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slackware:setup [2007/06/14 21:16] – created. alienslackware:setup [2009/01/28 19:34] (current) – Add explicit error message alien
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 ===== Install to Logical Volumes (LVM) ===== ===== Install to Logical Volumes (LVM) =====
 +
 +FIXME
  
  
 ===== Encrypted partitions ===== ===== Encrypted partitions =====
  
 +FIXME
 +
 +Installation to encrypted partitions works well with the stock Slackware kernels.\\ 
 +If you want to compile your own custom kernel to work with LUKS encrypted partitions you need to enable at least the following two options in your kernel configuration: <code>
 +Multiple devices driver support (RAID and LVM) --->
 + <*> Device mapper support
 + <*> Crypt target support
 +</code> This is equivalent to the following options in your ''.config'' file: <code>
 +CONFIG_BLK_DEV_DM=y
 +CONFIG_DM_CRYPT=y
 +</code> Do not compile these as module! They are required in your kernel.
 +
 +===== Using an initrd with a big kernel =====
 +
 +When you use an initrd file for your box(a requirement for installing Slackware to LVM or LUKS partitions) you will notice that there is a maximum to the size of the kernel you use with it.
 +If the kernel grows to big (like with the //'huge'// kernels of Slackware > 12.0) you will see the following //lilo// error message: <code>
 +Warning: The initial RAM disk is too big to fit between the kernel and the 15M-16M memory hole.
 +It will be loaded in the highest memory as though the configuration file specified "large-memory"
 +and it will be assumed that the BIOS supports memory moves above 16M.
 +</code> As far as I know there is no remedy against this message - you need to shrink your kernel until there is room for the initrd image. A Slackware //'generic'// kernel is small enough. The recommendation for //'huge'// kernels is that they are not meant for daily use anyway. Either you compile your own custom kernel, or use one of the generic kernels with an initrd.
 +
 +
 +===== Errata =====
 +
 +**__README_CRYPT.TXT__**
 +
 +I'd like to correct two things omitted in the [[http://slackware.osuosl.org/slackware-12.0/README_CRYPT.TXT|README_CRYPT.TXT]] file for Slackware 12.0. They relate to setting up an //encrypted root// partition in Slackware.\\ 
 +
 +  * First issue: \\ When you finish the installation and the README prompts you to __''perform a chroot into the new
 +installation''__, there is one command missing. As a result, there will not be a ''/dev/mapper/cryptroot'' available inside the //chroot// and therefore the attempt to install LILO will fail with the error <code>
 +Fatal: Illegal 'root' specification: /dev/mapper/cryptroot
 +</code> Please change the list of commands that goes like <code>
 +mount -o bind /proc /mnt/proc
 +mount -o bind /sys /mnt/sys
 +chroot /mnt
 +</code> to  <code>
 +mount -o bind /proc /mnt/proc
 +mount -o bind /sys /mnt/sys
 +mount -o bind /dev /mnt/dev
 +chroot /mnt
 +</code> and then proceed with the remainder of the README.\\ __IF__ for whatever reason you get something like this error after running "''mount -o bind /dev/mnt/dev''": <code>
 +mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev, missing codepage or other error
 +       In some cases useful info is found in syslog - try dmesg | tail
 +</code> then please run this command instead: <code>
 +cp -a /dev/mapper /mnt/dev/
 +</code> which will add the required files intto the installed system so that lilo will install successfully. I have had reports from several people who experienced the above error, and I have seen it happen myself too, for reasons unclear to me.
 +
 +  * Second:\\ The README_CRYPT.TXT mentions __''Change the boot device to name of the small unencrypted partition you've created and which is mounted under /boot''__ - it should be clear that this advice should __not__ be taken when you configured LILO to be installed in the MBR.\\ The example shown in README_CRYPT.TXT is for a Slackware setup when there is another OS bootloader (such as MS Windows) already installed in the MBR, and your encrypted Slackware installation is a secondary install for which LILO needs to be installed into the root sector of a partition instead.\\ If you are installing Slackware as the first and only Operating System on the computer, please configure ''/etc/lilo.conf'' so that LILO installs into the MBR. You still need that small unencrypted partition for ''/boot'' of  course... LILO can only load the kernel and initrd if they are found on an unencrypted medium.
 +
 +  * Third:\\ When you run the ''lilo'' command and you are using LVM and/or LUKS-encrypted partitions, lilo will show the following warning message (or something very similar): <code>
 +Warning: "/proc/partitions' does not match '/dev' directory structure.
 +    Name change: '/dev/dm-0' -> '/dev/mapper/cryptroot'
 +Warning: Name change: ... etc.
 +</code> These messages are harmless and you can safely ignore them.
 +
 +I hope this clarifies the issues some people reported to me after Slackware 12.0 was released.
  
 +-- Eric //03-july-2007//
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