Ubuntu
debian-installer package

ubuntu server disk partition problem

Asked by Steve Ball

I am installing ubuntu server 10.10 on a Fujitsu Primergy TX100 S2. When installation gets to partition disks, it surveys the two drives and says 'This is an overview of your currently configured partitions and mount points'. However, there is no information there. There are three menu options given: 'Configure iSCSI volumes'; 'Undo changes to partitions'; 'Finish partitioning and write changes to disk'. If I choose the third, I get the error message 'No root file system defined'. If I go into the first, it asks for an IP address for access to iSCSI volumes (do I have any of these??), but the default address is not recognised.

Help would be appreciated!!

Thanks

Steve

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Did you MD5 test the ISO you downloaded?
Did you burn the CD slowly and check the CD for defects (If you used a CD)?
Have you tested your RAM?

Revision history for this message
Steve Ball (steve-crimsonhillsupport) said : 		#2

I did not test the ISO - what is the MD5 test
I just burned the CD using Roxio's standard process
I did not check the CD
I have not tested my RAM

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

So currently you have no idea if ANY of the system is good. You just pulled a HUGELY sensitive piece of information over the internet. TCP does a pretty good job at identifying bad data but it can and DOES get through and added to the file. CD burners don't care about the ISO consistency as the data file is fed but by bit into the burning buffer so it is YOUR job to check it. You also haven't tested the CD as optical drives use mechanical parts and can make errors on burning, thats why some have a 'test cd after burn' type of option, this has also been skipped.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM

Will show you how to MD5 test, you can check the CD by pressing SPACE when the CD starts to boot and select 'test CD for defects'

If all is well, we can explor other avenues but since you have neglected to test anything it will be completely futile if the CD is at fault.

Incidentally, you do realize the server install has NO DESKTOP and NO MOUSE interaction? If you need to use GUI apps to configure the system you should abort and download the desktop OS, as this is what you want....a desktop.

Revision history for this message
Steve Ball (steve-crimsonhillsupport) said : 		#4

Thanks for that. You have to understand that I am not an IT professional, so I just follow instructions!

I have completed the MD5 test and checked the CD and all is OK. I have also performed the memory check from the CD.

Where next?

In relation to no GUI apps, this will sound naive but I assumed that I would be able to use the server operating system to set up the things I want - I don't have a problem with a non-GUI interface - I was around when we just had DOS!

Thanks for your help.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Thats fine but testing stuff is necessary o you know what you are working with is good. it's like building a bridge without testing tensile strengths of the chosen materials etc.

Yes you can setup the server OS to do the things you want. I just see a lot of questions on here asking why the server OS has no desktop and such. Just making your life easier. The server install involves editting confiuration text files and such, there is no desktop to not only reduce used resources (needed to run the X server) as well as make it boot faster and run more securely (fewer applications running).

Otherwise you can make the server OS do anything you could need a server for,

Ok so we know the install media is good and that the RAM where the installer will run is good.

Can you boot to a desktop CD and run:

lspci > ~/Desktop/output.txt; echo >> ~/Desktop/output.txt; dmesg >> ~/Desktop/output.txt

Open the file on the desktop (or copy it to a removable media) and give the content of the file.

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Steve Ball (steve-crimsonhillsupport) said : 		#6

Sure I understand why you suggested testing the install media.

I need to check I understand your next instruction - you are suggesting booting up the server using a ubuntu desktop installation cd?

Thanks

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#7

Yes, the server disk as far as I understand will not give you a basic prompt to do work in, if you can find how it will save you a download.

basically we need to know what controllers for drives the board uses so we can see about modules and settings so you can get partitioned.

Also, do the drives show in BIOS?

Revision history for this message
Steve Ball (steve-crimsonhillsupport) said : 		#8

Yes the drives show in BIOS.

There is access to LSI Software RAID Configuration Utility, which allows reconfiguration etc. This shows the drives:

Port #0 DISK 475883MB ST3500418AS CC47
and the same for Port #1

I can't find any way of getting a prompt, so I will have to download the desktop version. Will I not run up against the same installation problem?

Revision history for this message
Steve Ball (steve-crimsonhillsupport) said : 		#9

Hi, I have run the command you suggested. The file is very large and this site crashes if I try to paste it all in. Here is a sample. Let me know if it can be filtered down, or what specific information you need from it. Thanks.

2011-01-31 11:35:49,332 svim.Presentation serverview.svim.presentation.SvimJSFViewHandler [main]: TRACE - SvimJSFViewHandler created
2011-01-31 11:35:52,405 svim.Business serverview.svim.business.xml.XmlObject [http-8080-1]: TRACE - loading xml file: Z:\WebUI\Defaults\generic\SupportedOs.xml
2011-01-31 11:35:52,967 svim.Business serverview.svim.business.xml.XmlObject [http-8080-1]: TRACE - loading xml file: Z:\WebUI\Defaults\generic\OsDef.xml
2011-01-31 11:35:53,263 svim.Business serverview.svim.business.xml.XmlObject [http-8080-1]: TRACE - loading xml file: Z:\WebUI\Defaults\generic\AppWizard.xml
2011-01-31 11:35:53,653 svim.SystemApi serverview.svim.system.api.SystemUtility [http-8080-1]: INFO - file Z:\WebUI\Defaults\generic\AppWizard.xml still has BOM
2011-01-31 11:35:53,653 svim.Business serverview.svim.business.xml.XmlObject [http-8080-1]: TRACE - loading xml file: Z:\WebUI\Defaults\generic\RaidDef.xml
2011-01-31 11:35:53,981 svim.Business serverview.svim.business.xml.XmlObject [http-8080-1]: TRACE - loading xml file: Z:\WebUI\Defaults\generic\ModelTypes.xml
2011-01-31 11:35:56,960 svim.Business serverview.svim.business.Application [http-8080-1]: DEBUG - load(): init local data
2011-01-31 11:35:56,960 svim.Business serverview.svim.business.xml.XmlObject [http-8080-1]: TRACE - loading xml file: V:\sestcfg\SystemData.xml
2011-01-31 11:35:57,132 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.WebApplication [http-8080-1]: TRACE - GET /svim/LogonServlet
2011-01-31 11:35:57,132 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.WebApplication [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Parameters:
2011-01-31 11:35:57,132 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.LogonServlet [http-8080-1]: DEBUG - we are running on Tomcat
2011-01-31 11:35:57,148 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/ServerStartBase.html
2011-01-31 11:35:57,163 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/SeStTopFrame.html
2011-01-31 11:35:57,163 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-2]: TRACE - URI /svim/SeStStartPage.html
2011-01-31 11:35:57,179 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-2]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/rollover.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,179 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/style/SVLookFeel.css
2011-01-31 11:35:57,179 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-2]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\rollover.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,179 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \style\SVLookFeel.css
2011-01-31 11:35:57,210 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-2]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/topframe.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,210 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-2]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\topframe.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,226 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-2]: TRACE - URI /svim/help/imfiles.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,226 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-2]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \help\imfiles.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,241 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-2]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/SEST.XML.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,241 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-2]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\SEST.XML.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,241 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/HTTP.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,257 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\HTTP.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,257 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-2]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/WzCommon.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,335 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/startpage.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,382 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-2]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\WzCommon.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,382 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\startpage.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,382 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/translate.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,382 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\translate.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,382 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/topframe_JA.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,382 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\topframe_JA.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,382 svim.SystemApi serverview.svim.system.api.SystemUtility [http-8080-1]: INFO - file x:\Program Files\apache-tomcat-6.0.20\webapps\svim\js\topframe_JA.js still has BOM
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/topframe_EN.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\topframe_EN.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/topframe_DE.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\topframe_DE.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/FSC.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\FSC.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/trim.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\trim.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/maintenance.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Proxy [http-8080-1]: TRACE - Proxy servlet called for file: \js\maintenance.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation serverview.commons.presentation.UrlPatternFilter [http-8080-1]: TRACE - URI /svim/js/Framework_DE.js
2011-01-31 11:35:57,397 svim.Presentation.B8E667C375A4F6E7F61F71E50BBE5FDF serverview.svim.presentation.servlets.Pr

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#10

You can paste the contents of the file at http://pastebin.ubuntu.com/. When you click "Paste!" you'll get a URL, which can be used to view the text; paste that URL here, so we can access the text you pasted.

Revision history for this message
Steve Ball (steve-crimsonhillsupport) said : 		#11

Thanks!

http://pastebin.ubuntu.com/561057/

Revision history for this message
Steve Ball (steve-crimsonhillsupport) said : 		#12

Just a further thought.

When I started up the server I used the Fujitsu ServerView Suite software, which appeared to start some configuration. It is set up to only work with Red Hat Linux or SUSE so I couldn't complete the process using it. I wondered if that had interfered with my subsequent attempted installation of Ubuntu? I see on the Ubuntu Desktop Disk Utility that I could erase the drives. Might it work if I did this and then tried installing Ubuntu Server again? (I am running Ubuntu Desktop from the CD Rom)

Revision history for this message
Steve Ball (steve-crimsonhillsupport) said : 		#13

I have followed my suggestion above, reformatted the drives, and rerun the ubuntu server installation process. It appears to have worked, as it has taken me into the guided partitioning process, and is now installing the base system.

Thanks for your efforts to help me - your suggestion use of ubuntu desktop as a way in was crucial to sorting this out. I daresay I might need some more advice as I embark on this adventure into servers!