Reiserfs problem: New kernel can't mount my data

elemur · n00b Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 12

This is a very odd problem for me. I have a system that was first installed this last fall, with a 2.4.x kernel and used reiserfs. Later I upgraded to a 2.6.4 kernel, and have been using that without a problem.

Recently I decided to update to a 2.6.7 or 2.6.8 kernel, and successfully built and installed the kernel. (Pretty normal stuff here.. nothing too fancy.)

When I boot, it freaks out trying to mount the filesystem. Reiserfs errors all over the place. I get the option to drop to a shell, and can fsck/reiserfsck manually. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but when I do I get errors about

ReiserFS: hds5: warning: vs-5150: search_by_key: invalid format found in block 8211. Fsck?
ReiserFS: hda5: warning: zam-7001: io error in reiserfs_find_entry

Failed to open the filesystem

So.. keep in mind that when I boot back with my 2.6.4 kernel, I have no problems. But, sure.. if its all upset, I'll try a --rebuild-tree.

Nope.. same basic errors. It recommends doing a --rebuild-sb, so I figure.. why not.

Nope, same sorts of errors.

So, I have no idea why the minor bump in kernel would cause this problem. The new kernel has reiserfs static, which is normal. What is the deal with this?

Has anybody run into this? My partitions do not overlap and there isn't anything physically wrong.. remember that this computer runs happily under 2.6.4 and older kernels without an issue.

I've been poking and proding this for a while, but I've got to figure it out soon.

Any help would be great!

Frodg · l33t Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 761

Just a quick question :
In the kernel do you have reiserfs enabled (NOT reiser4?)

They are different file systems I believe
_________________
Aerosolo ergo sum - I spray therefore I am

Gentoo - Registered Linux User # 361400

squeegy · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 2:31 am Post subject:

Frodg · l33t Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 761

Damn.. I'm so used to using love & nitro sources with reiser4 patched that I've lost touch with that fact... Sorry

_________________
Aerosolo ergo sum - I spray therefore I am

Gentoo - Registered Linux User # 361400

elemur · n00b Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 12

In fact.. I've tried both the ck and mm kernels here, without any difference. I've not done any custom patching.

Baldzius · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:06 am Post subject:

I have a feeling you are using old reiserfsprogs
If you are going to use >=2.6.7 you need 3.6.18
after that you need --rebuild-tree i guess
I had similar problem only I recreated partition with 3.6.18 under 2.6.8-rc3

Hope this helps

elemur · n00b Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 12

Hm.. good idea there. I'm upgrading my progs, and I'll see if that will make a difference. I'm going to try straight rebooting with the new progs first, and if necessary, will try the --rebuild-tree.

Thanks!

elemur · n00b Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 12

Ok.. I now have:

reiserfsck 3.6.17 (2003 www.namesys.com)

However, I get the exact same errors when trying to boot a 2.6.8-rc3-mm2 kernel on my system. Still nothing special on the kernel config.. basically out of the box. My old kernel was 2.6.4-ck1, and it worked fine.

Any other ideas?

Baldzius · And what about reiserfsck 3.6.18 ?

And what about reiserfsck 3.6.18 ?

elemur · n00b Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 12

Hm.. I thought I had the latest, since I just synced and emerged it. I'll give it another spin to see.. to be honest, I didn't watch the version that closely when I just tried again.

The odd thing is that portage only offers 3.6.17 for me..? Is there a newer version in portage somewhere that I don't see?

As a side note, I downloaded the install CD for 2004.2 and ran the reiserfsck (.17) off of that on the unmounted hard drives. It found a few minor things wrong and fixed 'em. I then also ran a --rebuild-tree on them, and it spun for a while and happily build the tree. (I will note that the CD has a 2.4 kernel.)

But.. when I reboot to the 2.6.7/2.6.8 kernels, no go still.. same errors.

As far as I can see.. the older kernels are fine with my filesystem, especially since I'm using the same tools with the different versions, but the newest kernels don't like it for some reason. I have no idea why though.

spacemoth · n00b Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 31 Location: Canada

I have exactly the same problem, going from 2.6.5 to 2.6.7.

According to www.namesys.com (the developers of the reiserfs), the latest reiserfsprogs is 3.6.17, there is no mention that I can find of a 3.6.18.

elemur · n00b Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 12

Same problem? Thats encouraging.. sort of. I'm glad its not just me doing something silly.. but.. did you find a solution short of clearing and building new partitions? I really don't have time to reinstall this machine right now.

thanks for any help!

Baldzius · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:00 pm Post subject:

I don't know why they haven't changed information about 3.6.18 as i am using it for 2 weeks.
check here : ftp://ftp.namesys.com/pub/reiserfsprogs/reiserfsprogs-3.6.18.tar.gz
seems that noone knows even distrowatch

spacemoth · n00b Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 31 Location: Canada

Thx for the link Baldzius.
Installed reiserfsprogs 3.6.18, rebooted and rebuilt tree.
Still getting VFS kernel panic, but different message this time. I can't post it verbatim, as it doesn't appear in logs, due to the fact that the filesystem doesn't appear to mount at all. Basically just the 'invalid root filesytem' error.
I'm experimenting with kernel options in the meantime, in case it's some kind of low-level scsi issue.