USB keyboard does not work with created system

[Dr A V Le Blanc]

This is debirf version 0.35 on 64-bit Xenial x86_64. I have created a kernel and ramdisk using the rescue template, adding packages openssh-client and console-setup at the bottom of the debirf.conf file. The command 'debirf make rescue' produces the kernel vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic and a ramdisk debirf-rescue_xenial_4.4.0-24-generic.cgz. The system boots from these and produces a login prompt. The booted system does not appear to recognise the USB keyboard. The hardware is a Dell Optiplex 990 with 8GB of memory and 8 virtual processors.

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
Release: 16.04

[Dr A V Le Blanc (leblanc-man)]

I should mention that I have not found this problem reported in the ubuntu or debian bugs for debirf.

[Dr A V Le Blanc (leblanc-man)]

I have determined that debirf does not include the USB or HID modules in the rescue system it builds. Thus the system has no drivers for USB devices. I have not found a proper way to change this. The buggy script is presumable rescue/modules/install-kernel. I have been able to work around the problem by editing the install-kernel module so as not to delete the existing modules directory, then to copy the required modules to the place, then to run the build script again with option 3 (install packages). The resulting system works with a USB keyboard. Is there a better way to do this?

     -- Owen

[davide (davide-benini)]

Hi, I have the same problem.
I was once able to do a correct debirf, using old version, but nowadays I am no more able.
Could you post exactly which modules you leave on system ? What package they are part of ?
thank you
davide

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Dr A V Le Blanc (leblanc-man)]

I have had this problem with the default configuration for "debirf make rescue" with no changes to the default example supplied with debirf on several Ubuntu releases.

     -- Owen

[davide (davide-benini)]

Hi Owen,
   can you post the patch you applied to the existing modules, to have the needed stuff for the usb keyboard?
I found by now another way, but it works only if you have a network available: I install also openssh-server and create a user in my root, thus allowing me to connect through ssh to the system.
ciao
davide