[Bug 1846560] [NEW] 18.04.3LTS server install fails to detect SATA or NVME drives

[Randy Rue]

Public bug reported:

Trying to install the ubuntu-18.04.3-live-server-amd64.iso on a Dell
Precision 3630 workstation and can't make the installer see either disk,
not the nvme/PICe SSD or the SATA.

I'm booting using UEFI as these Dells can boot using legacy/BIOS boot
for external media for purposes of installation but are not capable of
booting an OS from any internal device. I've confirmed this by booting
in BIOS mode, can install and tell grub-install to boot from
/dev/nvme0n1, but on reboot no OS is found.

Tried loading nvme options as per
https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln299303/loading-ubuntu-
on-systems-using-pcie-m2-drives?lang=en with no change.

With or without the nvme_load=YES option, if I alt-F2 to the console at
the point where the installer says "Unfortunately probing for devices to
install to failed..." I can run fdisk -l and see both drives. I can also
mount, format and write/read data on both disks. This suggests the
kernel/OS are seeing the disks but the installer is failing to detect
them.

The error message also suggests logging a bug here and including the
contents of /var/log/installer (attached).

Any guidance is appreciated.

Randy Rue
Seattle WA

** Affects: subiquity
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

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


** Tags: bionic

** Attachment added: "contents of /var/log/installer"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1846560/+attachment/5294080/+files/installer.tar.gz

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1846560

Title:
  18.04.3LTS server install fails to detect SATA or NVME drives

Status in subiquity:
  New
Status in grub-installer package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Trying to install the ubuntu-18.04.3-live-server-amd64.iso on a Dell
  Precision 3630 workstation and can't make the installer see either
  disk, not the nvme/PICe SSD or the SATA.

  I'm booting using UEFI as these Dells can boot using legacy/BIOS boot
  for external media for purposes of installation but are not capable of
  booting an OS from any internal device. I've confirmed this by booting
  in BIOS mode, can install and tell grub-install to boot from
  /dev/nvme0n1, but on reboot no OS is found.

  Tried loading nvme options as per
  https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln299303/loading-
  ubuntu-on-systems-using-pcie-m2-drives?lang=en with no change.

  With or without the nvme_load=YES option, if I alt-F2 to the console
  at the point where the installer says "Unfortunately probing for
  devices to install to failed..." I can run fdisk -l and see both
  drives. I can also mount, format and write/read data on both disks.
  This suggests the kernel/OS are seeing the disks but the installer is
  failing to detect them.

  The error message also suggests logging a bug here and including the
  contents of /var/log/installer (attached).

  Any guidance is appreciated.

  Randy Rue
  Seattle WA

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