* Mark <bts@bts.grml.org> [20070714 00:08]:

> It was
> groot=(hd3,5)
> as you would expect.

> GRUB now seems bad for USB, unless it's a fixed USB disk.  Partition ids are
> number-based.  LILO wants both boot= and root= but accepts (u)dev nodes...

Ok, looks like I can't do anything against that problem. Testing
grub2 would be worth a try. Anyway, using lilo when running USB
disks might become the generic suggestion.

regards,
-mika-

Re-adding a previous entry I deleted so your mailaddress isn't harvested:

* Mark <bts@bts.grml.org> [20070712 07:15]:

[...]

Sorry, but the "Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.20-grml" isn't enough,
I especially need the 'groot='-line.

regards,
-mika-

It was
groot=(hd3,5)
as you would expect.

GRUB now seems bad for USB, unless it's a fixed USB disk.  Partition ids are
number-based.  LILO wants both boot= and root= but accepts (u)dev nodes...

Messing around bleeped the files, but the relevant menu.lst stanza was given
earlier.

Grml kernel has CONFIG_INITRAMFS_SOURCE empty...the 2nd timesys article
recommends a configuration file method...I may try it out...

I also like this easy advice for multiple Linux systems using GRUB,
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?p=2757817#post2757817

* Mark <bts@bts.grml.org> [20070711 21:15]:

> > the BIOS might see the devices in a different...order

> It might, but didn't - unless GRUB counts CD-ROM as a hard drive?  I removed the
> grml CD for reboot.  Nothing else changed.

Ah, sorry - looks like I was reading too fast, sorry.

Can you please provide me the /boot/grub/menu.lst you get when
installing grml2hd on the external usb device? And if possible: the
/boot/grub/device.map would be interesting as well. If you edit the
entries in grub's menu so it can boot what's inside your
/proc/cmdline then?

> > something we have addressed

> I know.  If that's exactly what comment #2 proposed, ok.

> I was thinking more along these lines.
> 'Why "root=" doesn't scale'  &  'Initrd vs initramfs'
> http://www.timesys.com/timesource/march_06.htm

JFTR: We are using a stable naming system for kernel and userspace
already (root=UUID) and on hd-installation we are using the newer
approach (initramfs) as well OOTB.

thx && regards,
-mika-

P.S. Here's the sequel, just for Googlers.
http://www.timesys.com/timesource/initramfs.htm

Grml still uses legacy GRUB.  There might be new goodies in GRUB 2.  Investigating.

> the BIOS might see the devices in a different...order
It might, but didn't - unless GRUB counts CD-ROM as a hard drive?  I removed the
grml CD for reboot.  Nothing else changed.

> something we have addressed
I know.  If that's exactly what comment #2 proposed, ok.

I was thinking more along these lines.
'Why "root=" doesn't scale'  &  'Initrd vs initramfs'
http://www.timesys.com/timesource/march_06.htm

* Mark <bts@bts.grml.org> [20070711 20:15]:

> In this bug report, the next reboot had identical devices, one USB device, the
> same USB device.

Sure, but the BIOS might see the devices in a different,
non-predictable order. That's why it fails in your case.

Sorry, I'm not aware of a solution for that problem but would
*reall* welcome one.

> For a general workaround see comment 2:
> http://forums.devshed.com/linux-help-33/initrd-usb-boot-332584.html

This is a userspace issue, something we have addressed with
root=UUID=... since grml 1.0 already. (Which avoids a problem of
labels: duplicate UUID won't happen whereas duplicate labels are
nothing unusual.)

regards,
-mika-

In this bug report, the next reboot had identical devices, one USB device, the
same USB device.

For a general workaround see comment 2:
http://forums.devshed.com/linux-help-33/initrd-usb-boot-332584.html

Well, grml2hd can't guess what devices will be available on next reboot.

So all you can do is adjust groot/root lines in /boot/grub/menu.lst according 
to your needs (and run update-grub afterwards) and take a look at /boot/grub/
device.map.

Sorry, I don't have any idea how I should "fix" that within grml2hd itself, 
please let me know if you know any workarounds.

Steps:

Boot grml 1.0 CD-ROM with a USB disk plugged in as the only USB device.
netcardconfig
apt-get install grml2hd  # to get latest grml2hd
grml2hd /dev/sdaN -mbr /dev/sda

Reboot to USB.  GRUB offers a menu, but reports it can't find an OS.  GRUB is
configured wrong?

/etc/fstab shows proper UUID for the root partition.
Boot stanza in /boot/grub/menu.lst =

title           Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.20-grml
root            (hd3,5)
kernel          /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-grml root=UUID=[snip] ro vga=791
initrd          /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-grml
savedefault