[3262] in linux-scsi channel archive
SCSI - Kernel Panic - Can't mount root fs error
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Larry M. Augustin)
Sun Feb 8 15:29:08 1998
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1998 11:59:52 -0800
From: "Larry M. Augustin" <lma@varesearch.com>
To: Linux SCSI Mailing List <linux-scsi@vger.rutgers.edu>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.PTX.3.95.980208084044.6889A-100000@lancelot.aps.org>
"can't mount root fs" usually results because the Linux kernel is
unable to see the root disk drive. This can happen if you recompile
your kernel and leave out support for your SCSI controller. lilo will
load the Linux kernel, but when the kernel tries to mount the root
disk, it can't because that driver is missing.
Watch your boot messages carefully and make sure your kernel sees the
root disk. You should see it listed during the boot messages.
Check your /etc/fstab to make sure the root device is correctly listed.
Check your lilo.conf to make sure the root device is correctly listed.
Make sure that's the lilo.conf you are really using.
Larry
Bruce P. Schuck writes:
> Howdy folks,
>
> All I can say now is "Aaaaaargh!"
>
> Had Linux up and running for year on my 'stock' GW2K P5-90. Added a SCSI
> card (AHA-2940UW) and SCSI CD (NEC CDR-1410A) over the weekend so I can
> install NT and SCO Unixware as well. My primary disk is in a removable
> tray setup so I can switch OS's. In any case, now when I attempt to boot
> Linux from the LILO prompt when my original DOS/Windows drive, I get a
> kernel panic, can't mount root fs.
>
> I figured, what the hell, I'll reinstall from the Slackware CD (2.0).
> Used the aha2x4x boot since I now have a SCSI cd and not an IDE one.
> Install seemed to go fine. Installed LILO once again on my master boot
> record, and ... well... same thing.
>
> Any clues?
>
> Bruce
