[Bug 1465567] Re: Kernel panic - not syncing: Too many boot init vars at `nomdmonddf'

[Adam Conrad]

** Tags removed: verification-needed
** Tags added: verification-done

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to mdadm in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1465567

Title:
  Kernel panic - not syncing: Too  many boot init vars at `nomdmonddf'

Status in mdadm package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in mdadm source package in Trusty:
  Fix Released
Status in mdadm source package in Vivid:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  [Impact]

  Every time grub-pc is configured when mdadm is installed, "nomdmonddf
  nomdmonisw" is added to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT in
  /etc/default/grub. Eventually this overflows a limit in the kernel
  which causes panics and failed boots.

  Let's only add this the once.

  I had this in my cmdline

  linux   /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-20-generic root=UUID=980689ca-e7d9-4a99-8230-33b8b6e917cd ro  nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw
                         nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf
                         nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw systemd.debug-shell nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw nomdmonddf nomdmonisw

  We should only add the parameters if they aren't already there.

  [Test Case]

  1. Look at GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT in /etc/default/grub.
  2. apt-get install mdadm
  3. apt-get install --reinstall grub-pc

  Repeat 3 a few times.

  Before the SRU, you should see "nomdmonddf nomdmonisw" several times
  and after it just once.

  [Regression Potential]

  The script could have a syntax error. It could not work as intended.
  It might cause conffile prompts.

  Check upgrades and new installs in as many scenarios as we can.

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mdadm/+bug/1465567/+subscriptions