chschroe
asked on
OpenSUSE remote installation with special kernel modules
Hi experts!
I want to remotely install OpenSUSE on one of my servers. I followed the instructions given at http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Remote_installation, but it didn't work. (My server reverted back to the already installed system.)
I think this has to do with a special kernel module (megaraid_sas) that is necessary for the raid controller. Without this module, the kernel cannot find any disk. Of course, the module is not included in the initrd provided by OpenSUSE.
I know how to add files to the initrd, but I have no idea where I have to put the required kernel module and which config file inside the initrd must be modified to make the kernel load the module.
Thanks for your help!
Christian
I want to remotely install OpenSUSE on one of my servers. I followed the instructions given at http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Remote_installation, but it didn't work. (My server reverted back to the already installed system.)
I think this has to do with a special kernel module (megaraid_sas) that is necessary for the raid controller. Without this module, the kernel cannot find any disk. Of course, the module is not included in the initrd provided by OpenSUSE.
I know how to add files to the initrd, but I have no idea where I have to put the required kernel module and which config file inside the initrd must be modified to make the kernel load the module.
Thanks for your help!
Christian
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Yes, you are right! I had found the squashfs after I posted my last comment, but was unable to mount it because my kernel was too old. I now have a newer machine and could inspect the squashfs, and there is indeed a lib/modules tree in it which contains several modules (network etc.) Interestingly, the "megaraid_sas" module is also present. The question is why it is not loaded. Do you have any idea? How does the kernel know which modules should be loaded during boot?
I think I will ask the support staff of our hosting provider to monitor the boot process and tell me why it does not successfully boot into the installation system. Maybe the problem is not even related to the RAID controller.
I think I will ask the support staff of our hosting provider to monitor the boot process and tell me why it does not successfully boot into the installation system. Maybe the problem is not even related to the RAID controller.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Failing a match, is there some kind of rc script in the initrd? You could insert a modprobe therein. You may need to do this before the pivot_root - look for the script containing that command.
ASKER
I have already checked this and yes, it matches one of the definitions in modules.alias. I have just asked the support guys to watch the reboot process and tell me if and why there is a kernel panic.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
It seems that I have misinterpreted my observations. Actually, the installation system already included the required modules. The problem was that the installation system never started at all.
ASKER
I have also read the thread that you posted. I am not quite sure if I can use your instructions. What puzzles me is that I do not even have a modules.dep file in the initrd. I have only two files (loop.ko and squashfs.ko) in /lib/modules/2.6.34-12-def