Description of problem: When trying to install RH9 from CD, I am constantly getting a kernel panic from operating system when trying to install Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): Redhat 9.0 (Shrike) How reproducible: Insert installation CD1 CDROM into machine, where it starts to boot. We then get to the point where the system is looking for a boot partition. However, we get a kernel panic on VFS. Have tried with all manner of kernel arguments, but still no joy. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Switch on server 2. Insert installation CD1 (RH9) CDROM into machine, so it boots off it. 3. wait until the kernel panic occurs Actual results: VFS: cannot open root device "" or 48:01 Expected results: Should allow me to install operating system Additional info:
OK additional information: The machine is a compaq proliant 2500 (a bit old, but still functional) with 4 internal SCSI drives (4.5GB a piece), 448M of RAM (actual mem is 458752), dual processor, with a Compaq Smart-2/P Array controller (2.14 rev B) - latest, and an array of 6 discs, making up 32GB in total. I have tried booting with the following kernel arguments, but to no avail. linux nousb nodma skipddc apm=off mem=448M noapic noht nousbstorage I have also tried putting in a boot argument of root=/dev/ida/c0d0p1 as well as root=/dev/ida/c1d0p1 (to try and access SMART array); root = dev/sda/sda0 to access internal drives. The machine is very capable, but probably just needs the correct boot arguments. I know that RH 6.2 boots up without problems, but 7.0 onwards fails with same errors. Thought the problem might be to do with cpqarray.o, but thought that this was included in the kernel for 9. Full error message as follows: VFS: Cannot open root device "ida/c0d0p1" or 48:01. Please append a correct "root=" option. Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 48:01 I get similar messages when inserting boot=/dev/sda/sda0 into the boot argument, but get error message: VFS: Cannot open root device "sda/sda0" or 8:01
I just worked through this myself. I'll bet a dollar this is a duplicate of bug 36940. instead of "mem=448M", try "mem=exactmap mem=640K@0 mem=447M@1M" and in LILO, check to make sure you've got this: append=" mem=exactmap mem=640K@0 mem=447M@1M" (don't ask me how you do it in GRUB.) ref: http://www.cpqlinux.com/memory.html#METHOD3
Thanks - that worked a treat. Blimey, nothing like a challenge with these Compaq boxes. I'm now order more HD space, so I'll well chuffed. Thanks for that. *** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 36940 ***
Changed to 'CLOSED' state since 'RESOLVED' has been deprecated.