Re: [dm-crypt] Bug Report to Ubuntu regarding dangerous installer

From: PsiStormYamato <psistormyamato@lavabit.com>
To: dm-crypt@saout.de
Subject: Re: [dm-crypt] Bug Report to Ubuntu regarding dangerous installer
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:14:26 -0400	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <1302999266.10077.16.camel@desktop-10-10> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <BANLkTinHfujxesXbvHL6vDMPg74NiURueQ@mail.gmail.com>

I've never fooled with encrypted LVMs; I always encrypt separate
partitions. I had a feeling that going the LVM route could lead to
problems, and it looks like you've found one.

I brief search turned up this post from 2009, so it's apparently a known
issue. A workaround is presented, but it's probably not something that
most folks would think to try.
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1009031.html

On Sat, 2011-04-16 at 18:18 +0200, Cristian KLEIN wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> Let me elaborate a little bit on what happened. I had a computer with
> one ext2 /boot partition and one huge dm-crypt volume, inside which I
> had three logical volumes: root, swap and home. My intend was to
> install Ubuntu Natty on root, without touching home.
> 
> LVM and dm-crypt can only be configured using the alternate Installer,
> so I downloaded the daily version of Ubuntu Natty Alternate Installer
> and hoped for the best. When I got to the menu asking me to create
> partitions / file systems, Ubuntu did not automatically activate the
> existing dm-crypt volume. In fact, it didn't even show that the
> partition was of type "crypto". IIRC, the partition was just shown to
> be unknown. Trying to activate the dm-crypt volume, the only option I
> could find was "configure encrypted volumes" [1]. Later I found out
> that it only allows to create a new volume, but not activate an
> existing one.
> 
> I understand that the alternate installer is supposed to be for
> experts, but I still think that:
> 1) Ubuntu failed to detect the existing dm-crypt volume, thus
> confusing the user.
> 2) The installer did not provide an easy-to-find command for
> activating the dm-crypt volume.
> 3) Airbags have been turned off, without the user's knowledge.
> 
> Please comment and tell me if I am wrong.
> 
> Cheers,
> Cristi.
> 
> [1] https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SoftwareRAID?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=ubuntu_raid_06.png
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