new install stuck in initramfs prompt after every boot

[Budric]

Hi,

I'm installing Ubuntu Server 11.10. It's a fresh install where I repartition/format the whole disk. After reboot the system gets stuck on (initramfs) prompt. I can press CTRL + D, after which the system continues to boot and seems to work. Network is up, SSH daemon is running and I can write to disk.

The dmesg I get just before the prompt is:

[ 36.055346] sd 2:1:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
[ 36.055512] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] 286523392 512-byte logical blocks: (146 GB/136$
[ 36.056327] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[ 36.056398] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 03 00 00 08
[ 36.056629] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Got wrong page
[ 36.056694] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 36.058067] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Got wrong page
[ 36.058135] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 36.068323] sda: sda1 sda2 < sda5 >
[ 36.069867] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Got wrong page
[ 36.069934] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 36.070003] sd 2:1:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk
[ 51.465262] EXT4-fs (sda1): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. Opts: null

I don't know if this error is related to my problem.

/dev/sda is a RAID-1 volume. The hardware is Dell PowerEdge R610 which I believe should work with Ubuntu (link)

Anyone know what's going on and how I can fix this?
Thanks very much.

[redknite]

holy crap. This is the same problem I'm having. I have the same system too! when you were doing the install what did you choose for partitioning? I chose guided -entire disk. I didn't do the LVM. Did you?

[redknite]

also, typing exit seems to load ubuntu also.

[enc7yp7]

I too am seeing this issued on a dell 2950 - RAID 1 to a logical volume, Seagate drives, Ubuntu server 11.10 x64 bit. I also chose guided -entire disk without the LVM.

[Rubi1200]

Hi all,
post the results of the boot info script so we can get a better overview of what might be happening.

See the link at the bottom of my post with instructions.

[Haninjapan]

I have the same problem with my Ubuntu 11.10 install: after grub I am stuck at a purple splash screen . Behind it is the initramfs prompt waiting for something.
Typing "exit" works to successfully continue booting ubuntu. Sometimes I can boot without problem.

I do use two raid1 and 5 arrays for my home and media files. The rootfs is on a normal partition

I have used the boot_info_script.sh to generate the attached results file.

I hope it helps.

Greetings,

Han

[megahertz]

Did you install with ubuntu-11.10-alternate?
Is dmraid loaded?
I had the same problem. Try to remove Grub and install again. Than run sudo update-grub.

[Haninjapan]

I should have explained this before.
I arrived into this situation after upgrading from the normal Ubuntu 11.04 desktop version.
It is for me a not specific "ubuntu server" related problem

I have read indeed that dmraid could give this kind of problems. I have removed the package I assume that I don't load this module anymore. But is should do a quick lsmod and scan dmesg to make sure.
But anyhow removing the package did not help.

Furthermore is the naming of my raid's a bit of a mess I use "/dev/md/name" but maybe I should fix it to /dev/md126 type of convention to make sure that it works more robust.

I did not try to remove and reinstall grub. How did you do this? I am a bit hesitant to remove my bootloader; it could lock me out....
I will have a look at this as well...

Having to type "exit" on the purple screen is not making my wife very positive about Ubuntu. I am quite motivated to find a solution....

[tomakCZ]

the same problem on Dell R415, fresh install server 11.10, result.txt included

[enc7yp7]

No intention to jump this thread to a new topic, but perhaps related...After having some issues with the networking service not starting, I noticed I am booting into runlevel 2. I am new to the debian-based world and not sure if this is common for Ubuntu server builds. Should the default be runlevel 3 and could this effect the grub process causing it to hang in single-user mode or initramfs?

Please let me know if my out-loud thinkings don't fit the mode for this forum and I will reel it in, lock it up, dial it down.