lubuntu focal hirsute install; calamares error

[Chris Guiver]

Lubuntu hirsute QA-test install on
- dell [optiplex] 755 (c2d-e8300, 8gb, amd/ati radeon rv610/radeon hd2400 pro/xt)
- hp dc7700 (c2d-e6320, 5gb, nvidia quadro nvs 290)
(full disk, no encryption, internet) stopped with error

** Steps to re-create
- boot live system
- (optional, adjust displays to match setup etc)
- start `calamares` using System->Install.System
- select `erase disk & install` etc.

** Expected results
- system installs without issue

** Actual results

-- Installation Failed --
External command finished with errors.
Command calamares-logs-helper /tmp/calamares-root-k7o5hdvc finished with exit code 1. Output: + root=/tmp/calamares-root-k7o5hdvc + install_dir=/tmp/calamares-root-k7o5hdvc/var/log/installer + [ -d /tmp/calamares-root-k7o5hdvc/var/log/installer ] + mkdir -p /tmp/calamares-root-k7o5hdvc/var/log/installer + cp /home/lubuntu/.cache/calamares/session.log /tmp/calamares-root-k7o5hdvc/var/log/installer/debug cp: cannot stat '/home/lubuntu/.cache/calamares/session.log': No such file or directory
-- Close --

I didn't see expected session.log to peruse for clues???

** Extra Notes

If calamares is started via
- System->Install.Lubuntu.20.10, or
- Desktop(Install.Lubuntu.20.10)
options, the issue will not occur (in my testing anyway)

I've only tested it (thus far) using BIOS boxes

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 21.04
Package: calamares 3.2.35-0ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-25.26-generic 5.8.14
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-25-generic x86_64
.etc.calamares.modules.finished.conf:
 ---
 restartNowMode: user-checked
 restartNowCommand: "systemctl -i reboot"
.etc.calamares.modules.partition.conf:
 efiSystemPartition: "/boot/efi"
 enableLuksAutomatedPartitioning: true
 userSwapChoices: none
 drawNestedPartitions: true
 defaultFileSystemType: "ext4"
.etc.calamares.modules.shellprocess_logs.conf:
 ---
 dontChroot: true
 timeout: 30
 script:
     - calamares-logs-helper @@ROOT@@
.etc.calamares.modules.unpackfs.conf:
 ---
 unpack:
     - source: "/cdrom/casper/filesystem.squashfs"
         sourcefs: "squashfs"
         destination: ""
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu55
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CasperVersion: 1.456
CurrentDesktop: LXQt
Date: Wed Dec 30 15:36:40 2020
LiveMediaBuild: Lubuntu 21.04 "Hirsute Hippo" - Alpha amd64 (20201229)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 calamares-settings-ubuntu-common 1:20.10.11
 calamares-settings-lubuntu 1:20.10.11
 xfsprogs 5.6.0-1ubuntu4
 btrfs-progs 5.9-1build1
SourcePackage: calamares
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I went and did an install on hp.dc7700 and didn't have issues (internet was disabled being primary difference)

I then repeated the QA-test install on d755-8 box this bug report was filed on, in what should be identical (calamares started from different point; but I can't see that as an issue.. I loop between the desktop.link, and 2x system.menu.links..

the link I used I believe for the QA-test when this report was filed was "Install System" (not desktop link, nor the 'Install Lubuntu 20.10' option)

I fear this bug report has minimal/no value though; it didn't occur to me to scan `dmesg` or `journalctl` for clues until after I'd started shutdown (I expected them to be saved in bug report).

Re-running the install didn't have issues.

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

Another QA-test install & error again. (same d755-8 box)

This time I used the "Install System" option in System menu again... and error.

Two installs that worked used desktop icon, and "Install Lubuntu 20.10" in menu.

Of note :

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ ls .cache/
fontconfig icon-cache.kcache mesa_shader_cache pcmanfm-qt
gvfs lxqt-notificationd openbox

No `calamares` directory in ~/.cache ???

Message again

-- Installation Failed --
External command finished with errors.
Command calamares-logs-helper /tmp/calamares-root-zmpismhh finished with exit code 1. Output: + root=/tmp/calamares-root-zmpismhh + install_dir=/tmp/calamares-root-zmpismhh/var/log/installer + [ -d /tmp/calamares-root-zmpismhh/var/log/installer ] + mkdir -p /tmp/calamares-root-zmpismhh/var/log/installer + cp /home/lubuntu/.cache/calamares/session.log /tmp/calamares-root-zmpismhh/var/log/installer/debug cp: cannot stat '/home/lubuntu/.cache/calamares/session.log': No such file or directory
-- Close --

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

same QA-test install as comment #3

Do you get the error only when System->Install.System is used?

[Ubuntu QA Website (ubuntuqa)]

This bug has been reported on the Ubuntu ISO testing tracker.

A list of all reports related to this bug can be found here:
http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/reports/bugs/1909622

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

Test was repeated (again) on
- hp dc7700 (c2d-e6320, 5gb, nvidia quadro nvs 290)

with `calamares` started via System->Install.System and error as per prior d755-8 box.

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

the system actually boots... (comment #6 install), and system appears normal, however prior to this test was a complete Lubuntu hirsute install with the current daily.. so is it all new?

Of note:
- no command history seen which normally has a "df -h; neofetch" in it at minimum, indication of format
- normally I adjust screens to match my setup, however due to another bug (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/lxqt-config/+bug/1905947), this currently can't be used as every login appears as if first-login (my screen adjustments aren't saved)

It looks like install itself is good, issue is error message.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Leó Kolbeinsson (leok)]

Testing Lubuntu daily ISO 20210401 - Installation failed

Lenovo V14 IIL i3-1005G1 - UEFI+secure boot -

Screenshot attached

[Leó Kolbeinsson (leok)]

Further to my comment #9

see test result http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/milestones/419/builds/225072/testcases/1701/results

After the error I rebooted the machine and received a setup notice that the default boot device was missing.

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

So that is the Desktop Entry that comes with Calamares rather than being our Ubuntu-specific one. Kind of like the Openbox session that comes with Openbox, we don't exactly support it. That said, we have `NotShowIn=LXQt` in it to keep it from showing up, but that's misbehaving (see linked Calamares bug).

tl;dr only use the Lubuntu one :)

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I wonder if this warrants mention in the release notes as the 'fix'
(in April; maybe with reference to Walter's comment #11 though that adds length)

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

Well, I mean, I guess we don't make any release notes about the fact that the other two sessions (Openbox, LXQt) will look and act really weird relative to what one expects for Lubuntu, so I'm inclined to leave it be. I'm open to thoughts on the matter, though.

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I was convinced I wouldn't get this error, but doing some Lubuntu 20.04.2 (daily; 2021-01-14) installs I used the "Install System" option in the menu, and this error occurred.

System was
- dell [optiplex] 755 (c2d-e6850, 5gb, amd/ati radeon rv516/x1300/x1550)
Manual Partioning
  sda9 for / (format) & sda8 for /home (no-format)

[Leó Kolbeinsson (leok)]

I also received the error testing Lubuntu 20.04.2 (daily; 2021-01-14)when selecting #Install system" from the menu.

However selecting install Lubuntu from the desktop - the system installs sucessfully.

Test system InWinBL641 i5-10400 BIOS full disk install running in VirtualBox.

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

Until the associated upstream bug is fixed (which is ultimately a problem with the XDG implementation in LXQt), this should continue to happen in all releases, Focal and otherwise. We DO have the right setting in the Desktop Entry, so once it is fixed upstream, packaged, and released in Ubuntu, everything will Just Work™.

That said, I wouldn't necessarily discourage reporting of this issue on the ISO tracker (so we don't forget about it), but I wouldn't bother with any more extensive testing or troubleshooting.

The release notes should cover us for those people that don't just select the icon on the desktop or pick the Lubuntu-specific option from the menu.

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

My comment (#14) was just b/c I felt I had to add focal (it doesn't just impact hirsute), and addition of tag (which I forgot anyway, so done now). This issue doesn't worry me at all.

[Simon Quigley (tsimonq2)]

I really do remember seeing a duplicate linked in our release notes. Can we either make that a duplicate of this, or vice versa?

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

We linked to the upstream bug:
https://lubuntu.me/lunar-released/