Fedora 16 kernel panic

[Brian Johnson]

Hello Fedora Users list!

I sent this recently to our local LUG list, but no one was able to help. I
looked to see if this has been talked about and as far as I know, it hasn't
(outside of something similar with Fedora 15, but it seemed the solution
there was incomplete).

I have 3 kernels installed on my Fedora 16 laptop
-- kernel-3.2.2-1.fc16.i686, kernel-3.2.5-3.fc16.i686
and kernel-3.2.6-3.fc16.i686. When I try to boot 3.2.5-3 or 3.2.6-3, I get
a kernel panic message with the message "initramfs unpacking failed
uncompression error" followed by "not syncing, no init found". Both of
these were installed via normal yum updating; nothing out of the ordinary
for them.

In the beginning, booting into the oldest one, 3.2.2-1 has no problems,
fortunately. Haven't seen anything helpful mentioned on the Interwebz about
such an error, was wondering if anyone had seen something similar. Just to
be sure, I removed the 2 newer kernels and then did a "yum install kernel"
to see if something was corrupted the first time, but I'm still getting the
same results.

The last time I reboot, *all* of the kernels would give the error message.
I was able to first boot into single-user and then, when exiting, it boot
properly. I just installed the latest kernel update and (3.2.7.x) and
getting the same thing.

Thanks!

Brian

[Kevin Martin]

On 02/24/2012 10:58 AM, Brian Johnson wrote:
> Hello Fedora Users list!
>
> I sent this recently to our local LUG list, but no one was able to help. I looked to see if this has been talked about and as far
> as I know, it hasn't (outside of something similar with Fedora 15, but it seemed the solution there was incomplete).
>
> I have 3 kernels installed on my Fedora 16 laptop -- kernel-3.2.2-1.fc16.i686, kernel-3.2.5-3.fc16.i686
> and kernel-3.2.6-3.fc16.i686. When I try to boot 3.2.5-3 or 3.2.6-3, I get a kernel panic message with the message "initramfs
> unpacking failed uncompression error" followed by "not syncing, no init found". Both of these were installed via normal yum
> updating; nothing out of the ordinary for them.
>
> In the beginning, booting into the oldest one, 3.2.2-1 has no problems, fortunately. Haven't seen anything helpful mentioned on
> the Interwebz about such an error, was wondering if anyone had seen something similar. Just to be sure, I removed the 2 newer
> kernels and then did a "yum install kernel" to see if something was corrupted the first time, but I'm still getting the same results.
>
> The last time I reboot, *all* of the kernels would give the error message. I was able to first boot into single-user and then,
> when exiting, it boot properly. I just installed the latest kernel update and (3.2.7.x) and getting the same thing.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Brian

Brian,

What does your grub or grub2 config file look like?

Kevin

[Brian Johnson]

Thanks Kevin, and sorry...I should've had that at the ready.

I'm assuming you want the entirety of /etc/grub2.cfg? If not, I apologize
for the length....

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
  insmod vga
  insmod video_bochs
  insmod video_cirrus
}

set timeout=5
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Fedora (3.2.7-1.fc16.i686)' --class fedora --class gnu-linux
--class gnu --class os {
        load_video
        set gfxpayload=keep
        insmod gzio
        insmod part_gpt
        insmod btrfs
        set root='(hd0,gpt2)'
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
0697abcb-b17a-4a12-8d13-412cff217b65
        echo 'Loading Fedora (3.2.7-1.fc16.i686)'
        linux   /vmlinuz-3.2.7-1.fc16.i686
root=/dev/mapper/vg_divebomb-lv_root ro
rd.luks.uuid=luks-f85d3bfc-6995-4169-b243-8daa897e2cad rd.md=0 rd.dm=0
 KEYTABLE=us quiet SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_swap
rhgb rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_root LANG=en_US.UTF-8
        echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
        initrd /initramfs-3.2.7-1.fc16.i686.img
}
menuentry 'Fedora (3.2.6-3.fc16.i686)' --class fedora --class gnu-linux
--class gnu --class os {
        load_video
        set gfxpayload=keep
        insmod gzio
        insmod part_gpt
        insmod btrfs
        set root='(hd0,gpt2)'
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
0697abcb-b17a-4a12-8d13-412cff217b65
        echo 'Loading Fedora (3.2.6-3.fc16.i686)'
        linux   /vmlinuz-3.2.6-3.fc16.i686
root=/dev/mapper/vg_divebomb-lv_root ro
rd.luks.uuid=luks-f85d3bfc-6995-4169-b243-8daa897e2cad rd.md=0 rd.dm=0
 KEYTABLE=us quiet SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_swap
rhgb rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_root LANG=en_US.UTF-8
        echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
        initrd /initramfs-3.2.6-3.fc16.i686.img
}
menuentry 'Fedora (3.2.2-1.fc16.i686)' --class fedora --class gnu-linux
--class gnu --class os {
        load_video
        set gfxpayload=keep
        insmod gzio
        insmod part_gpt
        insmod btrfs
        set root='(hd0,gpt2)'
        search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
0697abcb-b17a-4a12-8d13-412cff217b65
        echo 'Loading Fedora (3.2.2-1.fc16.i686)'
        linux   /vmlinuz-3.2.2-1.fc16.i686
root=/dev/mapper/vg_divebomb-lv_root ro
rd.luks.uuid=luks-f85d3bfc-6995-4169-b243-8daa897e2cad rd.md=0 rd.dm=0
 KEYTABLE=us quiet SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_swap
rhgb rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_root LANG=en_US.UTF-8
        echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
        initrd /initramfs-3.2.2-1.fc16.i686.img
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type
the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/90_persistent ###
### END /etc/grub.d/90_persistent ###

On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 12:32 PM, Kevin Martin wrote:
> On 02/24/2012 10:58 AM, Brian Johnson wrote:
>
> Hello Fedora Users list!
>
> I sent this recently to our local LUG list, but no one was able to help.
> I looked to see if this has been talked about and as far as I know, it
> hasn't (outside of something similar with Fedora 15, but it seemed the
> solution there was incomplete).
>
> I have 3 kernels installed on my Fedora 16 laptop
> -- kernel-3.2.2-1.fc16.i686, kernel-3.2.5-3.fc16.i686
> and kernel-3.2.6-3.fc16.i686. When I try to boot 3.2.5-3 or 3.2.6-3, I get
> a kernel panic message with the message "initramfs unpacking failed
> uncompression error" followed by "not syncing, no init found". Both of
> these were installed via normal yum updating; nothing out of the ordinary
> for them.
>
> In the beginning, booting into the oldest one, 3.2.2-1 has no problems,
> fortunately. Haven't seen anything helpful mentioned on the Interwebz about
> such an error, was wondering if anyone had seen something similar. Just to
> be sure, I removed the 2 newer kernels and then did a "yum install kernel"
> to see if something was corrupted the first time, but I'm still getting the
> same results.
>
> The last time I reboot, *all* of the kernels would give the error
> message. I was able to first boot into single-user and then, when exiting,
> it boot properly. I just installed the latest kernel update and (3.2.7.x)
> and getting the same thing.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Brian
>
> Brian,
>
> What does your grub or grub2 config file look like?
>
> Kevin
>
> --
> users mailing list
> [e-mail]
> To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
> https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/users
> Guidelines: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
> Have a question? Ask away: http://ask.fedoraproject.org

[Tom Horsley]

On Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:58:55 -0500
Brian Johnson wrote:
> "initramfs unpacking failed
> uncompression error"

It is just a gzipped cpio archive, try running it through
gzip -d < initramfsfile | cpio -t (or something like that,
I'd check the options if I were you :-).

If that fails, the file is probably corrupted.

[Kevin Martin]

On 02/24/2012 11:45 AM, Brian Johnson wrote:
> Thanks Kevin, and sorry...I should've had that at the ready.
>
> I'm assuming you want the entirety of /etc/grub2.cfg? If not, I apologize for the length....
>
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
> if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
>   load_env
> fi
> set default="0"
> if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
>   set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
>   save_env saved_entry
>   set prev_saved_entry=
>   save_env prev_saved_entry
>   set boot_once=true
> fi
>
> function savedefault {
>   if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
>     saved_entry="${chosen}"
>     save_env saved_entry
>   fi
> }
>
> function load_video {
>   insmod vbe
>   insmod vga
>   insmod video_bochs
>   insmod video_cirrus
> }
>
> set timeout=5
> ### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
>
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
> menuentry 'Fedora (3.2.7-1.fc16.i686)' --class fedora --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
>         load_video
>         set gfxpayload=keep
>         insmod gzio
>         insmod part_gpt
>         insmod btrfs
>         set root='(hd0,gpt2)'
>         search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0697abcb-b17a-4a12-8d13-412cff217b65
>         echo 'Loading Fedora (3.2.7-1.fc16.i686)'
>         linux   /vmlinuz-3.2.7-1.fc16.i686 root=/dev/mapper/vg_divebomb-lv_root ro
> rd.luks.uuid=luks-f85d3bfc-6995-4169-b243-8daa897e2cad rd.md http://rd.md=0 rd.dm http://rd.dm=0  KEYTABLE=us quiet
> SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 rd.lvm.lv http://rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_swap rhgb rd.lvm.lv http://rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_root
> LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>         echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
>         initrd /initramfs-3.2.7-1.fc16.i686.img
> }
> menuentry 'Fedora (3.2.6-3.fc16.i686)' --class fedora --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
>         load_video
>         set gfxpayload=keep
>         insmod gzio
>         insmod part_gpt
>         insmod btrfs
>         set root='(hd0,gpt2)'
>         search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0697abcb-b17a-4a12-8d13-412cff217b65
>         echo 'Loading Fedora (3.2.6-3.fc16.i686)'
>         linux   /vmlinuz-3.2.6-3.fc16.i686 root=/dev/mapper/vg_divebomb-lv_root ro
> rd.luks.uuid=luks-f85d3bfc-6995-4169-b243-8daa897e2cad rd.md http://rd.md=0 rd.dm http://rd.dm=0  KEYTABLE=us quiet
> SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 rd.lvm.lv http://rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_swap rhgb rd.lvm.lv http://rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_root
> LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>         echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
>         initrd /initramfs-3.2.6-3.fc16.i686.img
> }
> menuentry 'Fedora (3.2.2-1.fc16.i686)' --class fedora --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
>         load_video
>         set gfxpayload=keep
>         insmod gzio
>         insmod part_gpt
>         insmod btrfs
>         set root='(hd0,gpt2)'
>         search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0697abcb-b17a-4a12-8d13-412cff217b65
>         echo 'Loading Fedora (3.2.2-1.fc16.i686)'
>         linux   /vmlinuz-3.2.2-1.fc16.i686 root=/dev/mapper/vg_divebomb-lv_root ro
> rd.luks.uuid=luks-f85d3bfc-6995-4169-b243-8daa897e2cad rd.md http://rd.md=0 rd.dm http://rd.dm=0  KEYTABLE=us quiet
> SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 rd.lvm.lv http://rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_swap rhgb rd.lvm.lv http://rd.lvm.lv=vg_divebomb/lv_root
> LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>         echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
>         initrd /initramfs-3.2.2-1.fc16.i686.img
> }
> ### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
>
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
> ### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
>
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
> ### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
> # This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
> # menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
> # the 'exec tail' line above.
> ### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
>
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
> if [ -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
>   source $prefix/custom.cfg;
> fi
> ### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
>
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/90_persistent ###
> ### END /etc/grub.d/90_persistent ###
>
> On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 12:32 PM, Kevin Martin <[e-mail] > wrote:
> On 02/24/2012 10:58 AM, Brian Johnson wrote:
> > Hello Fedora Users list!
> >
> > I sent this recently to our local LUG list, but no one was able to help. I looked to see if this has been talked about and as
> > far as I know, it hasn't (outside of something similar with Fedora 15, but it seemed the solution there was incomplete).
> >
> > I have 3 kernels installed on my Fedora 16 laptop -- kernel-3.2.2-1.fc16.i686, kernel-3.2.5-3.fc16.i686
> > and kernel-3.2.6-3.fc16.i686. When I try to boot 3.2.5-3 or 3.2.6-3, I get a kernel panic message with the message "initramfs
> > unpacking failed uncompression error" followed by "not syncing, no init found". Both of these were installed via normal yum
> > updating; nothing out of the ordinary for them.
> >
> > In the beginning, booting into the oldest one, 3.2.2-1 has no problems, fortunately. Haven't seen anything helpful mentioned
> > on the Interwebz about such an error, was wondering if anyone had seen something similar. Just to be sure, I removed the 2
> > newer kernels and then did a "yum install kernel" to see if something was corrupted the first time, but I'm still getting the
> > same results. 
> >
> > The last time I reboot, *all* of the kernels would give the error message. I was able to first boot into single-user and
> > then, when exiting, it boot properly. I just installed the latest kernel update and (3.2.7.x) and getting the same thing.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Brian
> Brian,
>
> What does your grub or grub2 config file look like?
>
> Kevin
>
> --
> users mailing list
> [e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>
> To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
> https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/users
> Guidelines: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
> Have a question? Ask away: http://ask.fedoraproject.org

So 3.2.2 isn't booting now either (at least, not until single-user mode and then exit)?  Have you tried updating dracut and then
rebuilding your initramfs with dracut -f?

Kevin

[Harald Hoyer]

Am 24.02.2012 19:02 schrieb "Tom Horsley" :
> On Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:58:55 -0500
> Brian Johnson wrote:
> > "initramfs unpacking failed
> > uncompression error"
>
> It is just a gzipped cpio archive, try running it through
> gzip -d < initramfsfile | cpio -t (or something like that,
> I'd check the options if I were you :-).

# lsinitrd <file>

[Brian Johnson]

Thank you all for the responses. I went to reboot my laptop into the old
3.2.2 kernel to confirm that it was having the same issue, and it boot into
it with no problem. I then reboot my laptop and let it start up with the
latest 3.2.7 kernel, and it, too, started with no problem again.

There doesn't seem to be any consistency to it. Hadn't had a chance to make
any of the suggested changes below....

On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 1:43 PM, Harald Hoyer wrote:
> Am 24.02.2012 19:02 schrieb "Tom Horsley" :
> > On Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:58:55 -0500
> > Brian Johnson wrote:
> > > "initramfs unpacking failed
> > > uncompression error"
> >
> > It is just a gzipped cpio archive, try running it through
> > gzip -d < initramfsfile | cpio -t (or something like that,
> > I'd check the options if I were you :-).
>
> # lsinitrd <file>
>
> --
> users mailing list
> [e-mail]
> To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
> https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/users
> Guidelines: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
> Have a question? Ask away: http://ask.fedoraproject.org

[James Wilkinson]

Brian Johnson wrote:
> Thank you all for the responses. I went to reboot my laptop into the old
> 3.2.2 kernel to confirm that it was having the same issue, and it boot into
> it with no problem. I then reboot my laptop and let it start up with the
> latest 3.2.7 kernel, and it, too, started with no problem again.
>
> There doesn't seem to be any consistency to it. Hadn't had a chance to make
> any of the suggested changes below....

One possible explanation is dodgy memory: do give it a check. The
memtest86 on a Fedora install would be good for that. There’s also a
chance that some other part of your system (possibly the processor)
isn’t working quite properly: keep an eye out for that. (One traditional
stress-test for processor and memory is a kernel compile).

Hope this helps,

James.

[Kevin Martin]

On 02/24/2012 03:00 PM, James Wilkinson wrote:
> Brian Johnson wrote:
> > Thank you all for the responses. I went to reboot my laptop into the old
> > 3.2.2 kernel to confirm that it was having the same issue, and it boot into
> > it with no problem. I then reboot my laptop and let it start up with the
> > latest 3.2.7 kernel, and it, too, started with no problem again.
> >
> > There doesn't seem to be any consistency to it. Hadn't had a chance to make
> > any of the suggested changes below....
>
> One possible explanation is dodgy memory: do give it a check. The
> memtest86 on a Fedora install would be good for that. There’s also a
> chance that some other part of your system (possibly the processor)
> isn’t working quite properly: keep an eye out for that. (One traditional
> stress-test for processor and memory is a kernel compile).
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> James.

Hmm, yes, that is interesting. It boots into the newest kernel now with no changes from you when it wasn't before. Definitely sounds
like it could be hardware related.

Kevin