One of my Kernels is panicking.
 

Up untill two weeks ago, I have been running Linux on a daily basis for almost a year. Two weeks ago I my system was unable to read dev 7 or hda or something. System offered me loads of options for manual file system repair, after leaving a small lead ball on the letter y on my keyboard to answer yes to every error/fix message, I got Lilo booting up but telling me I had errors. I gave up.
Next more I try to run Linux on my dual boot box and it boots up fine, but tells me I still have filesystem errors. then it works fine for two weeks. Now, I get Kernal panick, no init found and not options to fix the problem.
Anyone got any advice? Most of my downloaded games and DVD's are on the Linux Partiotion on this disk so I want to salvage it if I can. Plus it took me a lot of time to install the software I wanted.
This is new for me, as it is ussually windows that goes down and not linux. I figure this can only be a security issue. If anyone can tell me a way to find the crackers Default gateway if not their IP then I would be really gratefull, as some revenge is in order. I don't mind being a script kiddie for a day, if I can get someone that took my time without asking for it, in jail or atleast sacked from their post.
In other words I am more interested in accesing my system logs to find the IP of the b***tard who has taken my time, than salveging the data I had on my HD.

its probably file system corruption ... whatever FS you use DITCH IT! (my guess is ext2/3 in my experience i regularly get corruption with these file systems ... i hear no complaints with xfs, and reiserfs only gets a few upset people (works great for me... tho i really want to check out xfs in the future, perhaps for my documents partition?)

well, you might be able to salvage the system, get a rescue disk or something (a boot disk will work.. just make sure it supports lots of file systems, Gentoo's install disks support most good file systems (don't have to install gentoo, but there disks are great (get the minimal one so you don't download the distros install programs, and binaries to)

with the boot disk, mount the partition containing the files you want (if theres no error, great, if there is... fix it, or show us the error as well as info on the partition (the file system on it mainly) ..... then if you get this far without errors, then move the files to a partition all of there own (or they are already on a separate partition form everything else, just reinstall linux ,, but be careful not to install it on the partition your files are at

seeing how this is I'm the newbies forum,... I'm assuming you really don't know what the heck to do... so heres the boot CD place http://csociety-ftp.ecn.purdue.edu/pub/gentoo/releases/

just pick whatever architecture you use (probably x86 , so if unsure pick that), then pick whatever number you want (doesn't really matter, i get "forbidden" tho with the last one..), then download the minimal iso image (it has the "minimal" word in it, and ends with ".iso" ... burn the iso and you can use that to boot up your computer and fix it)

Thanks SciRo. I will try that tommorow, but for now can you tell me if this is a cracker problem or a filesystem problem, as I have made a few enemies here and there and I would not want to lose details of any LAN that harbours a cracker that took my time.

well, look thru the logs (hope you have good logging) .... and check to see how they could have gotten in (any ssh server or telnet or anything other service running as a server that they could aces from the Internet? , etc) ... tracing thru the logs can be a real pain, but look for any attempts to connect to any of your services, and also (if your firewall is setup to log suspicious traffic) look thru and see if anybody repeatedly trys to connect to you (thats unusual... you might see lots of people if you use p2p, so look for odd traffic)

ah, and see if /sbin/init is there .. if its gone then ill shift my opinion over to cracker :)

Ah, I've been using ext2 (then ext3) for about 10 years without any real trouble with file system corruption. I've also spent most of the last ten years on lists like this discussing linux and ext2 and haven't heard too many others with trouble. Tho reiser and xfs are good systems, I would not dismiss ext2/3 as it is a filesystem which has well stood the test of time. I've also used reiser without much trouble, tho did lose more with reiser when a drive went bad. Once ext3 was on the scene I went back to ext2/3 from reiser as you have the advantage that it is a slightly more common and universal linux filesystem which is recognized by bootables linux CD distros.

I wouldn't think it was a 'cracker'. To be safe, run a firewall. The best solution IMO is a separate router box with a hardened firewall system, like an old pentium 1 with smoothwall on it. Next best run a good firewall on the linux box. Still, even without that it's unlikely an up to date system was hacked.

It could be hardware or a power glitch. Filesystems don't generally give trouble unless you have a bad shutdown (usually not a problem) or you've had an application go nuts and do some damage, which is also unusual. It tends to have to be something at kernel level, like the troubles you might have with something like a USB flashdrive on some kernels or a win4lin patch, etc...

I have been having failed power offs since I installed MDK 9.1 and on occassion I have just pulled the plug. The only non-open source program I have on my linux box is Limewire and a user home partition was near running out of space before I had this problem.
I will try some of the things mentioned this week. Thanks.