comment 7 Red Hat Bugzilla 2007-06-12 02:52:43 UTC

requested by Jams Antill