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[SOLVED] Kernel panic - VFS can't open root device
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angry_arctic_avian
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:12 pm    Post subject: [SOLVED] Kernel panic - VFS can't open root device Reply with quote

I tried to build the most recent kernel (2.6.38-gentoo-r6) that portage handed me for my x86 system. I have had no problems configuring previous kernels, yet everything I have tried still leaves me unable to boot into the new kernel. Here is the outpout from the kernel panic, typed from a pic I took from my phone:

Code:

VFS: Cannot open root device "(null)" or unknown-block(8,3)
Please append correct a correct "root=" boot option; here are the available partitions:
Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(8,3)
Pid: 1, com: swapper not tainted 2.6.38-gentoo-r6
#Some of the following output omitted since it was unclear in picture.
Call Trace:
  ? panic
  ? mount_block_root
  ? sys_mknod
  ? mount_root
  ? prepare_namespce
  ? sys_access
  ? kernel_init
  ? kernel_init
  ? kernel_thread_helper


My system is split up on two ATA hard drives, the first containing multiple partitions, the second one holding my /home/ folder. My root partitions is on /dev/sda3 on the first hard drive. Here is my grub.conf:

Code:

default 0
timeout 5
#splashimage=(hd0,0)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title Gentoo Linux 2.6.38-r6      #This won't boot
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/kernel-2.6.38-gentoo-r6 root/dev/sda3

title Gentoo Linux 2.6.36-r5       #This will boot
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/kernel-2.6.36-gentoo-r5 root/dev/sda3

title Gentoo Linux 2.6.31-r6
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/kernel-2.6.31-gentoo-r6 root=/dev/sda3

title Gentoo Linux 2.6.30-r8 (rescue)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/kernel-2.6.30-gentoo-r8 root=/dev/sda3 init=/bin/bb


I filled out the grub option for the new kernel just as I had for the previous. I would add the output from the kernel configuration of 2.6.38, but I forgot the code that I found from my earlier attempts to find a solution to this problem. If someone can provide me with the means to display that output, I will provide what options I chose for ATA and SCSI configuration. As always any help is appreciated.


Last edited by angry_arctic_avian on Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:46 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Aquous
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You forgot to compile in support for your root filesystem into the kernel.
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angry_arctic_avian
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I believe I found the code that I mentioned in my previous post:

Code:

less /usr/src/linux/.config | grep SCSI && less /usr/src/linux/.config | grep ATA
# SCSI device support
CONFIG_SCSI_MOD=y
CONFIG_SCSI=y
CONFIG_SCSI_DMA=y
# CONFIG_SCSI_TGT is not set
# CONFIG_SCSI_NETLINK is not set
CONFIG_SCSI_PROC_FS=y
# SCSI support type (disk, tape, CD-ROM)
CONFIG_SCSI_MULTI_LUN=y
CONFIG_SCSI_CONSTANTS=y
# CONFIG_SCSI_LOGGING is not set
CONFIG_SCSI_SCAN_ASYNC=y
CONFIG_SCSI_WAIT_SCAN=m
# SCSI Transports
CONFIG_SCSI_SPI_ATTRS=y
# CONFIG_SCSI_FC_ATTRS is not set
# CONFIG_SCSI_ISCSI_ATTRS is not set
# CONFIG_SCSI_SAS_ATTRS is not set
# CONFIG_SCSI_SAS_LIBSAS is not set
# CONFIG_SCSI_SRP_ATTRS is not set
# CONFIG_SCSI_LOWLEVEL is not set
# CONFIG_SCSI_DH is not set
# CONFIG_SCSI_OSD_INITIATOR is not set
# NOTE: USB_STORAGE depends on SCSI but BLK_DEV_SD may
# CONFIG_ISCSI_IBFT_FIND is not set
CONFIG_RELOCATABLE=y
# CONFIG_ATALK is not set
# CONFIG_MTD_DATAFLASH is not set
# CONFIG_ATA_OVER_ETH is not set
CONFIG_IDE_ATAPI=y
# CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDE_SATA is not set
CONFIG_IDE_GD_ATA=y
# CONFIG_IDE_GD_ATAPI is not set
CONFIG_ATA=y
# CONFIG_ATA_NONSTANDARD is not set
CONFIG_ATA_VERBOSE_ERROR=y
CONFIG_ATA_ACPI=y
# CONFIG_SATA_PMP is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_AHCI is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_AHCI_PLATFORM is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_INIC162X is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_ACARD_AHCI is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_SIL24 is not set
CONFIG_ATA_SFF=y
# CONFIG_SATA_QSTOR is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_SX4 is not set
CONFIG_ATA_BMDMA=y
# SATA SFF controllers with BMDMA
# CONFIG_ATA_PIIX is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_MV is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_NV is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_PROMISE is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_SIL is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_SIS is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_SVW is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_ULI is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_VIA is not set
# CONFIG_SATA_VITESSE is not set
# PATA SFF controllers with BMDMA
# CONFIG_PATA_ALI is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_AMD is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_ARTOP is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_ATIIXP is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_ATP867X is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_CMD64X is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_CS5520 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_CS5530 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_CS5535 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_CS5536 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_CYPRESS is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_EFAR is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_HPT366 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_HPT37X is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_HPT3X2N is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_HPT3X3 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_IT8213 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_IT821X is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_JMICRON is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_MARVELL is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_NETCELL is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_NINJA32 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_NS87415 is not set
CONFIG_PATA_OLDPIIX=y
# CONFIG_PATA_OPTIDMA is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_PDC2027X is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_PDC_OLD is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_RADISYS is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_RDC is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_SC1200 is not set
CONFIG_PATA_SCH=y
# CONFIG_PATA_SERVERWORKS is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_SIL680 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_SIS is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_TOSHIBA is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_TRIFLEX is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_VIA is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_WINBOND is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_CMD640_PCI is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_MPIIX is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_NS87410 is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_OPTI is not set
# CONFIG_PATA_RZ1000 is not set
CONFIG_PATA_ACPI=y
CONFIG_ATA_GENERIC=y
# CONFIG_PATA_LEGACY is not set
# CONFIG_USB_STORAGE_DATAFAB is not set
# CONFIG_USB_STORAGE_CYPRESS_ATACB is not set
# CONFIG_ATARI_PARTITION is not set


What support for my root file system are you talking about? The file systems that are formated onto my hard drives are compiled directly into the kernel.
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thalcave
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you use kernel config from 2.6.36-r5 which does work?
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angry_arctic_avian
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, I am using my 2.6.36-r5 as I am writing this. It works, with the exception that after the aforementioned update that provided me with kernel 2.6.38-r6 seem to make alsa stop working with a boot message saying no sound card found, but I believe that is due to a configuration file as well as a different topic.
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angry_arctic_avian
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry might have mis-read that. If you meant did I copy the config from 2.6.36-5 to 2.6.38-r6, then no, I configured from scratch like I normally do.
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here you go
https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-4570091.html#4570091
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thalcave
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So my guess is that you forgot compile drivers for your ata/sata controller
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angry_arctic_avian
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, do I feel dumb. I guess that's what happens when you go awhile without Internet access to your desktop. Things broken on your system, and you forget important kernel configuration vital to your system. Anyway, I appreciate everyone's input on such a noob mistake. Now that my kernel is working, I can deal with all of the other hiccups in my system.
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