Question

Grub2 timeout not working

Asked by: hassler

Just reinstalled grub 2 (v1.96) a Debian Etch 64-bit installation. Grub configuration contains:

set timeout=5

but when the system boots, we VERY BRIEFLY see the message flash at the bottom of the screen with the countdown timer, but it dissappears, and the system sits there waiting for a keypress.

I need grub2 in order to boot on an LVM-based root file system.

This will be a remote server with no head (or hands), so the automatic boot is needed. Any thoughts? 

/boot/grub/grub.cfg contains:
 
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/local/sbin/update-grub using templates
# from /usr/local/etc/grub.d and settings from /usr/local/etc/default/grub
#
 
### BEGIN /usr/local/etc/grub.d/00_header ###
set default=0
set timeout=5
set root=(vg-vmh)
terminal console
### END /usr/local/etc/grub.d/00_header ###
 
### BEGIN /usr/local/etc/grub.d/10_hurd ###
### END /usr/local/etc/grub.d/10_hurd ###
 
### BEGIN /usr/local/etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "GNU/Linux, linux 2.6.18-6-amd64" {
	linux	(hd0,1)/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-amd64 root=/dev/mapper/vg-vmh ro 
	initrd	(hd0,1)/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-amd64
}
menuentry "GNU/Linux, linux 2.6.18-6-amd64 (single-user mode)" {
	linux	(hd0,1)/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-amd64 root=/dev/mapper/vg-vmh ro single 
	initrd	(hd0,1)/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-amd64
}
### END /usr/local/etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

                                  
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Asked On
2009-03-06 at 10:30:41ID24206615
Tags

grub

,

linux

Topics

Debian Linux

,

Linux Administration

,

Linux Setup

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
15

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Answers

 

by: rionrocPosted on 2009-03-06 at 14:56:32ID: 23821932

Hello

Try to remove:
terminal console (temporarily)
and replace menuentry with title


Note: Next time, Edit menu.lst instead of grub.cfg
:)
rionroc

 

by: KeremEPosted on 2009-03-06 at 19:19:59ID: 23823036

Hi,

I think you should move the root clause into menuitem settings. When you do it should point to a physical device like
   root=(hd0,0)

Without leading "set" keyword. At the time of grub runs it has no idea of your virtual Volumegroup intormation.

Cheers,
K.

 

by: KeremEPosted on 2009-03-06 at 19:22:00ID: 23823052

Here's the link to GRUB2 Wiki:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GRUB2

 

by: hasslerPosted on 2009-03-06 at 19:49:05ID: 23823172

This configuration was generated directly by update-grub. The boot DOES work -- it just needs to have enter pressed on the keyboard. That point wasn't clear in my original post. But, since this server will be headless, and remote, needs to boot automatically!

The reason I'm using grub2 is because the root file system IS a logical volume. the /boot partition is at (hd0,1). (hd0,2) is the physical volume for the remainder of the system.

I had already commented out the "set terminal=console" line to see if that made any difference. It didn't. Odd thing is, this configuration (or VERY similar) was working. We (unfortunately) had to reload the base OS on this server when an errant upgrade tried to install lilo (and subsequently failed).

I like grub MUCH better than lilo, but thinking I should go back to lilo, since it seems to support a root-on-lvm configuration better.

 

by: KeremEPosted on 2009-03-06 at 20:46:44ID: 23823333

Hi,

I came across this:

http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=494383

Grub2 would not boot to a lvm volume that has a "-" (dash) in the volume name. I haven't saw any comment roem the Grub team that they have corrected the problem. Can you rename the volume ?

BTW why should you kave /boot in the LVM? since the content is fairly limited you might try to use it on a physical device and just use your LVM for the rest of the OS.

Cheers,
K.

 

by: hasslerPosted on 2009-03-06 at 21:33:06ID: 23823438

Please re-read. /boot is at (hd0,1) -- it is a physical partition. the ROOT partition is LVM. I have about 6 other servers with this same configuration (including the laptop I'm working on right now).

My only question is why the timeout does not work. The system DOES boot, just needs manual intervention.

 

by: rionrocPosted on 2009-03-06 at 21:47:41ID: 23823474

OK, I understand, just an idea, try something like that:

### BEGIN /usr/local/etc/grub.d/00_header ###
set default=2                                  
##Changes ^
set timeout=0
##Changes ^
set root=(vg-vmh)
terminal console
### END /usr/local/etc/grub.d/00_header ###
 
### BEGIN /usr/local/etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

##menu0
menuentry "GNU/Linux, linux 2.6.18-6-amd64" {
        linux   (hd0,1)/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-amd64 root=/dev/mapper/vg-vmh ro
        initrd  (hd0,1)/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-amd64
}

##menu1
menuentry "GNU/Linux, linux 2.6.18-6-amd64 (single-user mode)" {
        linux   (hd0,1)/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-amd64 root=/dev/mapper/vg-vmh ro single
        initrd  (hd0,1)/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-amd64
}

##menu2
menuentry "GNU/Linux, linux 2.6.18-6-amd64" {
        linux   (hd0,1)/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-amd64 root=/dev/mapper/vg-vmh ro
        initrd  (hd0,1)/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-amd64
}

##menu3
menuentry "GNU/Linux, linux 2.6.18-6-amd64 (single-user mode)" {
        linux   (hd0,1)/vmlinuz-2.6.18-6-amd64 root=/dev/mapper/vg-vmh ro single
        initrd  (hd0,1)/initrd.img-2.6.18-6-amd64
}

### END /usr/local/etc/grub.d/10_linux ###


:)
rionroc

 

by: rionrocPosted on 2009-03-06 at 22:20:03ID: 23823564

AND Please

Edit at menu.lst instead of grub.cfg

:)
rionroc

 

by: rionrocPosted on 2009-03-06 at 22:36:39ID: 23823626

>Edit at menu.lst instead of grub.cfg

If you don't have menu.lst in /boot/grub

make a new one:
cat >menu.lst
press control z to save.

then copy from grub.cfg to menu.lst
Save it!


Great is our GOD.
:)
rionroc

 

by: rionrocPosted on 2009-03-07 at 08:57:38ID: 23825536

Problem solved, but where is the author? lol
Is it done?
How is it?
lol

 

by: KeremEPosted on 2009-03-07 at 09:48:15ID: 23825715

in fact  menu.lst is a link to grub.conf. Please check if this has been disrupted. May be instead of link you have 2 diferent files that even if you change timeout in one is not reflected on the other..  

 

by: hasslerPosted on 2009-03-07 at 12:09:31ID: 23826309

No, the problem is NOT resolved. I will try rionroc's suggestion (timeout=0), but not hopeful about that.

Grub2 does not use menu.lst -- it only uses grub.cfg.

I think I'm going to go back to lilo. It's more stable, and works with the LVM configuration.

 

by: rionrocPosted on 2009-03-07 at 17:03:36ID: 23827443

Trust me!
In grub, menu.lst is the main menu, grub.cfg is just a dummy, menu.lst is like a link but its the main grub menu.

Appy them both:
The menu.lst, The timeout=0 with 4 menus, change it in menu.lst and grub.cfg

:)
rionroc

 

by: hasslerPosted on 2009-03-08 at 21:26:48ID: 23833129

Ok, I make a simple change to the timeout, set to zero, and the system will boot fine. I did try rionroc's suggestion of copying the 2 boot menuentries as entries 2 and 3, which worked as well, as long as the timeout was set to zero. Anything other than zero, and it hangs.

HOWEVER, Please note, this is GRUB2.... GRub2 does NOT use the menu.1st file like grub1 does (it is explicit in the (almost nonexistent) documentation. Further, an examination of the source code yeilds no references to menu.1st anymore either.

As rionroc was the closest with leading me to the zero-timeout, I'll accept that as the solution.

 

by: rionrocPosted on 2009-03-08 at 22:51:12ID: 23833348

Well its not on the documentation, But it was experience and fine.
Thanks.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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