[Bug 1990181] Re: xubuntu Jammy install failed to bcache / and /home partitions

[Alfred O. Johnson]

I tried the install again with different options and it succeeded.

In the earlier attempt I mounted /home in a 2nd bcache device, whereas in
the successful install, /home was in the same partition with under /.

Another difference was that in the failing install I think I used the ESP
on an SSD as the efi partition (some older Bios's don't support SSDs in
some roles), whereas the in the successful install I used the ESP of the
first SATA HD as the efi partition.

Another difference is that in the failing install I also mounted the /boot
partition on the same SSD efi partition, while in the successful install I
mounted /boot separately on the SSD's ESP.

I am not sure which of these 3 differences actually made it fail/work, but
I suspect it was the 2nd and perhaps the 3rd as well.
I was hoping that the log files sent by the install failure routine would
clarify witch was crucial.

I found a couple posts on how to install ubuntu on bcache devices, and the
options I chose in the successful install were partially suggested &
partially unclear in those posts.  It involves manually installing the
bcache-tools on the live session, manually using makefs and make-bcache to
create the bcache devices in the live session, running the ubuntu installer
with 'something else' partitioning, and then using chroot to install them
on the target bcache device installation.

There is a trivial change to the Ubuntu live installer that would really
simplify this process, which I have had to repeat many times to get it
right.  Specificly, the live .iso OS should have bcache-tools already
installed, and the live installer should automatically install bcache-tools
in the new target ubuntu installation.  bcache-tools is very small and
would have minimal impact on the .iso.  This change would save so much time
for bcache users.

A more ambitious installer change would be allow the 'something else'
partitioning section of the installation to configure and automate the
creation and use of bcache devices.

Thanks,

Alfy Johnson
Gibson Island, MD USA




On Tue, Sep 20, 2022 at 8:50 AM Heinrich Schuchardt <
1990181 at bugs.launchpad.net> wrote:

> Hello Alfred,
>
> sorry to hear that you have trouble to use bcache. There is an advisory
> available at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ServerTeam/Bcache.
>
> I could not see any information relating to a malfunction in this
> ticket. Your questions to the usage of Ubuntu might be better served on
> the #ubuntu IRC channel or in a discussion forum.
>
> Best regards
>
> Heinrich
>
> ** Changed in: grub-installer (Ubuntu)
>        Status: New => Invalid
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1990181
>
> Title:
>   xubuntu Jammy install failed to bcache / and /home partitions
>
> Status in grub-installer package in Ubuntu:
>   Invalid
>
> Bug description:
>   Please email me with suggestions as to what can be done to complete
>   this installation successfully to bcache devices.
>
>   ProblemType: Bug
>   DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
>   Package: ubiquity 22.04.17
>   ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.15.0-25.25-generic 5.15.30
>   Uname: Linux 5.15.0-25-generic x86_64
>   NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
>   ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82
>   Architecture: amd64
>   CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
>   CasperVersion: 1.470
>   Date: Mon Sep 19 13:25:02 2022
>   InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz
> file=/cdrom/preseed/xubuntu.seed maybe-ubiquity quiet splash ---
>   LiveMediaBuild: Xubuntu 22.04 LTS "Jammy Jellyfish" - Release amd64
> (20220419)
>   RebootRequiredPkgs: Error: path contained symlinks.
>   SourcePackage: grub-installer
>   UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub-installer/+bug/1990181/+subscriptions
>
>

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1990181

Title:
  xubuntu Jammy install backed by bcache failed on grub-installer stage

Status in grub-installer package in Ubuntu:
  Incomplete

Bug description:
  The system was installed with / and /home partitions backed by bcache.

  The install failed at the grub install stage with the following stack
  trace:

  Sep 19 17:24:45 xubuntu plugininstall.py: Exception during installation:
  Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 1856, in <module>
    install.run()
  File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 61, in wrapper
    func(self)
  File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 237, in run
    self.configure_bootloader()
  File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 971, in configure_bootloader
    raise install_misc.InstallStepError(
  ubiquity.install_misc.InstallStepError: GrubInstaller failed with code 1

  
  [Original report]
  Please email me with suggestions as to what can be done to complete this installation successfully to bcache devices.

  ProblemType: BugDistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
  Package: ubiquity 22.04.17
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.15.0-25.25-generic 5.15.30
  Uname: Linux 5.15.0-25-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
  ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
  CasperVersion: 1.470
  Date: Mon Sep 19 13:25:02 2022
  InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/xubuntu.seed maybe-ubiquity quiet splash ---LiveMediaBuild: Xubuntu 22.04 LTS "Jammy Jellyfish" - Release amd64 (20220419)
  RebootRequiredPkgs: Error: path contained symlinks.SourcePackage: grub-installer
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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