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Old 07-19-2004, 06:32 PM   #1
MikTheUser
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Registered: Jun 2004
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Kernel Panic at boot from Promise ATA100 w/ Kernel 2.6


I'v googled and searched these forums, and found many similar issues, but none quite as mine:

I have been running Slackware 10 with Kernel 2.4, and it booted like a charm. My Master HDD on the primary ATA100 controller was recognized as /dev/hde and booted from correctly.

Now, I compiled Kernel 2.6 and, I supposed, included all the neccessary support for my hardware. However, at boot, I receive a Kernel Panic telling me the Kernel couldn't find the "root" device which is being described as "unknown{xx:xx}" (dont know the exact numbers now, just say if theyre significant anI'll post them).
Choosing Kernel 2.4 again, it boots like always.

So, I suppose I forgot some support or something, but where do I activate that? I looked through the xconfig kernel-config (also with "Show All Options") and can't seem to find it.

Help, anyone? TIA, Mik
 
Old 07-19-2004, 07:47 PM   #2
osvaldomarques
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HI,
This numbers (xx:xx) are important because tell you which disk and partition the kernel is looking for the root partition. You can find the complete table in "<your-kernel-source-directory>/Documentation/devices.txt".The first number is called Major and the second, the Minor number. You have to look for block devices as, the same major number are used for char and block devices, with different meanings.
After the last compile and install modules and kernel, did you run lilo?
 
Old 07-19-2004, 11:20 PM   #3
320mb
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can you boot with the rescue disk.....it's CD #2 of Slackware set........

try passing info at the boot prompt............

Code:
boot: root=/dev/hde? noinitrd
replace the ? with your partition number.........
 
Old 07-20-2004, 05:32 AM   #4
MikTheUser
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Thanks to all for your hints!

@320mb: Booting is not my problem, I have two images for the same Linux installation in my LILO-config, so I can choose if I want to boot 2.4 or 2.6 - just that, with 2.6, it won't boot.

@osvaldomarques: The comlpete error message is: VFS: Cannot open root device "2106" or unknown-block(33,6). Then, it halts with a Kernel Panic.

What can I do?
 
Old 07-20-2004, 11:29 PM   #5
osvaldomarques
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Hi MikTheUser,
This 33:06 is /dev/hde6. It would be the third ide controller. Are you sure your root partition is /dev/hde6? Try "df -v" to see where is "/".
 
Old 07-21-2004, 05:14 AM   #6
powadha
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Are you sure you got everything needed compiled into the kernel? Sounds like you forgot IDE or filesystem support......neither can be modules if you make no use of intrd.
 
Old 07-21-2004, 12:11 PM   #7
J.W.
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Another thing to check - after adding the new kernel to lilo.conf did you rerun the lilo program? As root:
Code:
/sbin/lilo
As I'm sure you know, changes to lilo.conf don't take effect until after you rerun lilo. -- J.W.
 
Old 07-23-2004, 04:45 PM   #8
46&2
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i'm having the exact same problem. i've got most everything working in 2.6.7 (framebuffer console, sound card, nic, filesystem, etc.) but i always get a kernel panic. my root partition is hdg3 (secondary master on promise ata 100 controller) and even when i pass the kernel the option root=/dev/hdg3 (which i know for sure to be the root partition) it panics. i think what would solve both of our problems is if we knew what drivers we should compile into the kernel (since modularizing them won't help).

if it helps, my controller is an onboard promise pdc 20265r ide raid chip. where is this driver located in gconfig?

mik: is your promise card onboard or offboard? if it is offboard, i was looking through the gconfig menu and it said something about ide reversal for offboard cards. compile that in, and if it doesn't work off the bat, try passing the kernel the option:

ide=reverse

and see where that gets you. if your promise card is onboard, try going to the motherboard manufacturer's website and find out exactly what kind of promise controller you're dealing with. i'm sure that will help get a solution from the gurus around here.
 
Old 07-23-2004, 09:57 PM   #9
46&2
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ok, i found the area where the promise driver is, i've compiled it in the kernel, but i still get a kernel panic. i get the below error message:

vfs: cannot open root device 2203 or unknown block (34,3)
please append root= boot option
kernel panic: vfs: unable to mount root fs or unknown-block (34,3)

what have i forgotten? what do i need to throw in?
 
Old 07-24-2004, 01:24 PM   #10
MikTheUser
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I made it run with the hints from the following site:

http://lists.netisland.net/archives/.../msg00866.html

Note that, if you get an error saying "IRQ xx - Nobody cared!", you will have to put the corresponding IRQ number as an additional comma value after the PCI adresses, so your lilo.conf-line will look like this:

boot: ide2=0x9400,0x9002,10 ide3=0x8800,0x8402, 10

I don't actually run Kernel 2.6 now though, because it wouldn't support my Ethernet card, so I decided to wait until Slack officially supports it, with Slackware 10.1 or something

Greets, Mik
 
  


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