[Bug 1861655] Re: [Ubu 20.04][kernel-5.4.0-12-generic][WSP-DD2.3] Unable to install Ubu 20.4 on NVMe disk

[Dimitri John Ledkov]

grub-installer has multiple known issues when the target boot-device
/rootfs-device class is not the the first one it finds/sorts/uses by
default. This is experienced most commonly with scsi/nvme, but also
visible with scsi/dasd drives; scsi/mmc drives, etc.

I have not confirmed that the below workarounds work on ppc64el, but in
principle they should, as they do work on other platforms:

Workaround 1) install the system with just nvme drive present, and thus
remove/unplug ansy sda/sdb drives

Workaround 2) ensure that sda/sdb drives are formatted clean, and do not
have any PReP boot partitions (the logs indicate that PReP partitions on
sda/sdb confuse grub-installer)

Workaround 3) use the the subiquity installer, as it does not use grub-
installer and is not affected by this multiple-classes of drives bug.

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to grub-installer in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1861655

Title:
  [Ubu 20.04][kernel-5.4.0-12-generic][WSP-DD2.3] Unable to install Ubu
  20.4 on NVMe disk

Status in The Ubuntu-power-systems project:
  Triaged
Status in grub-installer package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  [Ubu 20.04][kernel-5.4.0-12-generic][WSP-DD2.3] Unable to install Ubu 20.4 on NVMe disk
   
  Contact Information = kalshett at in.ibm.com, naveet89 at in.ibm.com, nasastry at in.ibm.com 
   
  ---uname output---
  [Ubu 20.04][kernel-5.4.0-12-generic]
   
  Machine Type = Witherspoon DD2.3 
   
  Test Environment:
  * Hardware: Witherspoon-DD2.3
  * Ubuntu 20.04 
  * kernel: 5.4.0-12-generic #15-Ubuntu

  Steps:
  1. Kick start  Ubu 20.4 on Witherspoon-DD2.3 baremetal 
  2. Select NVMe disk for installation, at the end of the install seen Grub boot loader issue

    ??????????????????????? Select and install software ???????????????????????
    ?                                                                         ?

  
               ?? [!!] Install the GRUB boot loader on a hard disk ??
    ????????????                                                    ? ?????????
    ?          ?      Unable to install GRUB in /dev/nvme0n1p1      ?         ?
    ?          ? Executing 'grub-install /dev/nvme0n1p1' failed.    ?         ?
    ?          ?                                                    ?         ?
    ? Running "? This is a fatal error.                             ?         ?
    ?          ?                                                    ?         ?
    ????????????     <Go Back>                       <Continue>     ? ?????????
               ?                                                    ?
               ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????


       ????????? [!!] Install the GRUB boot loader on a hard disk ??????????
       ?                                                                   ?
       ?                     Installation step failed                      ?
       ? An installation step failed. You can try to run the failing item  ?
       ? again from the menu, or skip it and choose something else. The    ?
       ? failing step is: Install the GRUB boot loader on a hard disk      ?
       ?                                                                   ?
       ?                            <Continue>                             ?
       ?                                                                   ?
       ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  
  <Tab> moves; <Space> selects; <Enter> activates buttons

  
  Complete install screenshot attached...

  grub-install doesn't seem to install the bootloader on the nvme device. 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Logs below -

  
  Jan 31 16:01:51 in-target: Installing for powerpc-ieee1275 platform.^M
  Jan 31 16:01:52 in-target: grub-install: error: unknown filesystem.^M
  Jan 31 16:01:52 in-target: Failed: grub-install --target=powerpc-ieee1275 /dev/sda1 ^M
  Jan 31 16:01:52 in-target: WARNING: Bootloader is not properly installed, system may not be bootable^M
  ..
  ..

  Jan 31 16:01:57 40grub2: debug: parsing: fi
  Jan 31 16:01:57 40grub2: debug: parsing: ### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
  Jan 31 16:01:57 50mounted-tests: debug: /usr/lib/linux-boot-probes/mounted/40grub2 succeeded
  Jan 31 16:01:57 linux-boot-prober: debug: linux detected by /usr/lib/linux-boot-probes/50mounted-tests
  Jan 31 16:01:57 grub-installer: info: Installing grub on '/dev/nvme0n1p1'
  Jan 31 16:01:57 grub-installer: info: grub-install does not support --no-floppy
  Jan 31 16:01:57 grub-installer: info: Running chroot /target grub-install  --force "/dev/nvme0n1p1"
  Jan 31 16:01:57 grub-installer: Installing for powerpc-ieee1275 platform.
  Jan 31 16:01:58 grub-installer: grub-install: error: unknown filesystem.
  Jan 31 16:01:58 grub-installer: error: Running 'grub-install  --force "/dev/nvme0n1p1"' failed.

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-power-systems/+bug/1861655/+subscriptions