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Thread: LVM root not booting

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    U.S.A.
    Beans
    514
    Distro
    Ubuntu Gnome 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    LVM root not booting

    I'm in quite a predicament after I restarted my computer this morning. I got one of those nice "dropped into initramfs" consoles. It couldn't find the Root device.

    I installed this system about a year ago and has been flawless until now. It started life as a linux mint 16 system and over time, with ppas and custom repository layouts, it's now a "Ubuntu 17" system. I had updated to a new version of Linux Mint and it kinda thought it was an Ubuntu machine. Don't ask. The update worked and had been working for a couple of months now. Even with restarts.

    It's been up for an entire month and had a few updates since then. So I expected to run into problems when I restarted. I also tend to mess with things a lot, so trying to figure out what I broke is going to be difficult.

    The disk layout is two 500GB hard drives with LVM as such:
    /dev/sda1 Gnusounds-LVM lvm2 (boot device)
    /dev/sdb1 Gnusounds-LVM lvm2

    The logical volumes are setup like this:
    /dev/Gnusounds-LVM/Boot /boot
    /dev/Gnusounds-LVM/Root /root
    /dev/Gnusounds-LVM/Home /home
    /dev/Gnusounds-LVM/Swap

    I tried booting into a live Ubuntu cd and setting up a chroot environment. I ran update-grub and update-initramfs which seemed to work, but to no avail. It still drops me into initramfs when trying to boot.

    I know that at one point I wanted to play with xen, but I uninstalled it and removed /etc/default/grub.d/xen.cfg

    A lot of my life is on this system and I really would like to get it running again. I'm a retard, I should have backed it all up before I restarted.

    Another problem I ran into was that it appeared that I had encrypted the Home volume. When I was in the chroot environment the /home folder had a "Access-Your-Private-Data.desktop" file in it. I don't really remember doing this and it has never asked me for a passphrase. I tried all the passwords I could think of, which aren't very many and it wouldn't let me in...great.

    I'm hoping that if I can get it to boot again, I can get to my stuff, back it up, and just reinstall Ubuntu with a better lvm setup.

    Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

    Here is some info:
    ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo pvs
    PV VG Fmt Attr PSize PFree
    /dev/sda1 Gnusounds-LVM lvm2 a-- 465.76g 0
    /dev/sdb1 Gnusounds-LVM lvm2 a-- 465.75g 229.41g
    ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo lvscan
    ACTIVE '/dev/Gnusounds-LVM/Boot' [100.00 MiB] inherit
    ACTIVE '/dev/Gnusounds-LVM/Root' [40.00 GiB] inherit
    ACTIVE '/dev/Gnusounds-LVM/Home' [500.00 GiB] inherit
    ACTIVE '/dev/Gnusounds-LVM/swap' [2.00 GiB] inherit

    I just changed the fstab file to use UUIDs a moment ago....didn't work.

    # /etc/fstab: static file system information.
    #
    # Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
    # device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
    # that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
    #
    # <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
    UUID=9823f2c7-fc61-4038-840a-33e9ee872e83 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
    UUID=2f5b1b3e-33dd-49ed-b725-431cd08a5758 /boot ext2 defaults 0 2
    UUID=c7370e54-0adc-4737-97d2-a0480a755860 /home ext4 defaults 0 2
    /dev/mapper/Gnusounds--LVM-swap none swap sw 0 0
    /dev/mapper/cryptswap1 none swap sw 0 0
    Here's my old one:
    # /etc/fstab: static file system information.
    #
    # Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
    # device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
    # that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
    #
    # <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
    /dev/mapper/Gnusounds--LVM-Root / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
    /dev/mapper/Gnusounds--LVM-Boot /boot ext2 defaults 0 2
    /dev/mapper/Gnusounds--LVM-Home /home ext4 defaults 0 2
    /dev/mapper/Gnusounds--LVM-swap none swap sw 0 0
    /dev/mapper/cryptswap1 none swap sw 0 0
    and here's my grub.cfg file:

    Code:
    #
    # DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
    #
    # It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
    # from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
    #
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
    if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
      set have_grubenv=true
      load_env
    fi
    if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
       set default="${next_entry}"
       set next_entry=
       save_env next_entry
       set boot_once=true
    else
       set default="0"
    fi
    
    if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
      menuentry_id_option="--id"
    else
      menuentry_id_option=""
    fi
    
    export menuentry_id_option
    
    if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
      set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
      save_env saved_entry
      set prev_saved_entry=
      save_env prev_saved_entry
      set boot_once=true
    fi
    
    function savedefault {
      if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
        saved_entry="${chosen}"
        save_env saved_entry
      fi
    }
    function recordfail {
      set recordfail=1
      if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
    }
    function load_video {
      if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
        insmod all_video
      else
        insmod efi_gop
        insmod efi_uga
        insmod ieee1275_fb
        insmod vbe
        insmod vga
        insmod video_bochs
        insmod video_cirrus
      fi
    }
    
    if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
       font=unicode
    else
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod lvm
    insmod ext2
    set root='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/kQ2aU1-L2GF-wUX4-BLmq-jiVj-eS4m-u6Rng5'
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
      search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/kQ2aU1-L2GF-wUX4-BLmq-jiVj-eS4m-u6Rng5'  9823f2c7-fc61-4038-840a-33e9ee872e83
    else
      search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9823f2c7-fc61-4038-840a-33e9ee872e83
    fi
        font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
    fi
    
    if loadfont $font ; then
      set gfxmode=auto
      load_video
      insmod gfxterm
      set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
      set lang=en_US
      insmod gettext
    fi
    terminal_output gfxterm
    if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
      set timeout=-1
    else
      if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
        set timeout_style=hidden
        set timeout=0
      # Fallback hidden-timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
      # unavailable.
      elif sleep --interruptible 0 ; then
        set timeout=0
      fi
    fi
    ### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod lvm
    insmod ext2
    set root='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/kQ2aU1-L2GF-wUX4-BLmq-jiVj-eS4m-u6Rng5'
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
      search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/kQ2aU1-L2GF-wUX4-BLmq-jiVj-eS4m-u6Rng5'  9823f2c7-fc61-4038-840a-33e9ee872e83
    else
      search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9823f2c7-fc61-4038-840a-33e9ee872e83
    fi
    insmod jpeg
    if background_image /usr/share/wallpapers/Evening/contents/images/1920x1080.jpg; then
      set color_normal=black/black
      set color_highlight=white/black
    else
      set menu_color_normal=white/black
      set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
    fi
    ### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###
    set menu_color_normal=white/black
    set menu_color_highlight=white/light-gray
    ### END /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux_proxy ###
    ### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux_proxy ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen_proxy ###
    
    ### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen_proxy ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/21_linux_proxy ###
    menuentry "Linux Mint 17" --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    	recordfail
    	gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
    	insmod gzio
    	insmod part_msdos
    	insmod part_msdos
    	insmod lvm
    	insmod ext2
    	set root='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/hi4Ubb-wQik-Vq8b-1PBO-4g58-MwFk-E8luCJ'
    	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
    	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/hi4Ubb-wQik-Vq8b-1PBO-4g58-MwFk-E8luCJ'  2f5b1b3e-33dd-49ed-b725-431cd08a5758
    	else
    	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2f5b1b3e-33dd-49ed-b725-431cd08a5758
    	fi
    	linux	/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic root=/dev/mapper/Gnusounds--LVM-Root ro   quiet splash nomodeset nouveau.blacklist=1 $vt_handoff
    	initrd	/initrd.img-3.13.0-24-generic
    }
    ### END /etc/grub.d/21_linux_proxy ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
    menuentry 'Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sdd1)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-chain-849CAFE69CAFD14A' {
    	insmod part_msdos
    	insmod ntfs
    	set root='hd3,msdos1'
    	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
    	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd3,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd3,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci3,msdos1  849CAFE69CAFD14A
    	else
    	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 849CAFE69CAFD14A
    	fi
    	parttool ${root} hidden-
    	chainloader +1
    }
    set timeout_style=menu
    if [ "${timeout}" = 0 ]; then
      set timeout=10
    fi
    ### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/31_linux_proxy ###
    menuentry "Linux Mint 17 -- recovery mode" --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    	recordfail
    	insmod gzio
    	insmod part_msdos
    	insmod part_msdos
    	insmod lvm
    	insmod ext2
    	set root='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/hi4Ubb-wQik-Vq8b-1PBO-4g58-MwFk-E8luCJ'
    	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
    	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/hi4Ubb-wQik-Vq8b-1PBO-4g58-MwFk-E8luCJ'  2f5b1b3e-33dd-49ed-b725-431cd08a5758
    	else
    	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2f5b1b3e-33dd-49ed-b725-431cd08a5758
    	fi
    	echo	'Loading Linux 3.13.0-24-generic ...'
    	linux	/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic root=/dev/mapper/Gnusounds--LVM-Root ro recovery nomodeset 
    	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    	initrd	/initrd.img-3.13.0-24-generic
    }
    function gfxmode {
    	set gfxpayload="$1"
    	if [ "$1" = "keep" ]; then
    		set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
    	else
    		set vt_handoff=
    	fi
    }
    if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
      if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
        if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
          if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
            set linux_gfx_mode=keep
          else
            set linux_gfx_mode=text
          fi
        else
          set linux_gfx_mode=text
        fi
      else
        set linux_gfx_mode=keep
      fi
    else
      set linux_gfx_mode=text
    fi
    export linux_gfx_mode
    if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
    ### END /etc/grub.d/31_linux_proxy ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/32_linux_xen_proxy ###
    ### END /etc/grub.d/32_linux_xen_proxy ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/33_lupin ###
    ### END /etc/grub.d/33_lupin ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/34_memtest86+_proxy ###
    menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
    	insmod part_msdos
    	insmod part_msdos
    	insmod lvm
    	insmod ext2
    	set root='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/hi4Ubb-wQik-Vq8b-1PBO-4g58-MwFk-E8luCJ'
    	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
    	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint='lvmid/EvIx82-Gnuf-XsvH-ufgo-BWTL-cHsd-62oSe2/hi4Ubb-wQik-Vq8b-1PBO-4g58-MwFk-E8luCJ'  2f5b1b3e-33dd-49ed-b725-431cd08a5758
    	else
    	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2f5b1b3e-33dd-49ed-b725-431cd08a5758
    	fi
    	knetbsd	/memtest86+.elf
    }
    ### END /etc/grub.d/34_memtest86+_proxy ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/35_uefi-firmware ###
    ### END /etc/grub.d/35_uefi-firmware ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
    # This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
    # menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
    # the 'exec tail' line above.
    ### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
    
    ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
    if [ -f  ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
      source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
    elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
      source $prefix/custom.cfg;
    fi
    ### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
    Edit: AHA! The passphrase was just my login password. I HAVE MY STUFF!!

    I might just save it all and start over, however I would still like for it to work. I would also like to know why it messed up in the first place.
    Last edited by overdrank; December 30th, 2014 at 05:26 PM. Reason: code tags

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    I think I'm here! Maybe?
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Please help me! LVM root not booting.

    Do you really want or need LVM as it adds quite a lot of complication to administration of partitions, and I know from several years on this forum that many fewer people here, including myself, know how to deal with it.

    It is a lot easier to have separate partitions with ext4 as the filesystem type, using either an ms-dos partition table, or GPT if you have UEFI enabled motherboard.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    USA
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: Please help me! LVM root not booting.

    Quote Originally Posted by ajgreeny View Post
    Do you really want or need LVM as it adds quite a lot of complication to administration of partitions, and I know from several years on this forum that many fewer people here, including myself, know how to deal with it.

    It is a lot easier to have separate partitions with ext4 as the filesystem type, using either an ms-dos partition table, or GPT if you have UEFI enabled motherboard.
    Yes and No.

    I like LVM. You can easily add redundancy and expand, shrink or move volumes. You can easily take snap shots for backups. It is very flexible and pliable. It has some fallback and reduncancy. For instance, I have a virtual Server up for someone here to do testing on his application right now, to test an application by failing and repairing and it's disks. The Server is on ext4 filesystem in LVM in mdadm RAID 6. I admit, I purposely made that complex, to test how that app would deal with that...

    It does add another layer between the system's logical and physical... just as software RAID would. It that really a bad thing or good. Because it is another layer, it is something else to manage. On the other side of that, it adds more capabilities to the system and user. But the filesystem, ext4 is inside of LVM. LVM manages the partitions within what it resides on, whether that is physical disk or inside of RAID. Each layer of that may have pieces of itself used for journaling, backup, problem identification, problem solving, reporting, recovery...

    The physical partition table (whatever type) is in the physical layer... They add intrinsic peculiarities to how you do things, but LVM and mdadm doesn't particularly care what is there, just so that is there and set up correctly to attach to... The system sees the layer closest to it, as it's layout. That is what I love about Linux-- It is very flexible. You can substitute, mix and match modules and layers. You can change things to do want you need to do and to your own personal preferences.

    You can assemble and mount LVM volumes, just like you can with physical volumes. if you understand how they work.

    But you can have all the capabilities imaginable, and if you don't learn to use them, take advantage of them, do the basic things to work with and safeguard your data & system files, all those capabilities are a waste. None of them work if you don't use them. None are a replacement or substitute for a good backup. If you don't do backups... what do you have? What tools do you have to restore what you need? If a system has more available to use to fix something, then maybe you might also have more of a chance to fix it(?) Possible?

    To the OP... So this the resolution was more an encryption issue? (He mentioned the passphrase...) Can you now mount the boot and root volumes?
    Last edited by MAFoElffen; December 30th, 2014 at 07:27 PM.

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