Block device /dev/sda3 is not a valid root device..

rincewind · 06-17-2005, 02:02 AM

Hello everybody.

Im trying to install a Dell PowerEdge 1850 with linux.

Yet when I reboot from the installation (with gentoo 2005.0 stage3), I get the following error:

Code:

>> Mounting filesystems
>> Activating udev...
>> Determening root device
>> Block device /dev/sda3 is not a valid root device...
>> The root block device is unspecified or not detected.
Please specify a device to boot, or "shell" for a shell..
boot() ::

Does anyone know how to fix this.. Or what I've done wrong.?
Is there something missing in the kernel?

Im using kernel version: 2.6.11...

Regardz,
-- Rincewind...

stefan_nicolau · 06-17-2005, 05:27 AM

Are you using a ramdisk? If not, is support for your boot device compiled into the kernel? Otherwise, you won't be able to access it.

Half_Elf · 06-17-2005, 11:11 AM

is that thing has SCSI drive? Have you changed the fstab to point to the correct drive/partition then?
(and as stefan_nicolau asked, are you using ramdisk? if yes, I think you will have some tweaking to do to your gentoo)

rincewind · 06-20-2005, 02:58 AM

I solved this problem by compiling EVERY SCSI module into the kernel.. =) A bit drastic though but it works=)...

humbletech99 · 02-25-2006, 06:44 AM

I've also got this problem, but I am using a ramdisk to boot. I have a swap partition at /dev/sda1 and a single large partition that is the rest at /dev/sda2. Running in VMWare.

grub.conf is as follows:

Code:

title Gentoo
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-2.6.15-gentoo-r1
initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86-2.6.15-gentoo-r1

When I boot, the ramdisk loads, loads a bunch of modules, then I get the following error:

Code:

...
:: Scanning for blah ... blah loaded
>> Activating udev
>> Determining root device
!! The Root block device is unspecified or not detected.
   Please specify a device to boot, or "shell" for a shell...
boot() ::

What am I doing wrong. I thought genkernel compiles everything in? So there should be a scsi module and the ramdisk should load it...

imanassypov · 06-08-2006, 08:37 PM

Dudes,

How did you make those scsi drives visible in the first place? I am trying to run the same scenario (my disks are on perc though), and I cant see the drives?

Thanks!

-igor

Electro · 06-08-2006, 08:53 PM

Do not use genkernel. I did not have any success using it. I have success configuring and compiling the kernel by hand. It is easier than using genkernel. genkernel is a very dum utility to be used by novices.

humbletech99 · 06-09-2006, 04:47 AM

true and it's not very good, but it's more equivalent to other distro's modular based kernels.

I also think custom compiling is the only way to go on this, otherwise it gets more compicated fiddling with the initrd etc to get modules loaded faster so you can see your root partition.