[Bug 1844328] Re: Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda1 on ppc64le for Ubuntu 19.10

[Manoj Iyer]

I was able to install 19.10 on ppc64el Power8 hardware (8335-GTA) that
we have in our lab, using the netboot installer. netboot also uses D-I
to install Ubuntu, but it fetches packages over the internet from the
Ubuntu archives rather than from a CD. I am not sure this is going to
fix your issue, but at least we can rule out any issues with the ISO if
netboot also fails for you.

The kernel and initrd for netboot is located here:
http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/dists/eoan/main/installer-
ppc64el/current/images/netboot/ubuntu-installer/ppc64el/

Boot you power8 system and connect to it's console using ipmi SOL or
other means. In the firmware menu, select "exit to shell", and at the
shell prompt do the following:

# wget http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/dists/eoan/main/installer-
ppc64el/current/images/netboot/ubuntu-installer/ppc64el/initrd.gz

# wget http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/dists/eoan/main/installer-
ppc64el/current/images/netboot/ubuntu-installer/ppc64el/vmlinux

# kexec -l vmlinux --initrd=initrd.gz

# kexec -e

Please note if you are behind a firewall you will need to export your
proxy for wget in your firmware menu settings. D-I will prompt you for
proxy settings when it walks you though the install process.

Here is what it looks like for me after install:

Ubuntu Eoan Ermine (development branch) gulpin hvc0
gulpin login: 

ubuntu at gulpin:~$ uname -a 
Linux gulpin 5.3.0-10-generic #11-Ubuntu SMP Mon Sep 9 15:08:08 UTC 2019 ppc64le ppc64le ppc64le GNU/Linux
ubuntu at gulpin:~$

ubuntu at gulpin:~$ sudo fdisk -l /dev/sda
Disk /dev/sda: 931.53 GiB, 1000204886016 bytes, 1953525168 sectors
Disk model: ST1000NX0313    
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 591BA0E6-FFDF-48B6-A8EC-32A78AE7F650

Device     Start        End    Sectors   Size Type
/dev/sda1   2048      16383      14336     7M PowerPC PReP boot
/dev/sda2  16384 1953523711 1953507328 931.5G Linux filesystem
ubuntu at gulpin:~$

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to base-installer in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1844328

Title:
  Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda1   on ppc64le for Ubuntu 19.10

Status in The Ubuntu-power-systems project:
  New
Status in base-installer package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  == Comment: #0 - Raghu N. Arava <raghuara at in.ibm.com> - 2019-09-11 06:31:02 ==
  Please find the attachment for the installation screen shots and the failing step

  == Comment: #3 - Raghu N. Arava <raghuara at in.ibm.com> - 2019-09-13 05:50:20 ==
  Logs are captured from Installation menu using "Save Debug Logs"

  == Comment: #6 - Raghu N. Arava <raghuara at in.ibm.com> - 2019-09-17
  03:56:11 ==

  ---Problem Description---
  ---------------------------------------------
  Ubuntu Installation failed due to failure in grub installation ,the system doesn't boot .currently the system is in the same state of installation failure.

  ---uname output---
  ---------------------------------------------
  ~ # uname -a
  Linux p8ct2p06 5.3.0-10-generic #11-Ubuntu SMP Mon Sep 9 15:08:08 UTC 2019 ppc64le GNU/Linux
  ~ #

  ---Machine Type---
  ---------------------------------------------
  Power 8 (ppc64le)

  ---boot type---
  ---------------------------------------------
  Legacy 

  ---bootloader---
  ---------------------------------------------
  grub

  ---Kernel cmdline used to launch install---
  ---------------------------------------------
  N/A

  ---Bootloader protocol---
  ---------------------------------------------

  ---Install repository type---
  ---------------------------------------------
  Image mounted via VSCSI optical drive

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-power-systems/+bug/1844328/+subscriptions