[SOLVED] Unable to mount root fs

[7Jean7]

I get kernel panic from my freshly compiled linux kernel booting from USB key (like here Unable to mount root fs)

• error : unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)
  kernel version : 5.5-rc5
  bootloader : none (EFI stub)
  built-in kernel command line : root=PARTUUID=xx1-xx1-xx1-1xx
  kernel supports the root file system : f2fs
  kernel is moduleless

Solutions tried/tested

• checked PARTUUID of the root device 3 times
  kernel do load my sata ssd with proper PARTUUID
  kernel doesn't mount other USB drive
  BLK_DEV=y, BLK_DEV_SD=y, USB_STORAGE=y, ...
  tried with UUID and /dev/sda2 same result

It seems to be a USB problem something wrong in kernel configuration ?

[lefsha]

Quite obvious kernel USB drivers are missed.

Just enable (not as module) all possible USB drivers, then check
by lspci/lsusb what has been used.

Enable CONFIG_USB_STORAGE

May be the better advice is to use binary kernel from other
working distro. Most common is Ubuntu/Deb

That would solve your problem temporally till you make
a working kernel yourself.

On a rare case, where USB drive need a firmware either provide
it within kernel or use drivers as modules and therefore enable initramfs.

Previously I was also running a module free kernel.
Now I can't, due to the firmware and special drivers.
I believe a module free kernel is a history. It won't be possible
to use in the future with any hardware.

P.S. On a place of Gentoo Devs I would put a binary kernel
into portage to allow people don't hang at the stage of not working
kernel, cause if you are picky it might take weeks or months till
you get one.

[NeddySeagoon]

7Jean7,

In normal operation the USB subsystem is not started until after root is mounted.
That makes root on USB tricky.

For testing only, add

Code: Select all

rootdelay=30

to the kernel command line. USB will start while the kernel waits for 30 seconds for root to appear.
It will then panic in the normal way if root is not available.

30 seconds is a long very safe time and you won't like it.
Once booting works, remove

Code: Select all

rootdelay=30

and replace it with

Code: Select all

rootwait

rootwait will wait for the root filesystem forever, so you won't get the useful panic message if root does not appear.
Conversely, it will not wait any longer than it needs to.

As lefsha says, the USB stack and everything needed to mount root must be built into the kernel.

[7Jean7]

Thanks all for your help

Special thanks to NeddySeagoon you are right
slow USB subsystem was the problem (I did not expect that )

Just to complete the answer
All USB drivers were installed even useless ones
and when SSD was mounted as root from USB kernel i see all USB devices

A bit off-topic but
I think that a module less kernel is a better solution
not only it pushes the companies from closed sourced firmware and drivers to openness
but also it is more secure (cause opensource) and more fast&efficient (cause tightly integrated)

Regarding kernel compiling i can say that
it can go painful sometimes but it is always rewarding
and you learn a lot of things doing that ( like today )

P.S. It will be nice to add this to Unable to mount root fs as a part of Analysis

[skiwarz]

P.S. how i mark this topic as solved ?

Edit your first post and add "[solved]" to the subject line.