[Bug 1373161] Re: server 14.04.1 fails to install grub to /dev/sda /dev/sdb

[Todd Williams]

** Package changed: ubuntu => grub-installer (Ubuntu)

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Title:
  server 14.04.1 fails to install grub to /dev/sda /dev/sdb

Status in “grub-installer” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  First Bug post, looked through the list and didn't see anything
  similar.  Sorry if its a duplicate.

  This issue (bug?) Grub fails to install on a Software RAID mirror, has
  occurred on all(6 installations) of our Supermicro X9DRH server
  motherboards when installing Ubuntu 14.04 AND using 2 drives in a
  Software mirror.

  We've come up with a solution, but I think the installer IS trying to
  do the correct process, its just getting lost.

  We create identical partitions on each disk(formatted Software RAID),
  and in the same order so everything lines up.

  When the first Software RAID partition is created, a 1MB partition in
  the first section of the disk is created(as is should be for the
  GRUBbios).

  Then we use the RAID Tools to Mirror the partitions.

  Then we start the install process.

  When it gets to the Install Grub process it attempts to install to
  /dev/sda and /dev/sdb, which should be correct for the boot loader to
  be on both Mirrors.  It then fails and can't be fixed by any process
  short of aborting grub install, completing the install without GRUB.
  Then booting from another source and attempting repairs to GRUB.

  I can solve the problem by re-formatting the disks creating a /boot
  partition on each disk of 10MB and formatting them GRUBbios(Im going
  from memory).

  Then GRUB installs fine.

  Our partitioning schema is below.

  0. /boot (10MB) -choose grubbios formatting(Ubuntu only)
  1: / (50GB)
  2: /tmp (50GB)
  3: /var (50GB)
  4 extended
  5: swap (256GB)
  6: /Local (remainder)
  7 /Scratch if you need scratch space for server.

  Our Ubuntu boxes are used for CPU and GPU computations.

  For fun I made a single SW RAID partition on each disk, mirrored the
  partitions and installed Ubuntu, the same result occurred.

  I attached a photo of our partitioning schema.

  Thanks!

  Todd
  Todd Williams
  Network and Systems Manager
  Division of Social Sciences - Cognitive Science, Communication, Linguistics & Psychology
  University of California San Diego
  9500 Gilman Dr. MS 0109
  858-534-8231
  t1williams at ucsd.edu
  toddwilliams at mac.com

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