NetBSD Problem Report #49293

From www@NetBSD.org  Sat Oct 18 21:23:17 2014
Return-Path: <www@NetBSD.org>
Received: from mail.netbsd.org (mail.netbsd.org [149.20.53.66])
	(using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256/256 bits))
	(Client CN "mail.netbsd.org", Issuer "Postmaster NetBSD.org" (verified OK))
	by mollari.NetBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 6AA03A65EA
	for <gnats-bugs@gnats.NetBSD.org>; Sat, 18 Oct 2014 21:23:17 +0000 (UTC)
Message-Id: <20141018212315.663C3A6689@mollari.NetBSD.org>
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 21:23:15 +0000 (UTC)
From: dross@pobox.com
Reply-To: dross@pobox.com
To: gnats-bugs@NetBSD.org
Subject: Installing without setting partition sizes results in an install with no swap space
X-Send-Pr-Version: www-1.0

>Number:         49293
>Category:       port-amd64
>Synopsis:       Installing without setting partition sizes results in an install with no swap space
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       non-critical
>Priority:       medium
>Responsible:    port-amd64-maintainer
>State:          open
>Class:          sw-bug
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Sat Oct 18 21:25:01 +0000 2014
>Last-Modified:  Mon Oct 20 00:30:00 +0000 2014
>Originator:     David Ross
>Release:        6.1.5
>Organization:
n/a
>Environment:
NetBSD 00-15-5d-01-06-09 6.1.5 NetBSD 6.1.5 (GENERIC) amd64
>Description:
If you install NetBSD 6 onto an empty disk, for example in a new VM, it's easy to wind up with no swap space configured.  To avoid this, all you need to do is to elect to "Set sizes of NetBSD partitions" instead of "Use existing partition sizes" during the install.  You don't even need to adjust the default partition sizes you get, swap will already be present as long as you select "Set sizes of NetBSD partitions."

To be clear, if you set "Use existing partition sizes" on an empty disk during a NetBSD install, you'll wind up with no swap space.  You might say that makes sense because there aren't any existing partitions on the disk, but I wouldn't expect the end result to be a non-standard configuration having no swap space.
>How-To-Repeat:
1.  Start installing NetBSD 6.1.5 in a VM with a clean disk image.  (Probably using a disk that has been zero'd will produce the same results.)
2.  Booting up the install media, select defaults for everything.
3.  Select "This is the correct geometry."
4.  Select "Use the entire disk."
5.  Choose to install the NetBSD boot code.
6.  Choose "Use existing partition sizes."  <-- The issue is here.
7.  Proceed with the install, selecting defaults for everything else.
8.  When the box boots up, try:
swapctl -l
9.  Observe no swap space is configured.
Expected behavior:
A basic swap partition is created (512MB?)
>Fix:

>Audit-Trail:
From: Martin Husemann <martin@duskware.de>
To: gnats-bugs@NetBSD.org
Cc: 
Subject: Re: port-amd64/49293: Installing without setting partition sizes results in an install with no swap space
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 09:34:39 +0200

 On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 09:25:01PM +0000, dross@pobox.com wrote:
 > Expected behavior:
 > A basic swap partition is created (512MB?)

 No. If you select "Use existing partitions" there should be no changes made
 to any partitions, and if existing partitions do not include a swap partition,
 then that is the way it is.

 You can still add a swap file.

 However, it might be a good idea for sysinst to recognize "there are no
 sensible existing partitions" and not offer this menu item at all. I am not
 sure how safe such a heuristic would work.

 Martin

From: David Ross <dross@pobox.com>
To: "gnats-bugs@NetBSD.org" <gnats-bugs@netbsd.org>,
	"port-amd64-maintainer@netbsd.org" <port-amd64-maintainer@netbsd.org>,
	"gnats-admin@netbsd.org" <gnats-admin@netbsd.org>, "netbsd-bugs@netbsd.org"
	<netbsd-bugs@netbsd.org>
Cc: 
Subject: RE: port-amd64/49293: Installing without setting partition sizes
 results in an install with no swap space
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 16:25:12 -0700

 --_9231ed73-5115-438a-ba67-fa1a4f58b6d4_
 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

 Another option would be to update the text to mention that "Use existing pa=
 rtition sizes" isn't a sensible option if you're starting with a blank disk=
 .  Otherwise=2C the option sort of a looks like a shortcut to get a working=
  install without having to dig into partitioning complexities.


 For reference=2C the current prompt looks like this:

 http://i.imgur.com/B1Q5PKd.png


 Unfortunately it doesn't look like there's much room to add more text there=
 =2C without that text getting hidden under the prompt.


 Dave


 > From: martin@duskware.de
 > To: port-amd64-maintainer@netbsd.org=3B gnats-admin@netbsd.org=3B netbsd-=
 bugs@netbsd.org=3B dross@pobox.com
 > Subject: Re: port-amd64/49293: Installing without setting partition sizes=
  results in an install with no swap space
 > CC:=20
 > Date: Sun=2C 19 Oct 2014 07:35:00 +0000
 >=20
 > The following reply was made to PR port-amd64/49293=3B it has been noted =
 by GNATS.
 >=20
 > From: Martin Husemann=20
 > To: gnats-bugs@NetBSD.org
 > Cc:=20
 > Subject: Re: port-amd64/49293: Installing without setting partition sizes=
  results in an install with no swap space
 > Date: Sun=2C 19 Oct 2014 09:34:39 +0200
 >=20
 > On Sat=2C Oct 18=2C 2014 at 09:25:01PM +0000=2C dross@pobox.com wrote:
 >> Expected behavior:
 >> A basic swap partition is created (512MB?)
 >=20
 > No. If you select "Use existing partitions" there should be no changes ma=
 de
 > to any partitions=2C and if existing partitions do not include a swap par=
 tition=2C
 > then that is the way it is.
 >=20
 > You can still add a swap file.
 >=20
 > However=2C it might be a good idea for sysinst to recognize "there are no
 > sensible existing partitions" and not offer this menu item at all. I am n=
 ot
 > sure how safe such a heuristic would work.
 >=20
 > Martin
 >  		 	   		  =

 --_9231ed73-5115-438a-ba67-fa1a4f58b6d4_
 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

 <html>
 <head>
 <style><!--
 .hmmessage P
 {
 margin:0px=3B
 padding:0px
 }
 body.hmmessage
 {
 font-size: 12pt=3B
 font-family:Calibri
 }
 --></style></head>
 <body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'>Another option would be to updat=
 e the text to mention that "Use existing partition sizes" isn't a sensible =
 option if you're starting with a blank disk.  Otherwise=2C the option sort =
 of a looks like a shortcut to get a working install without having to dig i=
 nto partitioning complexities.


 For reference=2C the current prompt looks like this:

 http://i.imgur.com/B1Q5PKd.png


 Unfortunately it doesn't look like there's much room to add more text there=
 =2C without that text getting hidden under the prompt.


 Dave


 > From: martin@duskware.de
 > To: port-amd64-maintainer@netbsd.org=3B gnats-admin@netbsd.org=3B netbsd-=
 bugs@netbsd.org=3B dross@pobox.com
 > Subject: Re: port-amd64/49293: Installing without setting partition sizes=
  results in an install with no swap space
 > CC:=20
 > Date: Sun=2C 19 Oct 2014 07:35:00 +0000
 >=20
 > The following reply was made to PR port-amd64/49293=3B it has been noted =
 by GNATS.
 >=20
 > From: Martin Husemann <martin@duskware.de>
 > To: gnats-bugs@NetBSD.org
 > Cc:=20
 > Subject: Re: port-amd64/49293: Installing without setting partition sizes=
  results in an install with no swap space
 > Date: Sun=2C 19 Oct 2014 09:34:39 +0200
 >=20
 > On Sat=2C Oct 18=2C 2014 at 09:25:01PM +0000=2C dross@pobox.com wrote:
 >> Expected behavior:
 >> A basic swap partition is created (512MB?)
 >=20
 > No. If you select "Use existing partitions" there should be no changes ma=
 de
 > to any partitions=2C and if existing partitions do not include a swap par=
 tition=2C
 > then that is the way it is.
 >=20
 > You can still add a swap file.
 >=20
 > However=2C it might be a good idea for sysinst to recognize "there are no
 > sensible existing partitions" and not offer this menu item at all. I am n=
 ot
 > sure how safe such a heuristic would work.
 >=20
 > Martin
 >  		 	   		  </div></body>
 </html>=

 --_9231ed73-5115-438a-ba67-fa1a4f58b6d4_--

Home	PR Database Search