[Bug 1272604] [NEW] Ubuntu install fails to correctly configure GRUB with RAID + LUKS in UEFI mode

[Anatoli Lushev]

Public bug reported:

We are trying to install Ubuntu 12.04.3 x64 Alternate (ubuntu-12.04.3
-alternate-amd64.iso) on one IBM machine (IBM System x3100 M4) with 2 x
SATA 1TB WD RE4 booting from an USB drive in UEFI mode. At all steps we
choose the most basic/default options.

At the Partition disks step we create 3 partitions on each disk (GPT
partition table): the 1st one is EFI Boot Partition (200Mb), a 2nd
partition of 100Mb, and a 3rd partition of 10Gb. Then we create 2 RAID1
arrays on the 2nd and 3rd partitions and then we create an encrypted
partition (with the default options) on top of the 2nd array. We format
the 1st RAID array in ext2 and assign it /boot mounting point and the
2nd one is formatted in ext4 for / mounting point. The layout looks this
way:

Encrypted volume (md1_crypt) - 10.0 GB Linux device-mapper (crypt)
>     #1     10.0 GB     F  ext4          /
RAID1 device #0 - 99.5 MB Linux Software RAID Array
>     #1     99.5 MB     F  ext2          /boot
RAID1 device #1 - 10.0 GB Software RAID device
>     #1     10.0 GB     K  crypto        (md1_crypt)
>            512.0 B        unusable
SCSI2 (0,0,0) (sda) - 1.0 TB ATA WDC WD1003FBYZ-0
>             1.0 MB        FREE SPACE
>     #1    199.2 MB  B  K  EFIboot
>     #2     99.6 MB     K  raid
>     #3     10.0 GB     K  raid
>           989.9 GB        FREE SPACE
SCSI4 (0,0,0) (sdb) - 1.0 TB ATA WDC WD1003FBYZ-0
>             1.0 MB        FREE SPACE
>     #1    199.2 MB  B  K  EFIboot
>     #2     99.6 MB     K  raid
>     #3     10.0 GB     K  raid
>           989.9 GB        FREE SPACE

Then we proceed with the rest of the install using the most basic
options. After the reboot an error flashes for an instant: "error:
efidisk read error" and we are brought to the grub> prompt.

We have tried boot-repair and a lot of other solutions recommended for
similar issues on the net, nothing solves the problem.

Same install on a generic PC (without UEFI) or in VMWare boots correctly
without any special interventions. Same install on the IBM machine
without RAID/encryption boots correctly as well. Same install without
encryption but with RAID produces the grub> prompt, but is fixable with
boot-repair.

We know that the same or very similar problem happens on a number of IBM
System x machines, looks like the lines x3100 and x3200 M3/M4 are all
affected. It looks like the problem is related in some way to UEFI mode
and GRUB installer, but we aren't sure.

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


** Tags: grub installer luks raid uefi

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1272604

Title:
  Ubuntu install fails to correctly configure GRUB with RAID + LUKS in
  UEFI mode

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

Bug description:
  We are trying to install Ubuntu 12.04.3 x64 Alternate (ubuntu-12.04.3
  -alternate-amd64.iso) on one IBM machine (IBM System x3100 M4) with 2
  x SATA 1TB WD RE4 booting from an USB drive in UEFI mode. At all steps
  we choose the most basic/default options.

  At the Partition disks step we create 3 partitions on each disk (GPT
  partition table): the 1st one is EFI Boot Partition (200Mb), a 2nd
  partition of 100Mb, and a 3rd partition of 10Gb. Then we create 2
  RAID1 arrays on the 2nd and 3rd partitions and then we create an
  encrypted partition (with the default options) on top of the 2nd
  array. We format the 1st RAID array in ext2 and assign it /boot
  mounting point and the 2nd one is formatted in ext4 for / mounting
  point. The layout looks this way:

  Encrypted volume (md1_crypt) - 10.0 GB Linux device-mapper (crypt)
  >     #1     10.0 GB     F  ext4          /
  RAID1 device #0 - 99.5 MB Linux Software RAID Array
  >     #1     99.5 MB     F  ext2          /boot
  RAID1 device #1 - 10.0 GB Software RAID device
  >     #1     10.0 GB     K  crypto        (md1_crypt)
  >            512.0 B        unusable
  SCSI2 (0,0,0) (sda) - 1.0 TB ATA WDC WD1003FBYZ-0
  >             1.0 MB        FREE SPACE
  >     #1    199.2 MB  B  K  EFIboot
  >     #2     99.6 MB     K  raid
  >     #3     10.0 GB     K  raid
  >           989.9 GB        FREE SPACE
  SCSI4 (0,0,0) (sdb) - 1.0 TB ATA WDC WD1003FBYZ-0
  >             1.0 MB        FREE SPACE
  >     #1    199.2 MB  B  K  EFIboot
  >     #2     99.6 MB     K  raid
  >     #3     10.0 GB     K  raid
  >           989.9 GB        FREE SPACE

  Then we proceed with the rest of the install using the most basic
  options. After the reboot an error flashes for an instant: "error:
  efidisk read error" and we are brought to the grub> prompt.

  We have tried boot-repair and a lot of other solutions recommended for
  similar issues on the net, nothing solves the problem.

  Same install on a generic PC (without UEFI) or in VMWare boots
  correctly without any special interventions. Same install on the IBM
  machine without RAID/encryption boots correctly as well. Same install
  without encryption but with RAID produces the grub> prompt, but is
  fixable with boot-repair.

  We know that the same or very similar problem happens on a number of
  IBM System x machines, looks like the lines x3100 and x3200 M3/M4 are
  all affected. It looks like the problem is related in some way to UEFI
  mode and GRUB installer, but we aren't sure.

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