Hello,
While trying to install Qlustar 12 on one node of the server appears the next error: "The installer has not found any unused disks, installation cannot continue". ISO is directly connected though KVM to the server, so install media shouldn't be the problem. Opening a shell and executing "mdadm --detail-platform" appears this error: "imsm capabilities not found for controller..." and doesent show the existing volume.
I have a RAID0 configured with 2 SSDs on a Intel RSTe RAID controller. Model of the server is SYS-6028TP-HTFR. Other SOs can install flawless.
Thank you for your help in advice.
"ja" == juancarlos armas juancarlos.armas@russula.com writes:
Hi Juan Carlos,
ja> Hello, While trying to install Qlustar 12 on one node of the ja> server appears the next error: "The installer has not found any ja> unused disks, installation cannot continue". ISO is directly ja> connected though KVM to the server, so install media shouldn't ja> be the problem. Opening a shell and executing "mdadm ja> --detail-platform" appears this error: "imsm capabilities not ja> found for controller..." and doesent show the existing volume.
ja> I have a RAID0 configured with 2 SSDs on a Intel RSTe RAID ja> controller. Model of the server is SYS-6028TP-HTFR. Other SOs ja> can install flawless.
if this is a hardware RAID created in the BIOS, you could try to delete the RAID and map the disks out as single disks possibly by setting the BIOS mode AHCI for them. Then the installer will probably see them and you can create a software RAID within the installer.
Best,
Roland
Hello Roland, thank you for your reply.
We've tried that, but the same result appears. We deleted the RAID 0 volume, changed to AHCI and cleaned up both disk, but "not found any unused disks" error appears again. We tried also change from AHCI to IDE, but same problem appears.
The strage thing about this is when i enter on the shell, with a "lsblk" i can see the disks, and can mount and write on them, but when i return to the installer the problem appears after i press the return key to start the installation.
i've tried all of this also on Qlustar 11 in case of an incompatibility between the RAID controller and Ubuntu 20.04, but same error during install appears.
Also, if this info can help, I found that Intel RSTe RAID Controller is a FakeRaid controller based on software, not a hardware one. On diferent sites I discover that this can be managed by mdadmin, what is installed on the LiveCD. On Qlustar 12 appears the error mentioned in my previous message, but in Qlustar 11 that error doesn't appears.
Regards
"J" == juancarlos armas juancarlos.armas@russula.com writes:
J> Hello Roland, thank you for your reply. We've tried that, but J> the same result appears. We deleted the RAID 0 volume, changed to J> AHCI and cleaned up both disk, but "not found any unused disks" J> error appears again. We tried also change from AHCI to IDE, but J> same problem appears.
J> The strage thing about this is when i enter on the shell, with a J> "lsblk" i can see the disks, and can mount and write on them, but J> when i return to the installer the problem appears after i press J> the return key to start the installation.
Hmm, what is the device name of the disks? Maybe it's something weird the installer doesn't recognize ...
Hello Roland,
Names of disk are normal. They're /dev/sda and /dev/sdb.
Controller of the disks is Intel Rapid Storage Technology enterprise on version 4.1.0.1026, which is integrated on the motherboard Intel® C612 that this server mounts.
When i change from RAID to AHCI or IDE mdadm can't see the RAID controller, but disks still don't get recognised by the installer.
Regards.
"J" == juancarlos armas juancarlos.armas@russula.com writes:
J> Hello Roland, Names of disk are normal. They're /dev/sda and J> /dev/sdb.
Just to confirm this, can you start the installer and once the welcome screen comes up, open a shell and type 'ls /dev/sd?' If you indeed see sda/b then, I have no idea why they wouldn't appear in the list of available disks for selection in the installer.
Hello Roland,
Yes, 'ls /dev/sd?' lists the two drives that are connected to the server.
Thanks.
Hallo,
one thing that could be happening is that the disks still contain the raid signature. Most of the onboard raid is purely a software thing and for many Linux knows the signature and supports the same raid format in the dm-raid modules. Weather the raid support in the bios is on or off doesn't matter here as Linux will always see the raw disks and only the signature on the disk is relevant.
On the other hand the installer doesn't know about dm-raid and can't wipe the raid signature. It would only see the disks as being "in use".
Please run "cat /proc/partitions" and "ls -lh /dev/mapper" to see if there is a raid up and running. Removing the raid signature on the disks would solve the problem then.
Regards, Goswin von Brederlow
Hello Goswin,
On the BIOS RAID configuration i deleted the volume and reset the disks to non-raid disks. Also, to ensure the disks are clean i started a Debian live and format both drives to ensure they are clean, but no results.
The oputs of the commands you ask doesnt appear any raid volume, disks appears as normal and non raid ones.
For "ls -lh /dev/mapper" Only appears the live partitions.
For "cat /proc/partitions" i see all devices connected to the server, but not RAID volumes.
Thank you for your help
Hello all,
We finaly found a solution!
The problem was with the RAID controller. Intel RSTe seems not to be supported by the installer. Curious thing here is that by shell you can mount and write on the disks that installer cannot see.
By reading some docs of the server, we found a BIOS upgrade that changes the Intel RSTe to "VROC PreOS" as described on the next link. https://www.supermicro.com/Bios/softfiles/9992/P-X10DRT-P-PT-PIBF-PIBQ_BIOS_...
After performing the update, Qlustar can now see the disks. It still cannot se the RAID volumes of the controller, but from now we can install the SO.
Thank you Roland and Goswing for your help and support.
"J" == juancarlos armas juancarlos.armas@russula.com writes:
Hi Juan Carlos,
J> Hello all, We finaly found a solution!
great news. Glad you could make it work.
J> The problem was with the RAID controller. Intel RSTe seems not to J> be supported by the installer. Curious thing here is that by J> shell you can mount and write on the disks that installer cannot J> see.
That's weird indeed.
J> By reading some docs of the server, we found a BIOS upgrade that J> changes the Intel RSTe to "VROC PreOS" as described on the next J> link. J> https://www.supermicro.com/Bios/softfiles/9992/P-X10DRT-P-PT-PIBF-PIBQ_BIOS_...
J> After performing the update, Qlustar can now see the disks. It J> still cannot se the RAID volumes of the controller, but from now J> we can install the SO.
OK, good luck.
J> Thank you Roland and Goswing for your help and support.
You're welcome.
Best,
Roland
-
Goswin von Brederlow -
juancarlos.armas＠russula.com -
Roland Fehrenbacher