Red Hat Bugzilla – Bug 119838
(VPC)Booting Fedora Core 2 causing Virtual PC processor error apparently due to self modifying code
Last modified: 2015-01-04 17:05:08 EST
From Bugzilla Helper: User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/124 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/125.1 Description of problem: Under Core 2 Test 1, I was unable to even boot disc1.iso to install; I would hit enter at the first Fedora install screen and then immediately encounter the error. With Core 2 Test 2, the installer no longer exhibits this problem, but after successfully installing C2T2, the first boot attempt causes the same issue. The last text visible on screen is "Uncompressing Linux... Ok, booting the kernel." At that point, Virtual PC (6.1.1 for Mac, running under 10.3.3, emulating i686) will generate an unrecoverable processor error. I am fortunate to have been able to talk to the VPC folks about this problem and based on their investigation, this problem is caused by some self-modifying code. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): kernel 2.6.3-2.1.253.2.1 How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Install Fedora C2T2 2. After installation boot 3. Processor error occurs Expected Results: The system should've booted cleanly. Again, with C2T1, this problem happened while booting just the installer; C2T2 boots the installer just fine, but the first boot of an installed system causes the error. Additional info: I am happy to send a PNG of the screen at the time of the crash, but I can't quite find the UI to do that here.
Created attachment 99077 [details] Screen shot showing the boot state at the time of the processor error
The VPC folks need to be a lot more descriptive. There's no information at all in this bug to work with. If they can't provide a detailed analysis of the problem, afaics, its virtualpc at fault.
Just so that no-one thinks this is laying fallow, I am actively working on getting a detailed description of the problem with disassembly from the VPC folks. I hope to have these details within the next week.
well the kernel does some self modifying code... but x86 allows that ...
*** Bug 121388 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
There are synchronization rules for self modifying code (synchronizing instruction) but thats about it
The same thing happens with MS Virtual PC 2004 (Build 582). The following error displays in a popup: An internal virtual machine error (13) has occurred. The virtual machine will reset now.
The same problem persists on the final release of Fedora Core 2 on virtual PC 2004. Alex
I have the same problem during the install in GUI mode. Text mode works fine but after the install during the reboot there are errors coming during the X window load. Dave Jones. That can not be VCP problem since VMware is getting errors at the same locations. However they can use vsdo=0 to bypass it. In VPC that does not work.
I think the problem is related to x.org. I have virtual machines running Fedora Core 1 with kernel 2.6.5 and SUSE 9.1 Professional with kernel 2.6.4 and both run without any problem. However, when I tried to install Fedora Core 2 it failed like everyone else (crash when entering X). The only variable here is the X.org.
This thread has veered off into a different, separate bug. I don't know the protocol for splitting such threads. The two bugs that I can identify are: 1) A processor error in the emulated VPC processor, which apparently has been repro'ed both with VPC Mac and VPC Win. This is the original bug I reported. 2) With the release of Core 2, it is no longer possible to install/run under VPC (and apparently VMWare as well). The hypothesis that there is an issue with x.org is plausible, but I'm not sure that it's proven yet. I can confirm that I can't install FC2 on my configurations due to my screen going black -- and never to return -- shortly after anaconda launches during first install, and that this behavior is new to FC2 and was not present in FC2 Test 3. This apparent x.org issue has nothing at all to do with the processor error and really should be tracked as a separate bug. (And it's a really irritating one since it affects the ability to even begin an install and any fix would presumably require building a new first ISO.)
On my MacOSX 10.3.3 powerbook running VirtualPC 6.1.1: I was not able to install fedora core 2 with X windows. I tried 3-4 times, and only the first time did I get a glimpse of the error message. Something about not finding something, I think. I'll try harder to retreive the error message if someone asks. I WAS ABLE to install fedora core 2 with "linux text" at the install boot prompt. It installs fine, but still can't boot. I feel sure that X not being able to start for the install is a separate bug.
I'm not really interested in the graphical staff because I want to use Fedora as server (I did not install x.org). I just wanted to add that booting with the rescue cd works without problems on MacOSX 10.3.3 and VirtualPC 5.0.4. So I guess it's more a kernel issue than an x.org issue. Now, if I only knew how to copy the kernel from the rescue cd to the VP drive...
The problem seems to be a combination of the kernel and the initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img file. See http://cwelug.org/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi?FedoraCore2VPC for the various combinations of kernel/initrds that I have tried so far and for instructions on how to copy the Rescue CD's kernel and initrd file to the /boot installation directory. Regards, - Robert ( rwcitek at alum dot calberkeley dot org )
I was able to install FC2 on Virtual PC 2004 by immediately replacing the stock kernel with a custom one and editing the xorg.conf file. Screen shot of FC2 running in virtual pc: http://www.sandersweb.net/fedora.jpg
Created attachment 101583 [details] config-2.6.7 and xorg.conf for working FC2 under Virtual PC
Created attachment 101584 [details] Screen shot showing Fedora Core 2 running properly in Virtual PC 2004
Fedora Core 2 Detailed Instructions (57 easy steps) for Virtual PC 2004 1. Download the 4 ISO images. 2. Download http://www.sandersweb.net/vpc.zip This contains the kernel and some other config files. It is rather difficult to compile the kernel on a malfunctioning system so I'm providing it to you. 3. Place vpc.zip in a shared folder (so we can get it later via samba) 4. Create a virtual machine 5. Boot from first ISO image 6. Type: "linux text" at the boot prompt 7. Select language (english) 8. Select keyboard (us) 9. Select Monitor (LCD Panel 800x600) 10. Select System Type (workstation) 11. Select Disk Partitioning (auto) 12. Select Remove all partitions 13. Select OK to confirm 14. Select bootloader (grub) 15. Select special options (none) 16. Select boot password (none) 17. Select OK to confirm boot loader 18. Select install boot loader into MBR 19. Network config - DHCP - or enter IP address etc. 20. Select hostname (whatever) 21. Select Firewall (enable) 22. Select additional languages (english) 23. Select Time Zone (whatever) 24. Select Root Password (whatever) 25. Select Package Defaults (customize) 26. Package Selection (whatever, except ensure you pick "Windows File Server" since we will need samba later) 27. Install Media (continue) 28. (format hardisk) 29. (install packages) 30. Reboot 31. SEGMENTATION FAULT (ignore) You will see a lot of error message, these can be safely ignored. You may get segmentation faults on some of the below commands, just try the command again until it works. 32. login as root 33. mount /proc 34. mount /boot 35. mount -o remount,rw / 36. modprobe tulip 37. ifup eth0 boot 38. cd / 39. Now we go get the vpc.zip file. Type: smbclient //win2ksvr/Share -U david But replace "win2ksvr" with the name of your computer and "Share" with the name of your shared folder and "david" with your username on XP/2000 host. 40. Enter your password for your host computer 41. Type: get vpc.zip 42. Type: quit 43. unzip -o vpc.zip 44. shutdown -r now (or right-alt-del) 45. (Computer will hang when trying to shutdown) 46. From the VPC menu select Action->Reset 47. (reboots) 48. (Enters graphical setup menu) 49. Agree to the license agreement 50. Enable network time protocal (if you want) 51. Display setup (you can leave this as is for now) 52. Establish an user account 53. <additional CD's> - hit next 54. <finish setup> - hit next 55. Login 56. <All is well with the world> 57. Send me an e-mail to say it worked.
Fedora Core 3 Test1 experiences the same problem. To install add step 43a. cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/grub.conf
Created attachment 101926 [details] Screenshot of Fedora Core 3 Test 1 under Virtual PC 2004 Follow procedure give in bug report to install (with added step).
i got an error at step 39 error : can not determine network interfaces,you must use a interfaces config line .
If step 39 did not work, your network didn't get setup right in step 37. An alternative is to replace steps 36-42 with coping the file vpc.zip from a CD-ROM (that you burned using your host operating system).
#18 works fine. Thanks David.
great! it's work. thank you for help
OK, but what mods did you make to the kernel? I need to be able to build kernels. Thanks.
The kernel config is included in the zip. It is just standard stuff, nothing special.
Nothing works after I copied -R into the filesystem. Grup just hangs. I had /hda1 winXP on vfat /hda2 as boot and /hda3 as / I tried changing kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.7 ro root=/dev/hda2 to kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.7 ro root=/dev/hda3 but same thing What can I do? thanks
Works excellent, got fedora running in no-time! But... To be able to rebuild the kernel it would be nice to know what the essential changes in the kernel config file need to be. David Sanders mentions about the mods; 'It is just standard stuff, nothing special'. Could you please be a little more explicit about the (probably) few changes that make the difference? thanx a lot!
The kernel config is in the zip. Copy it to .config in your kernel directory and do a make menuconfig. This will allow you to see the options selected and make any changes you want. I don't know what one thing makes the difference. The kernel is very vanilla without any Redhat patches. I just selected the options that seemed appropriate to the emulated hardware. For Need Name - You need to change the root XXX and kernel XXX to match how you setup your filesystem. I used /dev/hda1 as /boot and /dev/hda2 and / and /dev/hda3 as swap. You will need to see the grub documentation for how to change it.
I'm still stuck after Step 30 for the Comment #18 From David Sanders on 2004-07 -13 14:38. Did I miss something before rebooting ??
I followed the steps outlined in Comment #18 from David Sanders , but Linux did not reboot at Step 30. It still reports the processor problem. I fail to see what is different in Comment #18 before step 30 than normal typical installation. Except the fact that vpc.zip is downloaded into some shared folder somewhere... I'm a Linux NEWBIE, please explain in more detail how you got past the step 30 reboot into segmentation faults INSTEAD of processor error.
All I'm getting when I attempt to unzip vpc.zip is a bunch of "checkdir error cannot create..."
Re Comment #31. Chun, what processor are you using? P4 Prescott? You should not be getting a processor error following in instruction in step 30. I need more info. Re Comment #32. SL, did you remount the root file system read-write as in step 35? If you got a segmentation fault, you have to re-try.
Good news, you don't have to fight segmentation fault errors with Fedora Core 3 Test 3. Here is the new procedure. The zip file is posted to forum. Fedora Core 3 Test 3 Install Instructions 1. Download the 4 ISO images AND the rescue image. 2. Download fedora3.zip This contains the kernel, initial ram disk, and config files. 3. Place fedora3.zip in a shared folder (so we can get at it later via SAMBA). 4. Create a Virtual Machine 5. Boot from the first ISO image. 6. Press <ENTER> at the boot prompt for graphical install. 7. Skip testing media (or test if you want). 8. Select next to continue. 9. Select "Install Anyway" 10. Select language (english) 11. Select keyboard (us) 12. Select installation type (workstation) 13. Select disk partitioning (auto) 14. Click <YES> at warning 15. Select "Remove all partitions on this system" and check "Review (and modify) partitions created" 16. Click <YES> at warning 17. Highlight "VolGroup00" and click delete 18. Highlight /dev/hda2 and click delete 19. click new, select mount point /, type ext3, size 15850 fixed, click OK 20. click new, select type swap, size 400 "fill to max allow size", click OK 21. click NEXT 22. at boot loader screen click next 23. configure network device - configure using DHCP (or assign IP address) - activate on boot - set hostname (whatever) 24. configure firewall - enable - allow http,ftp,ssh (or whatever) - SELinux active 25. Set default language (english) Select any required additional languages 26. Select time zone (whatever) 27. Set root password 28. Select "Customize software packages to be installed" 29. Select packages (whatever, but ensure you select "Windows File Server" because we need samba) 30. Click next to start install then click continue 31. <formats file system> 32. <installs packages> (capture other CDs when prompted) 33. When install is complete, use the VPC menu to capture the rescue disk then click reboot 34. At the boot prompt press enter for rescue mode 35. choose language (english) 36. choose keyboard (us) 37. choose <YES> to "Do you want to start network...?" 38. Select configure using DHCP (or enter IP address) 39. Select continue to find install 40. Select <OK> to continue 41. You are now at a shell prompt Type: chroot /mnt/sysimage 42. Type: smbclient //win2ksvr/Share -U david but replace "win2ksvr" with the name of your host computer replace "Share" with the name of your shared folder and replace "david" with your username on the host. 43. enter password for host computer if prompted to do so 44. Type: get fedora3.zip 45. Type: quit 46. Type: unzip -o fedora3.zip 47. Release the rescue ISO from the VPC menu 48. Type: exit (twice) 49. <reboots> 50. Select 1st kernel from the grub menu 51. <startup and enter graphical setup program> 52. Click next 53. accept license agreement 54. set date and time and enable ntp (if you want) 55. Display Setup (you can leave this as is for now) 56. Establish user account 57. <additional CDs> - click next <finish setup> - click next 58. <Continues startup> 59. Login 60. <All is well with the world>
Zip file was too large to post. Download it from: http://www.sandersweb.net/david/virtualpc/fedora3.zip
Created attachment 105326 [details] Fedora Core 3 Test 3 running under Virtual PC 2004
Re comment #33. I was able to unzip the file using your tip, however I still don't go into X, but get multiple segmentation errors, and sometimes many other kinds of errors. Each reboot give a different set of errors, although all include segmentation errors. SL
I am running Fedora Core 3 Test 3 running under Virtual PC 2004. I finish graphical setup but i am stuck on step #42. Is there a way to get the zip file into fedora by Cdrom? Thx
I've discovered why I can't get into X after unzipping the file. After: 32. login as root 33. mount /proc 34. mount /boot 35. mount -o remount,rw / mount /dev/hdc 43. unzip -o /mnt/cdrom/vpc.zip The file decompresses and appears to be decompressing into the proper directories. However, if I look in /boot I don't find anything about the 2.6.7 kernel, and don't find the new grub.conf in /boot/grub. S
Re Comment #38 Robert, try downloading: http://www.sandersweb.net/david/virtualpc/fedora3-updated.iso Instead of using samba, capture the iso image and mount it. Then copy the zip to the root directory and unzip it per the instructions. Re: Comment #39 SL, did you do a "cd /" before unzipping?
David thanks for responding towards this issue. I did capture the iso image that was given by the link and I mount it in fedora text mode. I was unable to get it working because i am unsure how to copy the zip file to this operating system. Sorry I am not too familiar with linux because I am just learning it!
Re Comment #41 Robert, I think all you need to do is use the copy command like: "cp /media/dvdrom/fedora3-updated.zip ." If it doesn't work let me know.
Thanks, David, this works GREAT!!
The problem has been determined to be the 4G/4G patch included in the redhat supplied kernels. Compiling a kernel without 4g4g mode fixes the problem.
That wasn't good enough on VPC 7, oddly, but once I turned off local apic and told it to build for a plain original pentium, i was ok, i should figure out which fixed it, but at this point i don't care. it does work now.
*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 136018 ***
This website presents an alternative to smbclient and mount: http://www.core.org.au/?p=133 I have tried, tried, and tried again to install FC4 on VPC7 for Mac to no avail. The kernel RPM won't install due to a problem with the DSA key. So I gave up and settled with FC3. Oh, the website makes one mistake, use --force instead of -force in case you didn't know that.