Please test the latest installation images

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hello,

I created updated installation images for Debian Ports earlier this month
and I would be very interested to know whether these work on real hardware.

The reason I ask is because during my tests, the kernel got stuck directly
after booting from CD on QEMU while the installed system later on boots just
fine even with the latest kernel.

https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/2024-10-10/

It would be good to test on as many different setups as possible to help localize
the problem. I don't rule out that it might be a problem with the CD image creation
process.

Thanks,
Adrian

[Cedar Maxwell]

Hello Adrian,


Thank you for creating new images.  I tested
debian-12.0.0-powerpc-NETINST-1.iso
<https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/2024-10-10/debian-12.0.0-powerpc-NETINST-1.iso>
on my iBook G4 (PowerBook 6,7) and after selecting "Default install" at
the GRUB menu, it loaded for a while then panicked and gave the
following error:


[0.000000]ftrace-powerpc: 0xc03f8304: expected (60000000) != found
(455f3131)


The same also occurs with "Automated install".

Hi Adrian,
I am running a PowerMac G5 Quad 2.5 GHz (late 2005), 6 GB of RAM, NVIDIA
NV43 (GeForce 6600).
I am able to get through the installer select screen when booting from
CD, however after kicking the CPUs and saying it's done bringing them
up, it will hang immediately and spin up the fans after a few moments.
smp_core99_probe
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_bringup_done
Is as far as it gets.
System is in a functional state and was running before today with
kernel 6.10.12-1 ppc64, and after updating today on kernel 6.11.2-1
ppc64.
Thanks,
Talija

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
Hello,
I created updated installation images for Debian Ports earlier this month
and I would be very interested to know whether these work on real hardware.
The reason I ask is because during my tests, the kernel got stuck directly
after booting from CD on QEMU while the installed system later on boots just
fine even with the latest kernel.

https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/2024-10-10/

It would be good to test on as many different setups as possible to help localize
the problem. I don't rule out that it might be a problem with the CD image creation
process.
Thanks,
Adrian
--
.''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
: :' : Debian Developer
`. `' Physicist
`- GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hi Cedar,

Thank you for creating new images.  I tested debian-12.0.0-powerpc-NETINST-1.iso
on my iBook G4 (PowerBook 6,7) and after selecting "Default install" at the GRUB
[0.000000]ftrace-powerpc: 0xc03f8304: expected (60000000) != found (455f3131)

Hmm, I don't think this is actually the reason why it doesn't boot.

Could you maybe take a screenshot?

The same also occurs with "Automated install".

Does the installed system work when using an older installation image?

Adrian

[Cedar Maxwell]

Hello Adrian,


I'm not sure how to take a screenshot.  I can take a photo later.  I
tried this image: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/12.0/powerpc/

and it works.

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
Hi Cedar,

Thank you for creating new images.  I tested debian-12.0.0-powerpc-NETINST-1.iso
on my iBook G4 (PowerBook 6,7) and after selecting "Default install" at the GRUB
[0.000000]ftrace-powerpc: 0xc03f8304: expected (60000000) != found (455f3131)

Hmm, I don't think this is actually the reason why it doesn't boot.
Could you maybe take a screenshot?

The same also occurs with "Automated install".

Does the installed system work when using an older installation image?
Adrian

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hi Cedar,

I'm not sure how to take a screenshot.  I can take a photo later.
I tried this image: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/12.0/powerpc/
 and it works.

This is a very old image and not what I meant.

https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/

But since I have debugged the issue in the meantime, further testing is not
necessary at the moment.

Adrian

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hi Talija,

smp_core99_probe
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_bringup_done
Is as far as it gets.

Thanks for the confirmation, so the kernel still stops very early.

System is in a functional state and was running before today with
kernel 6.10.12-1 ppc64, and after updating today on kernel 6.11.2-1
ppc64.

Would you mind testing the 32-bit image as well?

It's really strange that the same kernel image will boot the installed
system but not the installer system. Maybe it's necessary to update
debian-cd which is used for building the installation CDs.

Adrian

[t***@coyoterave.net]

Hi Adrian,

When booting the 32 bit version, it only gets as far as "Loading..."
after selecting the installer option, the disk reads for a few moments
then stops, hangs, and crashes to the OpenFirmware with an illegal
address error that went by very fast as it just kept saying "Ok" over
and over again. I can probably test on an actual 32 bit machine
tonight if it will boot on an old world G3. I did verify the SHA sums
and the disks validated successfully when burned.

Thanks for all the work you put into this, it's much appreciated.

Talija

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
Hi Talija,

smp_core99_probe
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_kick_cpu
smp_core99_kick_cpu done
smp_core99_bringup_done
Is as far as it gets.

Thanks for the confirmation, so the kernel still stops very early.

System is in a functional state and was running before today with
kernel 6.10.12-1 ppc64, and after updating today on kernel 6.11.2-1
ppc64.

Would you mind testing the 32-bit image as well?
It's really strange that the same kernel image will boot the installed
system but not the installer system. Maybe it's necessary to update
debian-cd which is used for building the installation CDs.
Adrian
--
.''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
: :' : Debian Developer
`. `' Physicist
`- GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hi Talija,

Post by t***@coyoterave.net
When booting the 32 bit version, it only gets as far as "Loading..."
after selecting the installer option, the disk reads for a few moments
then stops, hangs, and crashes to the OpenFirmware with an illegal
address error that went by very fast as it just kept saying "Ok" over
and over again.

Interesting, I have never seen that. Thanks for the data point.

Post by t***@coyoterave.net
I can probably test on an actual 32 bit machine tonight if it will boot on
an old world G3. I did verify the SHA sums and the disks validated successfully
when burned.

OK, thanks. Would be good to know this result as well.

I will build some test images with older kernel and GRUB versions in order
to track down what particular change introduced the problem.

Post by t***@coyoterave.net
Thanks for all the work you put into this, it's much appreciated.

You're very welcome. I also appreciate the help that the PowerPC community provides
with testing the software and help finding and reporting upstream bugs.

Adrian

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hi Talija,

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
I will build some test images with older kernel and GRUB versions in order
to track down what particular change introduced the problem.

So, I built such a test image and that one boots fine for me on PowerKVM.

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/tests/ppc64-test-20241021/debian-12.0.0-ppc64-NETINST-1.iso

Please ignore the error message about mismatched kernel modules. This is
expected and not relevant for this discussion. This is only about debugging
the boot problem.

Adrian

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hello,

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
So, I built such a test image and that one boots fine for me on PowerKVM.

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/tests/ppc64-test-20241021/debian-12.0.0-ppc64-NETINST-1.iso

Please ignore the error message about mismatched kernel modules. This is
expected and not relevant for this discussion. This is only about debugging
the boot problem.

My tests show that the issue was introduced somewhere between Linux 6.7 and 6.8.

I will start testing upstream kernels next and then bisect the problem.

Adrian

[t***@coyoterave.net]

Hi Adrian,

This image boots right away, no problems getting into a shell or the
installer.

Thanks,

Talija

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
Hello,

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
So, I built such a test image and that one boots fine for me on PowerKVM.

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/tests/ppc64-test-20241021/debian-12.0.0-ppc64-NETINST-1.iso

Please ignore the error message about mismatched kernel modules. This is
expected and not relevant for this discussion. This is only about debugging
the boot problem.

My tests show that the issue was introduced somewhere between Linux 6.7 and 6.8.
I will start testing upstream kernels next and then bisect the problem.
Adrian
--
.''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
: :' : Debian Developer
`. `' Physicist
`- GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hi Talija,

Post by t***@coyoterave.net
This image boots right away, no problems getting into a shell or the
installer.

Thanks for the confirmation. I'll start bisecting the issue tomorrow then.

Adrian

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz

Post by t***@coyoterave.net
This image boots right away, no problems getting into a shell or the
installer.

Thanks for the confirmation. I'll start bisecting the issue tomorrow then.

OK, the latest upstream kernel just works when building from source and injected
manually. So, it's easier Debian's build environment or a Debian-specific kernel
option which breaks the boot.

My suspicion is somehow the kernel signing code which may be blocking the boot.

Adrian

[Claudia Neumann]

Hi all,

Test on iMac G5 with Radeon graphic card:

DVD hÀngs with
smp_core99_probe
smp_core99_bringup_done

CU

Claudia

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
Hello,
I created updated installation images for Debian Ports earlier this month
and I would be very interested to know whether these work on real hardware.
The reason I ask is because during my tests, the kernel got stuck directly
after booting from CD on QEMU while the installed system later on boots just
fine even with the latest kernel.

https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/snapshots/2024-10-10/

It would be good to test on as many different setups as possible to help
localize the problem. I don't rule out that it might be a problem with the
CD image creation process.
Thanks,
Adrian
--
.''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
: :' : Debian Developer
`. `' Physicist
`- GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Hello Claudia,

DVD hängs with
smp_core99_probe
smp_core99_bringup_done
https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1085949

Adrian

[Claudia Neumann]

Is there a newer ISO-image, that I could/should test.

CU

Claudia

Post by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
Hello Claudia,

Post by Claudia Neumann
DVD hÀngs with
smp_core99_probe
smp_core99_bringup_done
https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1085949

Adrian
--
.''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz
: :' : Debian Developer
`. `' Physicist
`- GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913

[John Paul Adrian Glaubitz]

Post by Claudia Neumann
Is there a newer ISO-image, that I could/should test.

No, because there haven't been any changes yet to address the bug.

Adrian