Bug 214563

Summary:	sys-boot/grub can't read files on ext partitions with inode size != 128
Product:	Gentoo Linux	Reporter:	kaergel.s
Component:	New packages	Assignee:	Gentoo's Team for Core System packages <base-system>
Status:	VERIFIED TEST-REQUEST
Severity:	major	CC:	dilfridge, gentoo, nlshep, siryes
Priority:	High
Version:	unspecified
Hardware:	x86
OS:	Linux
Whiteboard:
Package list:		Runtime testing required:	---
Attachments:	Set default inode size to 128 instead of 256

Description kaergel.s 2008-03-24 17:47:03 UTC

After updating e2fsprogs from 1.40.4 to 1.40.6 grub can no longer read files that are on a partition created with e2fsprogs 1.40.6.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. emerge "=sys-fs/e2fsprogs-1.40.6"
2. mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda1
3. mount /dev/sda1 /foo
4. cp -r /boot /foo
5. open grub with "grub"
6. type "root (hd0,0)"
7. type "setup (hd0)"
Actual Results:  
grub> setup (hd0)
 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... no
 Checking if "/grub/stage1" exists... no
 
Error 2: Bad file or directory type

Expected Results:  
grub> setup (hd0)  
 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
 Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
 Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"...  16 sectors are embedded.
succeeded
 Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+16 p (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2
/boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
Done.

grub> 


The problem only exists with e2fsprogs 1.40.6. With 1.40.4 everything is working as expected. The problem is related to changes in /etc/mke2fs.conf shipped with 1.40.6. Running 1.40.6 with the default config from 1.40.4 does work.

In mke2fs.conf for 1.40.6 the default inode size is 256. In 1.40.4 it was 128.

Running 1.40.6 with the default inode size of 128 does not produce any problem.

"Error 2: Bad file or directory type" means:
This error is returned if a file requested is not a regular file, but something like a symbolic link, directory, or FIFO.

Comment 1 kaergel.s 2008-03-24 17:49:22 UTC

Created attachment 147148 [details, diff]
Set default inode size to 128 instead of 256

This patches fixes mke2fs.conf shipped with e2fsprogs 1.40.6. It changes the default inode size back to 128 as in 1.40.4.

Comment 2 SpanKY gentoo-dev

2008-03-24 20:03:04 UTC

that ignores the real problem ... grub cant handle diff inode sizes apparently

Comment 3 Robin Johnson archtester

2008-03-24 20:10:17 UTC

This was already going to be in the -r5 I was working on - hopefully out later today.

Comment 4 Robin Johnson archtester

2008-03-25 06:17:54 UTC

in -r5, please test it from the package.mask.

Comment 5 kaergel.s 2008-03-26 21:19:50 UTC

Confirmed. -r5 fixes this problem. Thanks.

Comment 6 Robin Johnson archtester

2008-03-30 06:25:37 UTC

Thanks

Comment 7 SpanKY gentoo-dev

2008-04-15 22:18:38 UTC

*** Bug 217863 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 8 Wiktor Wandachowicz 2008-05-02 04:27:58 UTC

Read the following article for explanation:

GRUB vs. the Inodes: Who Needs a Bootable System, Anyway?
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/6480/1/

Comment 9 Andreas K. Hüttel archtester

2008-07-14 12:05:26 UTC

It should be pointed out that this bug hits everyone who installs from the Gentoo 2008.0 LiveCD (i686) on an ext3 partition. :(