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

[Iain Lane]

I'd appreciate it if someone other than me could try to verify or
unverify this.

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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 Committed
Status in mdadm source package in Vivid:
  Fix Committed

Bug description:
  [ Description ]

  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

  [ Fix ]

  Only add the parameters if they aren't already there.

  [ QA ]

  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.

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