Bug 27303

Summary:	Error during Commit: Unable to make device node for /dev/X in /dev!
Product:	Base System	Reporter:	anedah-9 <anedah-9>
Component:	misc	Assignee:	freebsd-bugs (Nobody) <bugs>
Status:	Closed FIXED
Severity:	Affects Only Me
Priority:	Normal
Version:	4.3-RELEASE
Hardware:	Any
OS:	Any

Description anedah-9 2001-05-13 19:40:00 UTC

First of all, fdisk detects the right geometry of my hard drive. I checked that against my BIOS settings, and they matched.

The problem I have ran into shows itself during step 7 in the installation, when I am to commit the changes. The error message that pops up is:

"Unable to make device node for /dev/X in /dev!

The problem shows even if I choose the default settings in the Label Editor. Like I said, the error is displayed when performing the Commit step, but it can also be reproduced by pressing 'W' in the Label Editor after creating the labels.

I already have several EXT2 partitions on this box, and this is what 'df' on the Linux box shows:

Filesystem 1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda1 280005 13907 251642 6% /
/dev/hda2 4806936 256584 4306164 6% /usr
/dev/hda3 964532 38088 877448 5% /var
/dev/hda5 19140172 6235288 11932552 35% /home

I should add that pressing 'W' in FDISK works, only doing the same thing in Label Editor fails, and also letting both things happen at the same time during the Commit step fails.

Another thing that might be worth mentioning: I noticed that even after writing out the changes in FDISK, and getting a message that it was done successfully, the changes to the partition table have vanished if I press 'Ctrl+alt+del' and choose to restart the installation. Is the partition perhaps not saved properly to disk, even though the installation program says it it? I also tried installing FreeBSD 4.2, and the same problem showed up.

Let me know if I can provide more information that can help track this down.

How-To-Repeat: The problem is 100% reproducable with my setup, and I assume that having the other EXT2 partions already on the disk might be important to reproduce it.

All I need to do to reproduce it is to go though a Standard setup, and choosing the default labels in Label Editor. Then continue with the installation, and when you reach step seven the error message will be displayed.

Comment 1 Szilveszter Adam 2001-05-13 20:06:38 UTC

Hello,

On Sun, May 13, 2001 at 11:34:32AM -0700, anedah-9@sm.luth.se wrote:
> Filesystem           1k-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
> /dev/hda1               280005     13907    251642   6% /
> /dev/hda2              4806936    256584   4306164   6% /usr
> /dev/hda3               964532     38088    877448   5% /var
> /dev/hda5             19140172   6235288  11932552  35% /home

Although you did not provide a lot of information about your hardware (for
example how big is your disk, how many partitions are on it etc- this
should have gone under environment btw) maybe I can hazard a guess:

- You are not trying to install FreeBSD onto an extended partition, are
  you. That will not work. FreeBSD wants a primary partition.
- Also you should be aware that your root (/) parition should go before the
  1024th cylinder on your hdd or you may have problems booting. But that
  comes later:-)

Hope this helps somewhat...

-- 
Regards:

Szilveszter ADAM
Szeged University
Szeged Hungary

Comment 2 anedah-9 2001-05-13 20:11:37 UTC

Szilveszter Adam <sziszi@petra.hos.u-szeged.hu> wrote:

> - You are not trying to install FreeBSD onto an extended partition, are
>   you. That will not work. FreeBSD wants a primary partition.

Guilty as charged. All my primary partions are taken with Linux partitions,
so an extended partition was all I had. Shouldn't FreeBSD warn you about this
though? At least if you set this partition bootable...

Thanks for your quick help!

> - Also you should be aware that your root (/) parition should go before the
>   1024th cylinder on your hdd or you may have problems booting. But that
>   comes later:-)

I was planning on using LILO to boot FreeBSD too, like I boot linux.
-- 

André Dahlqvist <anedah-9@sm.luth.se>

Comment 3 Szilveszter Adam 2001-05-13 20:27:41 UTC

On Sun, May 13, 2001 at 09:11:37PM +0200, André Dahlqvist wrote:
> Guilty as charged. All my primary partions are taken with Linux partitions,

:-) Does happen sometimes:-)

> so an extended partition was all I had. Shouldn't FreeBSD warn you about this
> though? At least if you set this partition bootable...

Yes, I think warning would be reasonable (btw is this limitation anywhere
in the docs at all? I could not find it with a quick glance anywhere and
the fact that "it is common knowledge on the mailing lists" certainly does
not qualify as "documented"...)

> Thanks for your quick help!

You're welcome! I hope you will be able to start using FreeBSD soon and will
have a favourable experience!

> > - Also you should be aware that your root (/) parition should go before the
> >   1024th cylinder on your hdd or you may have problems booting. But that
> >   comes later:-)
> 
> I was planning on using LILO to boot FreeBSD too, like I boot linux.

OK, that will work.
-- 
Regards:

Szilveszter ADAM
Szeged University
Szeged Hungary

Comment 4 Mike Heffner freebsd_committer

2001-06-30 05:34:38 UTC

State Changed
From-To: open->closed

FreeBSD is unable to install on extended partition.