RHEL 5.3 failure: repodata/primary.xml.gz

[Rodrique Heron]

Using cobbler 1.6.2 on Centos 5.2, I am try to deploy a RHEL 5.3 system. I
get as far a selecting what disk I want to format and confirm. Then I am
prompted with this error:

Unable to read package metadata. This may be due to a missing repodata
directory. Please ensure that your install tree has been correctly
generated. failure: repodata/primary.xml.gz from
anaconda-base-200901061732.x86_64: {Errno 256] No more mirrors to try.

I re-imported the distro several times using a different name, and each I
was able to reproduce the error.

I imported the RHEL 5.3 DVD, by issuing:

cobbler import --name="rhel-srv-5.3-64bit" --mirror=/mnt
--rsync-flags="--quiet" --arch=x86_6

The output from this is available on pastebin, I had to split in three:

http://cobbler.pastebin.com/d5052eb98
http://cobbler.pastebin.com/d252ead8a
http://cobbler.pastebin.com/d29dd5d91

[Jasper Capel]

On 04/17/2009 01:03 AM, Rodrique Heron wrote:
> I imported the RHEL 5.3 DVD, by issuing:
>
> cobbler import --name="rhel-srv-5.3-64bit" --mirror=/mnt
> --rsync-flags="--quiet" --arch=x86_6

Your saying x86_6 here, did you actually type that or is it a copy/paste
error?

[Rodrique Heron]

On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 2:53 AM, Jasper Capel  wrote:
> On 04/17/2009 01:03 AM, Rodrique Heron wrote:
> > I imported the RHEL 5.3 DVD, by issuing:
> >
> > cobbler import --name="rhel-srv-5.3-64bit" --mirror=/mnt
> > --rsync-flags="--quiet" --arch=x86_6
>
> Your saying x86_6 here, did you actually type that or is it a copy/paste
> error?

It is a copy/paste error.

[Rodrique Heron]

On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 7:25 AM, Rodrique Heron  wrote:
> On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 2:53 AM, Jasper Capel  wrote:
> > On 04/17/2009 01:03 AM, Rodrique Heron wrote:
> > > I imported the RHEL 5.3 DVD, by issuing:
> > >
> > > cobbler import --name="rhel-srv-5.3-64bit" --mirror=/mnt
> > > --rsync-flags="--quiet" --arch=x86_6
> >
> > Your saying x86_6 here, did you actually type that or is it a copy/paste
> > error?
>
> It is a copy/paste error.

I am wondering if this could be a network related issue. I have set in
kernel options "ksdevice=bootif", does anyone know if the interface found is
kept after "Anaconda Probe" completes and the installation begins?

I don't believe this is the issue, because I was able to install CentOS on
the same server.

[Michael DeHaan]

Rodrique Heron wrote:
> On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 7:25 AM, Rodrique Heron <[e-mail] 
> > wrote:
> On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 2:53 AM, Jasper Capel <[e-mail]
> <mailto:[e-mail]>> wrote:
>
>     On 04/17/2009 01:03 AM, Rodrique Heron wrote:
>     > I imported the RHEL 5.3 DVD, by issuing:
>     >
>     > cobbler import --name="rhel-srv-5.3-64bit" --mirror=/mnt
>     > --rsync-flags="--quiet" --arch=x86_6
>     >
>
>     Your saying x86_6 here, did you actually type that or is it a
>     copy/paste
>     error?
>
>
> It is a copy/paste error.
>
>
> I am wondering if this could be a network related issue. I have set in 
> kernel options "ksdevice=bootif", does anyone know if the interface 
> found is kept after "Anaconda Probe" completes and the installation 
> begins?
>
> I don't believe this is the issue, because I was able to install 
> CentOS on the same server.

That seems likely, but I don't think it is ksdevice related or we'd be 
hearing about it a lot more.

That interface found should be the one used for all requests.    Make 
sure your /etc/cobble/pxe/ templates have "IPAPPEND 2" in them.  The new 
ones do.  (make sure no .rpmnew files are lying around)

You could perhaps have some sort of proxy/cache in the way too?

--Michael

[Rodrique Heron]

On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 11:04 AM, Michael DeHaan  wrote:
> Rodrique Heron wrote:
> > On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 7:25 AM, Rodrique Heron <[e-mail]
> > > wrote:
> > On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 2:53 AM, Jasper Capel <[e-mail]
> > <mailto:[e-mail]>> wrote:
> >
> >     On 04/17/2009 01:03 AM, Rodrique Heron wrote:
> >     > I imported the RHEL 5.3 DVD, by issuing:
> >     >
> >     > cobbler import --name="rhel-srv-5.3-64bit" --mirror=/mnt
> >     > --rsync-flags="--quiet" --arch=x86_6
> >     >
> >
> >     Your saying x86_6 here, did you actually type that or is it a
> >     copy/paste
> >     error?
> >
> >
> > It is a copy/paste error.
> >
> >
> > I am wondering if this could be a network related issue. I have set in
> > kernel options "ksdevice=bootif", does anyone know if the interface
> > found is kept after "Anaconda Probe" completes and the installation
> > begins?
> >
> > I don't believe this is the issue, because I was able to install
> > CentOS on the same server.
>
> That seems likely, but I don't think it is ksdevice related or we'd be
> hearing about it a lot more.
>
> That interface found should be the one used for all requests.

This is what I thought, then its more likely its a RHEL 5.3 issue, because I
can install Centos 5.2 without issue, using the same ksdevice option.

Any one can report succuess with RHEL 5.3 ?

Make
> sure your /etc/cobble/pxe/ templates have "IPAPPEND 2" in them.  The new
> ones do.  (make sure no .rpmnew files are lying around)
>
> You could perhaps have some sort of proxy/cache in the way too?
>
> --Michael

I have no .rpmnew files lying around, and  its 1.6.2, which have the
ipappend value. When you say proxy/cache, are you thinking something between
cobbler and they server being built? If so, I have no proxy on my network.