[Bug 1167366] Re: Precise/Raring does not detect proper device (/dev/mapper/isw_<something>_Volume0p1) during preseed install

[Dmitrijs Ledkovs]

Now, since the boot is happing in BIOS mode and the grub-installer is
instructed to install bootloader into "mbr" and it picks the wrong
target, we can instead instruct a bootdev to the grub-installer. One way
to achieve this is to preseed:

d-i grub-installer/only_debian boolean false
d-i grub-installer/with_other_os boolean false
d-i grub-installer/bootdev string /dev/mapper/isw_eaijafbabd_Volume0

(do not preseed any other grub-installer/* nor lilo-installer/*)

This is not generic, however as another machine will have a different id of the raid array.
To circumvent that, one can rely on the implementation detail that the first raid array will be a symlink to /dev/dm-0.
Thus using:

d-i grub-installer/only_debian boolean false
d-i grub-installer/with_other_os boolean false
d-i grub-installer/bootdev string /dev/dm-0

(do not preseed any other grub-installer/* nor lilo-installer/*)

I managed to boot the installer and complete the installation unattended
in BIOS (Legacy) mode.

This is a workaround. The bug as far as I currently understand is inside
grub-installer package which incorrectly suggests wrong device when
preseeding grub-installer options only_debian & with_other_os as true,
while performing dmraid installation.


** Also affects: grub-installer (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Changed in: grub-installer (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Confirmed

** Changed in: grub-installer (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided => High

** Changed in: grub-installer (Ubuntu)
     Assignee: (unassigned) => Dmitrijs Ledkovs (xnox)

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1167366

Title:
  Precise/Raring does not detect proper device
  (/dev/mapper/isw_<something>_Volume0p1) during preseed install

Status in “debian-installer” package in Ubuntu:
  New
Status in “grub-installer” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  1. Description of the problem:
  When performing a preseed install, on Dell machines using the Intel Matrix RAID controller (BIOS/FW Raid - Intel Corporation Patsburg SATA RAID Controller) the installer fails to find the proper device and prompts where to install grub.
  The installer will just show "/dev/mapper". If you do install to just /dev/mapper it will fail. Instead I have to tell the installer to point to /dev/mapper/isw_<something>_Volume0".

  IMPORTANT: debug files are attached to this bug

  2. Ubuntu release, software version, Release Number and Architecture of the selected components.
  Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS AMD64 AND Ubuntu Raring

  3. How reproducible is the problem?
  Always using the reported Intel Matrix RAID controller (BIOS/FW Raid).

  4. Steps to Reproduce:
  1. Download ubuntu 12.04.2 alternate cd or Raring:
  http://releases.ubuntu.com/precise/ubuntu-12.04.2-alternate-amd64.iso

  2. Use a preseed file template for automatic installation

  3. Change the kernel boot options to your preseed file as below:
  flags=all-x DEBCONF_DEBUG=5 auto=true priority=critical
  url=http://webserver/server.seed vga=788 initrd=/install/initrd.gz quiet --

   a. Actual Results:
  When you get to the end of the installation, it will ask
  where to install grub to. The installer will just show
  “/dev/mapper”. *Do not install to just /dev/mapper or else it will
  fail. Instead, tell the installer to point to
  /dev/mapper/isw_<something>_Volume0”. * From here, grub should
  install to the correct location and the system should boot.

   b. Expected Results:
  Install the system on the proper boot partition without being prompted by debian-installer.

  5. Known Workaround:
  Install the system manually making sure you select the right device. ie: /dev/mapper/isw_????????_Volume0p1

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