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FCoE requires /var and /usr unseparated from rootfs for network boot from SAN

This document (7018341) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment


SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 Service Pack 1 (SLES 12 SP1)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 4 (SLES 11 SP4)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 3 (SLES 11 SP3)

Situation

Attempting to separate the /var and /usr filesystems from / (rootfs) in a FCoE network boot from SAN environment fails.

Resolution

Leave /var and /usr in the / (rootfs) partition on the FCoE initiator disk. They must remain in the rootfs for a successful network boot via FCoE initiator.

Cause

Non rootfs partitions are mounted after /. The FCoE services require binaries that are contained in /usr and depend on /var for storing the PID info. Separating the partitions will prevent the boot.fcoe and boot.lldpad services from starting.

The boot.d/ configuration starts services in this order:

 
  /etc/rc.d/boot.d/S07boot.lldpad  -> Starts /sbin/lldpad
  /etc/rc.d/boot.d/S08boot.fcoe    -> Tries to start /usr/sbin/* fcoe binaries
  /etc/rc.d/boot.d/S10boot.localfs -> Runs 'mount -a' to mount /usr & /var

The boot.fcoe script will always fail on systems with a separate /usr filesystem since the executable are not yet available. During the boot, boot.lldpad fails with:


Starting lldpad: <notice -- Sep 17 23:16:37.710083000> start_daemon: execve (/sbin/lldpad) [ /sbin/lldpad -d ],... ROOTFS_BLKDEV=/dev/vg00/rootlv _=/sbin/start_daemon DAEMON=/sbin/lldpad ] failed <notice -- Sep 17 23:16:37.712123000> 'boot.lldpad start' exits with status 1

And boot.fcoe fails with:

 <notice -- Sep 17 23:16:37.751224000> boot.fcoe start
 /usr/sbin/fcoeadm not installed
 Failed

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

  • Document ID:7018341
  • Creation Date: 01-Dec-2016
  • Modified Date:03-Mar-2020
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

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