Re: Linux mdadm superblock question.

[Volker Armin Hemmann <volkerarmin@googlemail.com>]

On Dienstag 16 Februar 2010, Nick Bowler wrote:
> On 22:06 Tue 16 Feb     , Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> > On Dienstag 16 Februar 2010, Bill Davidsen wrote:
> > > Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> > > > On Sonntag 14 Februar 2010, you wrote:
> > > >> In other words, 'auto-detection' for 1.x format devices is using an
> > > >> initrd/initramfs.
> > > > 
> > > > which makes 1.x format useless for everybody who does not want to
> > > > deal with initrd/initramfs.
> > > 
> > > You make this sound like some major big deal. are you running your own
> > > distribution? In most cases mkinitrd does the right thing when you
> > > "make install" the kernel, and if you are doing something in the build
> > > so complex that it needs options, you really should understand the
> > > options and be sure you're doing what you want.
> > > 
> > > Generally this involves preloading a module or two, and if you need it
> > > every time you probably should have built it in, anyway.
> > > 
> > > My opinion...
> > 
> > I am running my own kernels - and of course everything that is needed to
> > boot and get the basic system up is built in. Why should I make the disk
> > drivers modules?
> > That does not make sense.
> 
> I agree that it makes little sense to make something a module when you
> can't unload it anyway, but...
> 
> > And the reason is simple: even when the system is completely fucked up, I
> > want a kernel that is able to boot until init=/bin/bb takes over.
> 
> I put a complete set of recovery tools into my initramfses so that when
> the system is completely fucked up, I have a kernel that is able to boot
> until rdinit=/bin/zsh (or /bin/bb, if you prefer) takes over.
> 
> This has the added advantage of working when the root filesystem cannot
> be mounted at all: a scenario which does not seem too far-fetched when
> the filesystem is located on a raid array.

and what do you do if you have to boot from a cd/usb stick and need to access 
the raid?

Simple with auto assembling. Not so much without.

Glück Auf,
Volker