bug#48762: Bug in guix installer (seems to be unable to create swap) - reproducable

bug#48762: Bug in guix installer (seems to be unable to create swap) - reproducable

[Andrew "Truck" Holland]

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I have attempted to install 1.3.0 from the iso, but the "guided"
install encounters an error after partitioning; which if I read
correctly, indicates swap cannot be created.

This happens when I use _any_ partitioning scheme, manual or
automatic.

The command 'mkswap -f /dev/sda3' executes correctly from the shell
session on tty3 from the installer.

Sadly, this is also fatal and the installation cannot continue, so
I'm a bit surprized no one has reported this - as I can recreate
this situation reliably every time I attempt it.  (Maybe I just am
blind and cannot find the bug report at the guix bug tracker, if
so, my apologies for the duplicate.)

Error file attached.
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In ice-9/ports.scm:
    478:4 19 (with-error-to-port _ _)
In guix/build/utils.scm:
    654:6 18 (invoke _ . _)
In ice-9/boot-9.scm:
  1669:16 17 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16 16 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16 15 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16 14 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16 13 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16 12 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16 11 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16 10 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16  9 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16  8 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1667:16  7 (raise-exception _ #:continuable? _)
  1764:13  6 (_ #<&invoke-error program: "mkswap" arguments: ("-f" "/dev/sda3") exit-status: 1 term-signal: #f stop-signal: #f>)
In ice-9/eval.scm:
    619:8  5 (_ #(#(#<directory (guile-user) 7f2d93296c80> #<<installer> name: newt init: #<procedure init ()> exit: #<procedure exit ()> exit-error: #<procedure exit-error (file key args)> f…>) …))
    619:8  4 (_ #(#(#(#<directory (guile-user) 7f2d93296c80> #<<installer> name: newt init: #<procedure init ()> exit: #<procedure exit ()> exit-error: #<procedure exit-error (file key arg…>) …) #))
In ice-9/ports.scm:
   463:17  3 (call-with-output-file _ _ #:binary _ #:encoding _)
In ice-9/eval.scm:
    619:8  2 (_ #(#(#<directory (guile-user) 7f2d93296c80> %exception (#<&invoke-error program: "mkswap" arguments: ("-f" "/dev/sda3") exit-status: 1 term-signal: #f stop-signal: #f>)) #<output:…>))
    159:9  1 (_ #(#(#<directory (guile-user) 7f2d93296c80> %exception (#<&invoke-error program: "mkswap" arguments: ("-f" "/dev/sda3") exit-status: 1 term-signal: #f stop-signal: #f>)) #<output:…>))
In unknown file:
           0 (make-stack #t)
ice-9/eval.scm:159:9: ERROR:
  1. &invoke-error:
      program: "mkswap"
      arguments: ("-f" "/dev/sda3")
      exit-status: 1
      term-signal: #f
      stop-signal: #f

bug#48762: Bug in guix installer (seems to be unable to create swap) - reproducable

[Mathieu Othacehe]

Hello Andrew,

> This happens when I use _any_ partitioning scheme, manual or
> automatic.

Thanks for the complete bug report. I think that this bug falls into the
same category as https://issues.guix.gnu.org/47996,
https://issues.guix.gnu.org/47567, https://issues.guix.gnu.org/44872 and
probably some others.

The "free-parted" procedure that makes sure that all the partitions are
created and not in use probably fails in some configurations. Otherwise,
I cannot understand why the "mkswap" binary would fail.

We may need to come up with a new procedure that provides stronger
guarantees.

Thanks,

Mathieu

bug#48762: Bug in guix installer (seems to be unable to create swap) - reproducable

[Andrew "Truck" Holland]

I would _asume_ it could not be "EBUSY" as I see nothing in the script that
would mount the drive... Again: this is the script, not custom.  This is
100% reproducable in all my setups: just try using the defaults from the
installer, and you should hit this.

This occurs immediately after partitioning, which _does_ succeed.

- you say "some configurations" - try the DEFAULT. Let it wipe the HD, 
partition, and:  fail.

A guess, but ... one that makes no sense:

Surely it isn't one of those "old kernel" type problems where the new
partition scheme isn't known, and therefore, kernel can't find the partition
that the script expects?  I haven't seen one of those issues for... over
15 years (:

On Sun, Jun 13, 2021 at 03:12:32PM +0200, Ludovic Courtès wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Mathieu Othacehe <othacehe@gnu.org> skribis:
> 
> > The "free-parted" procedure that makes sure that all the partitions are
> > created and not in use probably fails in some configurations. Otherwise,
> > I cannot understand why the "mkswap" binary would fail.
> 
> Do we know why ‘mkswap’ exited with code 1, though?  EBUSY or could it
> be something else?
> 
> Thanks,
> Ludo’.
> 

bug#48762: Bug in guix installer (seems to be unable to create swap) - reproducable

[Ludovic Courtès]

Hi,

Mathieu Othacehe <othacehe@gnu.org> skribis:

> The "free-parted" procedure that makes sure that all the partitions are
> created and not in use probably fails in some configurations. Otherwise,
> I cannot understand why the "mkswap" binary would fail.

Do we know why ‘mkswap’ exited with code 1, though?  EBUSY or could it
be something else?

Thanks,
Ludo’.