Initializing a 64bit system using guix on a 32bit OS

Initializing a 64bit system using guix on a 32bit OS

[Alex Kost]

Hello, I have Guix installed on a 32-bit "ArchLinux", and I use the
following command to “deploy” a 64-bit GuixSD:

$ guix system init --no-grub --system=x86_64-linux my-os-config.scm /mnt/guix

However, eventually it fails with the following output:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
...
downloading `/gnu/store/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe' from `http://hydra.gnu.org/nar/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe' (0.0 MiB installed)...
http://hydra.gnu.org/nar/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe	   0.5 KiB transferredkilling process 18626
guix system: error: build failed: a `x86_64-linux' is required to build `/gnu/store/zckxg5v0pdxb22kyl6jrzawj1wwrfjby-locale.drv', but I am a `i686-linux'
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

So I'm wondering is there a way to init a 64-bit system from a 32-bit
one or perhaps it's just not possible?

-- 
Thanks in advance,
Alex

Re: Initializing a 64bit system using guix on a 32bit OS

[Ludovic Courtès]

Alex Kost <alezost@gmail.com> skribis:

> Hello, I have Guix installed on a 32-bit "ArchLinux", and I use the
> following command to “deploy” a 64-bit GuixSD:
>
> $ guix system init --no-grub --system=x86_64-linux my-os-config.scm /mnt/guix
>
> However, eventually it fails with the following output:
>
> ...
> downloading `/gnu/store/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe' from `http://hydra.gnu.org/nar/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe' (0.0 MiB installed)...
> http://hydra.gnu.org/nar/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe	   0.5 KiB transferredkilling process 18626
> guix system: error: build failed: a `x86_64-linux' is required to build `/gnu/store/zckxg5v0pdxb22kyl6jrzawj1wwrfjby-locale.drv', but I am a `i686-linux'

It works as long as there are substitutes available, but some
derivations are not substitutable, as you noticed, and since an i686
host cannot run x86_64 code, you get this error.

> So I'm wondering is there a way to init a 64-bit system from a 32-bit
> one or perhaps it's just not possible?

It actually is possible, but a little bit trickier.  Mark did it a few
weeks ago, though in a slightly different context.  The following should
work:

  1. Install an i686 GuixSD, simply with ‘guix system init’, but use an
     x86_64 kernel.  To do that, you need to explicitly ask for an
     x86_64 kernel and Guix (so that the daemon accepts to build x86_64
     things) in the OS config:

       (define linux-libre-x86_64
         (package (inherit linux-libre)
           (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
                        ,@(package-arguments linux-libre)))))

       (define guix-x86_64
         (package (inherit guix)
           (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
                        ,@(package-arguments guix)))))

       (define %my-services
         ;; Make sure the ‘guix-daemon’ services uses ‘guix-x86_64’.
         (map (lambda (mservice)
                (mlet %store-monad ((service mservice))
                  (if (memq 'guix-daemon (service-provision service))
                      (guix-daemon #:guix guix-x86_64)
                      (return service))))
              %base-services))

       (operating-system
         ;; ...
         (kernel linux-libre-x86_64)
         (services %my-services))

     Normally you’ll get the x86_64 kernel and Guix from hydra.gnu.org,
     so no problem.  The rest of the user-land will still be 32-bit.

  2. Boot into the new system, and from there run ‘guix system
     reconfigure’ with a cleaned up OS config.

Let us know how it goes!

Ludo’.

Re: Initializing a 64bit system using guix on a 32bit OS

[Mark H Weaver]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 1893 bytes --]

ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) writes:

> Alex Kost <alezost@gmail.com> skribis:
>
>> Hello, I have Guix installed on a 32-bit "ArchLinux", and I use the
>> following command to “deploy” a 64-bit GuixSD:
>>
>> $ guix system init --no-grub --system=x86_64-linux my-os-config.scm /mnt/guix
>>
>> However, eventually it fails with the following output:
>>
>> ...
>> downloading `/gnu/store/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe'
>> from
>> `http://hydra.gnu.org/nar/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe'
>> (0.0 MiB installed)...
>> http://hydra.gnu.org/nar/qf803k3npvn8632vssc4g3zp0s5klghv-modprobe	   0.5 KiB transferredkilling process 18626
>> guix system: error: build failed: a `x86_64-linux' is required to build `/gnu/store/zckxg5v0pdxb22kyl6jrzawj1wwrfjby-locale.drv', but I am a `i686-linux'
>
> It works as long as there are substitutes available, but some
> derivations are not substitutable, as you noticed, and since an i686
> host cannot run x86_64 code, you get this error.
>
>> So I'm wondering is there a way to init a 64-bit system from a 32-bit
>> one or perhaps it's just not possible?
>
> It actually is possible, but a little bit trickier.  Mark did it a few
> weeks ago, though in a slightly different context.  The following should
> work:
>
>   1. Install an i686 GuixSD, simply with ‘guix system init’, but use an
>      x86_64 kernel.  To do that, you need to explicitly ask for an
>      x86_64 kernel and Guix (so that the daemon accepts to build x86_64
>      things) in the OS config:
>
>        (define linux-libre-x86_64
>          (package (inherit linux-libre)
>            (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
>                         ,@(package-arguments linux-libre)))))

I think this is not sufficient, because it would still use the kernel
config for i686.  Here's what I used for the kernel:


[-- Warning: decoded text below may be mangled, UTF-8 assumed --]
[-- Attachment #2: 0001-LOCAL_ONLY-gnu-Add-linux-libre-64.patch --]
[-- Type: text/x-patch, Size: 1234 bytes --]

From 1f6f6c9cfecfc5bf72bdfc97caf7247090c0e1f3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Mark H Weaver <mhw@netris.org>
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:51:45 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] LOCAL_ONLY: gnu: Add linux-libre-64.

---
 gnu/packages/linux.scm | 10 ++++++++++
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+)

diff --git a/gnu/packages/linux.scm b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
index 26e9aa9..c42919d 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/linux.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
   #:use-module (guix build-system cmake)
   #:use-module (guix build-system python)
   #:use-module (guix build-system trivial)
+  #:use-module ((guix build utils) #:select (alist-replace))
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-26)
   #:use-module (ice-9 match))
 
@@ -308,6 +309,15 @@ It has been modified to remove all non-free binary blobs.")
     (license gpl2)
     (home-page "http://www.gnu.org/software/linux-libre/"))))
 
+(define linux-libre-64
+  (package (inherit linux-libre)
+    (arguments
+     `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
+       ,@(package-arguments linux-libre)))
+    (native-inputs
+     (alist-replace "kconfig" (list (kernel-config "x86_64-linux"))
+                    (package-native-inputs linux-libre)))))
+
 \f
 ;;;
 ;;; Pluggable authentication modules (PAM).
-- 
2.2.1


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    Mark

Re: Initializing a 64bit system using guix on a 32bit OS

[Alex Kost]

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Mark H Weaver (2015-05-22 20:31 +0300) wrote:

> ludo@gnu.org (Ludovic Courtès) writes:
>
>> Alex Kost <alezost@gmail.com> skribis:
[...]
>>> So I'm wondering is there a way to init a 64-bit system from a 32-bit
>>> one or perhaps it's just not possible?
>>
>> It actually is possible, but a little bit trickier.  Mark did it a few
>> weeks ago, though in a slightly different context.  The following should
>> work:
>>
>>   1. Install an i686 GuixSD, simply with ‘guix system init’, but use an
>>      x86_64 kernel.  To do that, you need to explicitly ask for an
>>      x86_64 kernel and Guix (so that the daemon accepts to build x86_64
>>      things) in the OS config:
>>
>>        (define linux-libre-x86_64
>>          (package (inherit linux-libre)
>>            (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
>>                         ,@(package-arguments linux-libre)))))
>
> I think this is not sufficient, because it would still use the kernel
> config for i686.  Here's what I used for the kernel:
[...]
> diff --git a/gnu/packages/linux.scm b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
> index 26e9aa9..c42919d 100644
> --- a/gnu/packages/linux.scm
> +++ b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
> @@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
>    #:use-module (guix build-system cmake)
>    #:use-module (guix build-system python)
>    #:use-module (guix build-system trivial)
> +  #:use-module ((guix build utils) #:select (alist-replace))
>    #:use-module (srfi srfi-26)
>    #:use-module (ice-9 match))
>  
> @@ -308,6 +309,15 @@ It has been modified to remove all non-free binary blobs.")
>      (license gpl2)
>      (home-page "http://www.gnu.org/software/linux-libre/"))))
>  
> +(define linux-libre-64
> +  (package (inherit linux-libre)
> +    (arguments
> +     `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
> +       ,@(package-arguments linux-libre)))
> +    (native-inputs
> +     (alist-replace "kconfig" (list (kernel-config "x86_64-linux"))
> +                    (package-native-inputs linux-libre)))))
> +

Thanks Ludovic and Mark!  I tried to follow your advices but eventually
I got the same error:

  guix system: error: build failed: a `x86_64-linux' is required to build `/gnu/store/zh42mbm0wvbsz05zr798nchyd3bc7fh6-guix-0.8.2.c2ee19e.drv', but I am a `i686-linux'

I used the following command:

  guix system init --no-grub config-64-simple.scm /mnt/guix

I'm attaching the OS config I used.  Did I miss anything?


[-- Attachment #2: config-64-simple.scm --]
[-- Type: text/plain, Size: 1837 bytes --]

(use-modules
 (gnu)
 (guix monads)
 (guix store)
 ((guix build utils) #:select (alist-replace))
 (guix packages)
 (gnu packages linux)
 (gnu packages package-management)
 (gnu services base))

(define linux-libre-x86_64
  (package
    (inherit linux-libre)
    (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
                 #:tests? #f
                 ,@(package-arguments linux-libre)))
    (native-inputs
     (alist-replace "kconfig" (list "/mnt/storage/src/guix/gnu/packages/linux-libre-x86_64.conf")
                    (package-native-inputs linux-libre)))))

(define guix-x86_64
  (package
    (inherit guix)
    (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
                 #:tests? #f
                 ,@(package-arguments guix)))))

(define %services
  ;; Make sure the ‘guix-daemon’ services uses ‘guix-x86_64’.
  (map (lambda (mservice)
         (mlet %store-monad ((service mservice))
               (if (memq 'guix-daemon (service-provision service))
                   (guix-service #:guix guix-x86_64)
                   (return service))))
       %base-services))

(operating-system
  (host-name "host")
  (timezone "Europe/Moscow")

  (kernel linux-libre-x86_64)

  (bootloader
   (grub-configuration (device "/dev/sda")))

  (file-systems
   (cons* (file-system
            (device "guix")
            (title 'label)
            (mount-point "/")
            (type "ext4"))
          %base-file-systems))

  (users
   (list (user-account
          (name "al")
          (uid 1000)
          (home-directory "/home/al")
          (group "users")
          (supplementary-groups
           '("wheel" "audio" "video")))))

  (packages
   (cons* iproute
          %base-packages))

  (services
   (cons* (console-keymap-service "dvorak")
          %services)))

Re: Initializing a 64bit system using guix on a 32bit OS

[Mark H Weaver]

Alex Kost <alezost@gmail.com> writes:

> Thanks Ludovic and Mark!  I tried to follow your advices but eventually
> I got the same error:
>
>   guix system: error: build failed: a `x86_64-linux' is required to
> build
> `/gnu/store/zh42mbm0wvbsz05zr798nchyd3bc7fh6-guix-0.8.2.c2ee19e.drv',
> but I am a `i686-linux'
>
> I used the following command:
>
>   guix system init --no-grub config-64-simple.scm /mnt/guix
>
> I'm attaching the OS config I used.  Did I miss anything?

I think the problem is that you disabled tests in your 'guix-x86_64'
package, which makes it a different derivation than the one built by
Hydra.  In order for this approach to work, you must ensure that you
only use substitutes until you can run a guix-daemon (and guix?) for
x86_64.  guix-daemon for i686 can download substitutes for x86_64, but
cannot build anything for x86_64.

     Mark


> (define guix-x86_64
>   (package
>     (inherit guix)
>     (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
>                  #:tests? #f
>                  ,@(package-arguments guix)))))

Re: Initializing a 64bit system using guix on a 32bit OS

[Alex Kost]

Mark H Weaver (2015-05-23 17:54 +0300) wrote:

> Alex Kost <alezost@gmail.com> writes:
>
>> Thanks Ludovic and Mark!  I tried to follow your advices but eventually
>> I got the same error:
>>
>>   guix system: error: build failed: a `x86_64-linux' is required to
>> build
>> `/gnu/store/zh42mbm0wvbsz05zr798nchyd3bc7fh6-guix-0.8.2.c2ee19e.drv',
>> but I am a `i686-linux'
>>
>> I used the following command:
>>
>>   guix system init --no-grub config-64-simple.scm /mnt/guix
>>
>> I'm attaching the OS config I used.  Did I miss anything?
>
> I think the problem is that you disabled tests in your 'guix-x86_64'
> package, which makes it a different derivation than the one built by
> Hydra.  In order for this approach to work, you must ensure that you
> only use substitutes until you can run a guix-daemon (and guix?) for
> x86_64.  guix-daemon for i686 can download substitutes for x86_64, but
> cannot build anything for x86_64.

Yes, thanks; after sending that message I realized that disabling tests
might affect, so I tried again without “#:tests? #f” and it failed
again.

Originally I disabled tests when I realized that it would try to build
guix and linux (as both sources were downloaded).  However I have just
tried again and "zrlp8p8fv75i59ljwih6c15r5229ph0h-guix-0.8.2.c2ee19e" is
being downloaded right now!  So apparently the problem was that
"c2ee19e" snapshot wasn't built on hydra the first time I performed
"guix system init".

So it looks like this time the process is going to be finished
succesfully (I'll report about the result).

-- 
Alex

Re: Initializing a 64bit system using guix on a 32bit OS

[Alex Kost]

Ludovic Courtès (2015-05-22 16:28 +0300) wrote:

> Alex Kost <alezost@gmail.com> skribis:
[...]
>> So I'm wondering is there a way to init a 64-bit system from a 32-bit
>> one or perhaps it's just not possible?
>
> It actually is possible, but a little bit trickier.  Mark did it a few
> weeks ago, though in a slightly different context.  The following should
> work:
>
>   1. Install an i686 GuixSD, simply with ‘guix system init’, but use an
>      x86_64 kernel.  To do that, you need to explicitly ask for an
>      x86_64 kernel and Guix (so that the daemon accepts to build x86_64
>      things) in the OS config:
>
>        (define linux-libre-x86_64
>          (package (inherit linux-libre)
>            (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
>                         ,@(package-arguments linux-libre)))))
>
>        (define guix-x86_64
>          (package (inherit guix)
>            (arguments `(#:system "x86_64-linux"
>                         ,@(package-arguments guix)))))
>
>        (define %my-services
>          ;; Make sure the ‘guix-daemon’ services uses ‘guix-x86_64’.
>          (map (lambda (mservice)
>                 (mlet %store-monad ((service mservice))
>                   (if (memq 'guix-daemon (service-provision service))
>                       (guix-daemon #:guix guix-x86_64)
>                       (return service))))
>               %base-services))
>
>        (operating-system
>          ;; ...
>          (kernel linux-libre-x86_64)
>          (services %my-services))
>
>      Normally you’ll get the x86_64 kernel and Guix from hydra.gnu.org,
>      so no problem.  The rest of the user-land will still be 32-bit.
>
>   2. Boot into the new system, and from there run ‘guix system
>      reconfigure’ with a cleaned up OS config.
>
> Let us know how it goes!

Mark and Ludovic, thank you very much!  Eventually I installed a 64-bit
system from a 32-bit Guix, based on your notes.

Guix is great!  Ave Guix!!

-- 
Alex