[Bug 669481] Re: Timeout should not be -1 if $recordfail
Launchpad Bug Tracker
669481 at bugs.launchpad.net
Sat Sep 29 08:57:13 UTC 2012
This bug was fixed in the package grub2 - 1.99-21ubuntu3.4
---------------
grub2 (1.99-21ubuntu3.4) precise-proposed; urgency=low
* Revert 1.99-21ubuntu3.2 again,as it was erroneously included again
in 1.99-21ubuntu3.3.
grub2 (1.99-21ubuntu3.3) precise-proposed; urgency=low
[ Ben Howard ]
* Parameterization of recordfail setting. This allows users to define the
default time out of GRUB when recordfail has been set. The current
setting causes hangs on headless and appliances where access to the
console is limited or prohibited. (LP: #669481)
grub2 (1.99-21ubuntu3.2) precise-proposed; urgency=low
* Revert previous SRU. This caused AMI cloud images to prompt about the
changed configuration file, breaking automated upgrades. (LP: #1009294)
* This reopens bug #978464, which will break Ubuntu 10.04->12.04 upgrades
if user does not opt-in to reinstall grub-pc bootloader when prompted.
-- Clint Byrum <clint at ubuntu.com> Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:04:59 -0700
** Changed in: grub2 (Ubuntu Precise)
Status: Fix Committed => Fix Released
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/669481
Title:
Timeout should not be -1 if $recordfail
Status in “grub2” package in Ubuntu:
Fix Released
Status in “grub2” source package in Precise:
Fix Released
Bug description:
Binary package hint: grub2
SRU justification
[Impact]
If a system fails to boot to the point where it runs /etc/init.d/grub-common, then a subsequent reboot will leave the system at a grub prompt which waits indefinitely for user input. Systems such as cloud instances or other headless systems may not be able to provide the necessary input to grub, which results in unavailable system.
[Test case]
A thorough test case is mentioned in comment #8 and has been used to confirm that the Quantal fix was applicable.
One shortcut to testing the fix is to disable execution of /etc/init.d
/grub-common by doing :
$ sudo chmod -x /etc/init.d/grub-common
Without the fix, a reboot will result in the instance waiting at the
GRUB prompt. With the proposed fix, it will boot normally.
[Regression Potential]
There is little potential as without intentional modification of /etc/default/grub, the variable defaults to its previous value of -1.
My experience is that $recordfail is not always written successfully,
which is by default tested in grub.cfg (through grub.d/00_header)
This causes grub2 to set timeout=-1 which removes the timeout for
bootup in these cases.
On computers which have not been configured for "USB Legacy" in the
BIOS but use USB keyboards, this looks as if grub has frozen - because
the keyboard does not respond. The consequence is that the computer
won't boot without either knowledge on how to configure BIOS (and
what) or using a PS/2 keyboard (not always available or possible to
plugin).
My suggestion is that Ubuntu recognizes $recordfail but instead of
disabling timeout (-1) it should be set to a relatively high value
(such as 10 seconds). This will be enough to alert the user on what
option is booting, and that the computer hasn't frozen, as well as
enabling false/known failures to be ignored.
Maybe a future addition to recognising $recordfail is to have a
warning on the boot menu, but that is outside the scope of this
report.
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10
Package: grub-pc 1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-22.35-generic-pae 2.6.35.4
Uname: Linux 2.6.35-22-generic-pae i686
Architecture: i386
Date: Mon Nov 1 15:33:30 2010
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release i386 (20101007)
ProcEnviron:
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: grub2
Related bugs:
* bug 1035279: instance hangs at grub prompt after reboot followed by euca-reboot-instances
* bug 872244: grub2 recordfail logic prevents headless system from rebooting after power outage
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