[Bug 1237519] Re: Grub2 fails to install to non-standard device path

[Launchpad Bug Tracker]

This bug was fixed in the package grub2 - 2.00-22

---------------
grub2 (2.00-22) unstable; urgency=low


  * Backport from upstream:
    - On Linux, read partition start offsets from sysfs if possible
      (LP: #1237519).
    - Fix sector number when writing to non-512B disks (LP: #1253443).
  * Regularise indentation of "recordfail" in /etc/grub.d/10_linux.

 -- Colin Watson <cjwatson at debian.org>  Thu, 12 Dec 2013 01:24:11 +0000

** Changed in: grub2 (Ubuntu)
       Status: In Progress => Fix Released

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1237519

Title:
  Grub2 fails to install to non-standard device path

Status in “grub-installer” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “grub2” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “grub-installer” source package in Precise:
  Fix Committed
Status in “grub2” source package in Precise:
  Fix Committed

Bug description:
  SRU justification:

  [Impact] Installation impossible on FusionIO disks; furthermore the method used to identify partitions in GRUB relies on an obsolete ioctl which doesn't properly handle large disks.
  [Test Case] We have a remotely-accessible server on which we can do straight-through installation tests on the hardware in question.
  [Regression Potential] The device handling changes are boring and straightforward.  The work to avoid the obsolete ioctl should be regression-tested on some other hardware (it doesn't matter too much which) to make sure it still works there; although I've already done this on my laptop.

  Original report follows:

  Running the Ubuntu Server installer in UEFI mode fails to install the
  Grub bootloader.  Attached is the syslog output that shows grub-
  installer failed with error code 1.  I have seen this on Ubuntu 12.04,
  12.10, and 13.04.  I believe the problem is that Grub is looking for
  device paths that match something like '/dev/sdX' or '/dev/hdX' but
  the device I am installing to does not follow that convention.

  The reason I believe it is looking for specific devices paths is if,
  during installation after my device has been partitioned, I escape
  into the shell (using alt+f2) and create a hard link from my device
  name and its partitions, to a device name that matches 'sdX', then
  Grub begins to install.  For example, if my device name is /dev/fioa
  and has partitions /dev/fioa1, /dev/fioa2, and /dev/fioa3, I map those
  partitions to something like /dev/sdc, /dev/sdc1, /dev/sdc2, and
  /dev/sdc3 and continue with the installation onto /dev/sdc.  By doing
  this, Grub will begin to install on the device.

  Possibly useful background information:

  - The operating system and all files install just fine without
  problem, it is the last step of installing the bootloader that fails.

  - In order to have the device recognized during installation, I either
  need to run 'insmod' from a terminal or we have to manually modify
  initrd to include our .ko file because it is not a standard disk
  driver.  Using either method does not affect the outcome of Grub2
  failing to install.

  - Even though grub begins to install after creating the hard links
  mentioned above, it does not finish successfully due to the linked
  paths (e.g. /dev/sdc) not being in the device map.  That is a separate
  issue, but may be expected behavior and would likely need a separate
  ticket if it needed to be reported at all.

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