Problems with LILO.

Message

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:54 pm

Hi.

I've been trying to install Gentoo since 9am today (it's almost 5pm here) and I'm still stuck.

It seems I don't know how to point to my Kernel in LILO.

In the installation guide it says:

If you're using genkernel 1.2 (included in the 1.4-20030803 x86/i686 GRP set), use the following:
# genkernel gentoo-sources
If you're using genkernel 1.4 or newer, there's no need to specify a kernel:
# genkernel
Gentoo Linux genkernel, version 1.4
Copyright 2003 Gentoo Technologies, Inc., Bob Johnson, Daniel Robbins
Distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2

Settings:
compile optimization: 1 processor(s)
source tree: /usr/src/linux-2.4.20-gaming-r3
config: gentoo (customized)
config loc: /etc/kernels/config-2.4.20-gaming-r3
initrd config: (default) /etc/kernels/settings

* Running "make oldconfig"... [ ok ]
* Logging to /var/log/genkernel.log... [ ok ]
* Starting 2.4.20-gaming-r3 build... [ ok ]
* Running "make dep"... [ ok ]
* Running "make bzImage"... [ ok ]
* Running "make modules"... [ ok ]
* Running "make modules_install"... [ ok ]
* Moving bzImage to /boot/kernel-2.4.20-gaming-r3... [ ok ]
* Building busybox... [ ok ]
* Creating initrd... [ ok ]

* Build completed successfully!

* Please specify /boot/kernel-2.4.20-gaming-r3 and /boot/initrd-2.4.20-gaming-r3
* when customizing your boot loader configuration files.

But my genkernel exits like this:

If you're using genkernel 1.2 (included in the 1.4-20030803 x86/i686 GRP set), use the following:
# genkernel gentoo-sources
If you're using genkernel 1.4 or newer, there's no need to specify a kernel:
# genkernel
Gentoo Linux genkernel, version 1.4
Copyright 2003 Gentoo Technologies, Inc., Bob Johnson, Daniel Robbins
Distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2

Settings:
compile optimization: 1 processor(s)
source tree: /usr/src/linux-2.4.20-gaming-r3
config: gentoo (customized)
config loc: /etc/kernels/config-2.4.20-gaming-r3
initrd config: (default) /etc/kernels/settings

* Running "make oldconfig"... [ ok ]
* Logging to /var/log/genkernel.log... [ ok ]
* Starting 2.4.20-gaming-r3 build... [ ok ]
* Running "make dep"... [ ok ]
* Running "make bzImage"... [ ok ]
* Running "make modules"... [ ok ]

So, how do I configure LILO? I've tried the following configuration:

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
lba32
default=gk_linux
image=/boot/kernel-2.4.20-r8
label=gk_linux
root=/dev/hda3
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.20-r8
append="root=/dev/hda3 init=/linuxrc"

But LILO says "Fatal: open /boot/kernel-2.4.20-r8: No such file or directory".

What's wrong and how do I fix it?

Thanks.

A.

st589 · Post by **st589** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:30 pm

I'm unsure whether or not genkernel automatically puts the kernel in your /boot/ folder. It looks like your genkernel is making the usual bzImage name for the kernel. But it might have renamed it later to something like "kernel-2.4.20-gaming-r3" Check if it's there, "ls -l /boot/" Don't forget to mount it first if you put it on a separate partition. If it's not there, you'll have to move it from /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage to /boot/. Then you can setup lilo with the appropriate kernel name.

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 3:40 pm

st589 wrote:I'm unsure whether or not genkernel automatically puts the kernel in your /boot/ folder. It looks like your genkernel is making the usual bzImage name for the kernel. But it might have renamed it later to something like "kernel-2.4.20-gaming-r3" Check if it's there, "ls -l /boot/" Don't forget to mount it first if you put it on a separate partition. If it's not there, you'll have to move it from /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage to /boot/. Then you can setup lilo with the appropriate kernel name.

It's not there. I'll do a clean install and try again. If it's still not there I'll try the moving. Should I rename it to something other than bzImage? I've tried to install Linux the "hard way", I've only used RedHat or Madrake previously...

A.

st589 · Post by **st589** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 4:02 pm

You shouldn't have to do a full reinstall for this. What is in your /boot folder? /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot? Could you list the contents here? And yes, you can rename bzImage to whatever you want if you want, but I'd keep it to letters, numbers, and - with no spaces.

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 6:48 pm

st589 wrote:You shouldn't have to do a full reinstall for this. What is in your /boot folder?

boot
boot-menu.b
boot.b
map~
os2_d.b
boot-bmp.b
boot-text.b
chain.b
lost+found
mbr.b

/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot?

There isn't a directory by that name. I found a dir named linux-2.4.20-gentoo-r8 from /usr/src/, but I'm beginning to wonder if I'm on the HD or on the CD-ROM. Any way to find out?

A.

filerba · Post by **filerba** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 6:31 am

Quote:

/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot?

There isn't a directory by that name. I found a dir named linux-2.4.20-gentoo-r8 from /usr/src/

Before compiling your kernel you should make a symlink named linux to the source directory

Code: Select all

ln -s linux-2.4.20-gentoo-r8 linux

I'm not sure what happens if you don't.

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm on the HD or on the CD-ROM. Any way to find out?

Code: Select all

df -h

df is for finding out how much free space you have on your disks, but it's a good way to get a quick overview of your filesystem.

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:39 am

filerba wrote: Before compiling your kernel you should make a symlink named linux to the source directory
Code: Select all
ln -s linux-2.4.20-gentoo-r8 linux
I'm not sure what happens if you don't.

Thanks. But isn't genkernel supposed to do this? And if not, then the installation maual is seriously faulty. It says genkernel will give you the name of the kernel and initrd, but it doesn't, plus it installs the kernel in the wrong place. Not good for a Gentoo-newbie like me.

df is for finding out how much free space you have on your disks, but it's a good way to get a quick overview of your filesystem.

I'll try that. Thanks.

A.

filerba · Post by **filerba** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:51 am

Inadequate documentation on the genkernel part of the install was my only real problem installing. Compiled the kernel many times and ended up doing it manually; now I'm afraid to use genkernel.

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:21 am

filerba wrote:Inadequate documentation on the genkernel part of the install was my only real problem installing. Compiled the kernel many times and ended up doing it manually; now I'm afraid to use genkernel.

That's probably where I went wrong too... And I know, I'm not a real man, but I don't think I could compile the kernel manually. I'm trying genkernel again with the symlink, but if this isn't going to start working soon, I think /me is switching back to Mandrake.

Ice

EDIT: typo.

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:54 pm

Ok, now I ran out of space on the /boot... 4th install on the way, this time with 100Mb /boot...

Ice

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 2:48 pm

Now I'm in a situation like this:

st589 wrote:What is in your /boot folder?

boot
boot-menu.b
boot.b
os2_d.b
boot-bmp.b
boot-text.b
chain.b
/lost+found
mbr.b

/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot?

Makefile
bootsect.S
/compressed
install.sh
setup.S
/tools
video.s

Ice

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:48 am

No reply? Guess I'll have go use Madrake. I thought this would've been better than the other Linux - communities, it certainly looked that way in the beginning, but now no one's bothering to answer me. Way to go Gentoo - community, I'm sure to spread the word around.

Ice

northern · Post by **northern** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:08 am

Dont get angry dude, people have done there best so far.

You need a copy of your kernel in /boot.

This is the 100% way I config the kernel:

1. cd /usr/src/linux
2. make mrproper
3. make menuconfig
4. config the kernel as best you can, you can always reconfig it later
5. make dep
6. make bzImage
7. make modules
8. make modules_install

now your should have a file in /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot called bzImage

9. mount /boot
10. cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/
11. vi /etc/lilo.conf
amend you lilo.conf to point to the new kernel bzImage in /boot
12. /sbin/lilo
13 reboot.

As a couple of people on here have said try not to use genkernel. Using the commands above is not unix guru material, give it a go, it's very easy and knowing how to do it will help you in the future.
Always remember to make a backup copy of your /boot/<kernel_name> before overwriting it with your new kernel incase your new kernel is duff.
Also look make a boot disk for rescue, man mkbootdisk (i think) will help.

Hope that helps, don't give up yet

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:56 am

northern wrote: Hope that helps, don't give up yet

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

I was just getting tired of waiting, been posting on this thread a lone for the past 24-something hours.

Ice

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 11:30 am

Ok, I finally got the kernel installed and LILO configured, thanks to northern, but now I've got a new problem.

When I boot the computer, LILO boot menu comes up. When I choose "linux" it starts loading, but soon thereafter does a reboot. And this keeps going until I shut it down.

What's wrong now?

Thanks.

Ice

northern · Post by **northern** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 11:42 am

Are you getting any error messages ?
Does it load your kernel then panic or panic before that ?

Type "linux 1" at the lilo prompt to get into linux single user mode.

From there you have to manually mount any other partitions you may have.

type "dmesg | less" and look for error messages.

also type "ls -lrt /var/log" and look at the dates on the files at the bottom of the list, this will show you which ones have been written to recently and hence may contain decent info.

Now you've got a kernel, and you now know how to reconfigure the kernel then do a search on here and google for your disk(s) to make sure they're supported under linux.

Make sure devfs is enabled in the kernel too.

If you still have problems then post back here, I'll do my best to help you but I've only been using gentoo for a week myself, but I've got about 7 years experience of hpux/solaris so I may be able to help you further.

Im sure other people will help too when they can

And keep smiling, it will work in the end

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 11:53 am

northern wrote:Are you getting any error messages ?
Does it load your kernel then panic or panic before that ?

No messages, no kernel. It starts loading something (loading linux......), but reboots right after that.

Type "linux 1" at the lilo prompt to get into linux single user mode.

Doesn't help, same thing.

Now you've got a kernel, and you now know how to reconfigure the kernel then do a search on here and google for your disk(s) to make sure they're supported under linux.

I've used RedHat and Mandrake on this comp before, so I think they work.

Make sure devfs is enabled in the kernel too.

Not sure if it is. I'll check.

A.

northern · Post by **northern** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 11:59 am

If it's not managing to load the kernel then the kernel needs recompiling.

Can you post an "ls -l" of your /boot partion and a copy of your lilo.conf ?

On another note, I've used redhat/mandrake for several years too. I recently installed both redhat9 and mandrake9.2 on my system which is a 700Mhz athlon with 256Mb RAM. Both installs caused my pc to run like a dog, hence the move to Gentoo, and im well chuffed. It runs very well. I run xfce desktop but also installed just enough kde stuff to be able to run konqueror as it is way faster than mozilla (not tried firebird).

northern · Post by **northern** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 12:00 pm

The install.txt file on the cdrom at /mnt/gentoo gives just enough info to get a decent kernel config, make sure you read the kernel bit in there.

aiiskola · Post by **aiiskola** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 12:24 pm

northern wrote:If it's not managing to load the kernel then the kernel needs recompiling.

Yes, I thought so too, but now I get error messages when compiling. "KERN_KDB undeclared here (not in function)" & "initializer element is not constant" etc.

Can you post an "ls -l" of your /boot partion and a copy of your lilo.conf ?

boot -> .
boot-bmp.b
boot-menu.b
boot-text.b
boot.0300
boot.b -> boot-menu.b
bzImage
chain.b
lost+found
map
mbr.b
os2_d.b

lilo.conf:

Code: Select all

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
lba32
default=linux
image=/boot/bzImage
label=linux
root=/dev/hda3

A.

northern · Post by **northern** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 12:58 pm

ok your lilo.conf looks fine to me and your kernel is where lilo thinks it is.

I can't help you with the kernel error im afraid.

If it was me this is what id do -

Boot off the gentoo cd again and try to remake the kernel, making sure I ran a "make mrproper" first.
If that fails I'd reinstall.

I know thats duff mate, but unless anyone knows better ...

It took me 3 attempts to get it installed properly anyway

If you persevere it will work, and it's worth it.

Pete_Keller · Post by **Pete_Keller** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:03 pm

aiiskola,

Make sure you have selected the correct processor for your kernel

re-follow northern's instructions on kernel compilation, when you are running make menuconfig, make sure you select the correct processor.

Pete