centos kernel update with raid controller (kernel panic)

[blunt]

I have followed howto forge tutorial on perfect setup with centos and openvz, but used centos 5 instead of 4.4, used LVM for the partitions and installed a driver disk formy highpoint 2300 raid controller. all worked well.

Highpoint has drivers on their site, from where I downloaded the necessary files to create a driver disk, needed during installation.

I was able to load de drivers in setup, created lvm for my sda (double sata disk - raid1 by highpoint controller) and installed with no problem.

When I try to 'yum upgrade -y' the kernel installs, bue i cannot startup centos with it. I also tried to install an openvz kernel with no sucess. I followed highpoint tips on installing to an existing kernel, but had no success.

I always get kernel panic and volumes not found during boot...

In my driver disk, I have a rr3210_00.ko driver that highpoint mentions I need to:
1 - copy to /lib/modules/<kernel version>/kernel/drivers/scsi
2 - depmod -a <kernel version>
3 - echo “modprobe rr2310_00” > /etc/init.d/hptdriver
4 - chmod 755 /etc/init.d/hptdriver
5 - ln –sf /etc/init.d/hptdriver /etc/rc.d/rc3.d/S01hptdriver
6 - ln –sf /etc/init.d/hptdriver /etc/rc.d/rc4.d/S01hptdriver
7 - ln –sf /etc/init.d/hptdriver /etc/rc.d/rc5.d/S01hptdriver

i've done this, but the problem remains...

I don't know what i should try to do...If anyone has any ideas, please suggest...

I have also tried creating a new initrimg. here is the output generated by my attempt of getting the openvz kernel working...but it still doesn't. any help appreciated.

the driver is rr2310_00 an is there.

[root@server ~]# rm -f /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/s csi/sata_mv.ko
[root@server ~]# rm /boot/initrd-2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1.img
rm: remove regular file `/boot/initrd-2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1.img'? y
[root@server ~]# /sbin/mkinitrd -v -f --preload scsi_mod --preload sd_mod --with=rr2310_00 --builtin=sata_mv /boot/initrd-2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1.img 2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1
Creating initramfs
Looking for deps of module scsi_mod
Looking for deps of module sd_mod: scsi_mod
Looking for deps of module uhci-hcd
Looking for deps of module ohci-hcd
Looking for deps of module ehci-hcd
Looking for deps of module ext3: jbd
Looking for deps of module jbd
Looking for driver for device sda2
Looking for deps of module pci:v00001103d00002300sv000011ABsd000011ABbc01sc00 i00: scsi_mod rr2310_00
Looking for deps of module rr2310_00: scsi_mod
Looking for deps of module sata_nv: scsi_mod libata
Looking for deps of module libata: scsi_mod
Looking for deps of module ide-disk
Looking for deps of module dm-mod
Looking for deps of module dm-mirror: dm-mod
Looking for deps of module dm-zero: dm-mod
Looking for deps of module dm-snapshot: dm-mod
Using modules: /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/s csi/scsi_mod.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/s csi/sd_mod.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/u sb/host/uhci-hcd.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/u sb/host/ohci-hcd.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/u sb/host/ehci-hcd.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/fs/jbd/jb d.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/fs/ext3/e xt3.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/updates/rr2310_0 0.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/s csi/libata.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/s csi/sata_nv.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/m d/dm-mod.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/m d/dm-mirror.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/m d/dm-zero.ko /lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/m d/dm-snapshot.ko
/sbin/nash -> /tmp/initrd.Ns3261/bin/nash
/sbin/insmod.static -> /tmp/initrd.Ns3261/bin/insmod
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ scsi/scsi_mod.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/scsi_mod.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ scsi/sd_mod.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/sd_mod.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ usb/host/uhci-hcd.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/uhci-hcd.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ usb/host/ohci-hcd.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/ohci-hcd.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ usb/host/ehci-hcd.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/ehci-hcd.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/fs/jbd/j bd.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/jbd.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/fs/ext3/ ext3.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/ext3.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/updates/rr2310_ 00.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/rr2310_00.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ scsi/libata.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/libata.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ scsi/sata_nv.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/sata_nv.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ md/dm-mod.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/dm-mod.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ md/dm-mirror.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/dm-mirror.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ md/dm-zero.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/dm-zero.ko' [elf32-i386]
copy from `/lib/modules/2.6.18-8.1.15.el5.028stab047.1/kernel/drivers/ md/dm-snapshot.ko' [elf32-i386] to `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/lib/dm-snapshot.ko' [elf32-i386]
/sbin/lvm.static -> /tmp/initrd.Ns3261/bin/lvm
/etc/lvm -> /tmp/initrd.Ns3261/etc/lvm
`/etc/lvm/lvm.conf' -> `/tmp/initrd.Ns3261/etc/lvm/lvm.conf'
Adding module scsi_mod
Adding module sd_mod
Adding module uhci-hcd
Adding module ohci-hcd
Adding module ehci-hcd
Adding module jbd
Adding module ext3
Adding module rr2310_00
Adding module libata
Adding module sata_nv
Adding module dm-mod
Adding module dm-mirror
Adding module dm-zero
Adding module dm-snapshot

please, any suggestions are welcome...

[falko]

Originally Posted by blunt

I always get kernel panic and volumes not found during boot...

That sounds as if you need a ramdisk for your kernel.

[blunt]

thanks alot for your reply falko.

you're the first one to reply to me after posting in five different foruns a few days ago...

I would really appreciate a an answer that is a little more concrete...like how should i do to create a ramdisk? Or please point me to a place where I can read or follow a guide.

And by the way, this seems like a good place to praise you for some of the best tutorials I have read, and used several times, found right here in HowtoForge. Thank you for that

[falko]

Take a look at http://www.howtoforge.com/kernel_compilation_centos
It shows how to create a ramdisk (with mkinitrd).

[blunt]

Well I haven't tried it yet, but i already read through your howto.

I have a few questions:

1 - I used mkinitrd when I tried to get my kernel working. That didn't work. It didn't work because I didn't compile it from source and use my old config? Or was it because I used wrong flags? When I follow your howto, should I use mkinitrd with the same flags I tried?

2 - About my driver, What do I need to do to include it in kernel compilation? Is that needed? If it isn't, how do I include it? The way I was doing it was right or wrong?

I think that for now, this are my doubts.

Thanks again for your help falko.

By the way, I thought that creating a ramdisk was through mkinitrd, but since I used it when I tried to get the kernel working and still you mentioned it in your reply, I thought it would be something else

[falko]

Originally Posted by blunt

1 - I used mkinitrd when I tried to get my kernel working. That didn't work. It didn't work because I didn't compile it from source and use my old config? Or was it because I used wrong flags? When I follow your howto, should I use mkinitrd with the same flags I tried?

It doesn't matter what config you use. Did you get any errors?

[blunt]

the output of the mkinitrd is in my first post...

it did not show any errors...

[falko]

Oh, I didn't see this...
If there's no error, can you see the new ramdisk in /boot afterwards?

[blunt]

yes, I can see and I can boot it...

the problem is the I get a kernel panic... (explained in my first post)

I don't know if is there any other output useful that I can post here...

[uniacid]

blunt,
I am facing this same issue with CentOS 5 and a highpoint raid card (2310) once I upgrade to the newest kernel (2.6.18-8.1.15.el5).

Once it upgrades and I load that kernel it tries to boot up and load up the Raid volume but it cannot find it and goes into kernal panic mode.

Any ideas?