USB Keyboard drivers not loaded in initramfs
Bug #229732 reported by
Phillip Susi
This bug affects 18 people
Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ubuntu Server papercuts |
Invalid
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
initramfs-tools (Ubuntu) |
Fix Released
|
Low
|
Unassigned |
Bug Description
Binary package hint: initramfs-tools
In the event of a problem with the boot sequence, or if the break option is passed on the kernel command line, the initramfs drops to a shell to allow the admin to try and recover, but the USB keyboard drivers are not loaded, so if one does not have a PS/2 Keyboard, one can not recover the system.
Changed in initramfs-tools: | |
status: | Confirmed → In Progress |
tags: | added: kernel-da-key |
tags: | added: saucy |
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This is only a problem with break=premount or earlier. break=mount happens after hal/udev have loaded drivers for everything.
Note that some servers don't _support_ ps/2 keyboards anymore. e.g. I have a rack of Dell PE1950 machines with a KVM-over-IP that connects to 1 USB port and their VGA out. I don't think the PE1950 even has a PS/2 port anywhere.
The best fix for this is probably in scripts/ functions: panic() . It already does
modprobe i8042
modprobe atkbd
before dropping to a shell.
So just add maybe
modprobe ehci-hcd
modprobe hid
to that. I think that's right. I'll see if I can boot a machine with a ps/2 and usb kbd attached, and load modules until the USB kbd starts working at break=premount.
Hmm, I don't know how to detect the right USB controller module. ehci-hcd is for usb2.0 machines, and older hardware only has uhci-hcd or ohci-hcd. There might be laptops with no ps/2 ports, broken internal keyboards, and only USB1.1 support. Other than that, this fix would be enough for most people, since USB keyboards are most often used on newer computers. At least USB1.1 computers will have PS/2 ports...