The instance will be ERROR when booting instance from volume, if the volume quota is not enough. And there is even no useful error message to show to the user. Following is the related nova-compute.log:
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 ERROR nova.compute.manager [req-4e876b97-be8a-486b-98e2-7d707266755d 98fa3fd418914a9288b5560e1bb6944e 5254621adfd949a9a3b975f68119e269] [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] Instance failed block device setup
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] Traceback (most recent call last):
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 1690, in _prep_block_device
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] self.driver, self._await_block_device_map_created))
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/virt/block_device.py", line 363, in attach_block_devices
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] map(_log_and_attach, block_device_mapping)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/virt/block_device.py", line 361, in _log_and_attach
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] bdm.attach(*attach_args, **attach_kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/virt/block_device.py", line 311, in attach
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] '', '', image_id=self.image_id)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/volume/cinder.py", line 303, in create
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] item = cinderclient(context).volumes.create(size, **kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cinderclient/v1/volumes.py", line 187, in create
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] return self._create('/volumes', body, 'volume')
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cinderclient/base.py", line 153, in _create
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] resp, body = self.api.client.post(url, body=body)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cinderclient/client.py", line 209, in post
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] return self._cs_request(url, 'POST', **kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cinderclient/client.py", line 173, in _cs_request
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] **kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cinderclient/client.py", line 156, in request
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] raise exceptions.from_response(resp, body)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc] OverLimit: VolumeLimitExceeded: Maximum number of volumes allowed (10) exceeded (HTTP 413) (Request-ID: req-07dcc4c4-182f-4d73-b054-806f31cb7e71)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.372 17060 TRACE nova.compute.manager [instance: 2a124872-3332-4f54-bb28-f0a96a7ed7bc]
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 ERROR oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher [-] Exception during message handling: Block Device Mapping is Invalid.
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher Traceback (most recent call last):
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/oslo/messaging/rpc/dispatcher.py", line 133, in _dispatch_and_reply
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher incoming.message))
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/oslo/messaging/rpc/dispatcher.py", line 176, in _dispatch
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher return self._do_dispatch(endpoint, method, ctxt, args)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/oslo/messaging/rpc/dispatcher.py", line 122, in _do_dispatch
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher result = getattr(endpoint, method)(ctxt, **new_args)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/oslo/messaging/rpc/server.py", line 139, in inner
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher return func(*args, **kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/exception.py", line 88, in wrapped
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher payload)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/openstack/common/excutils.py", line 68, in __exit__
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher six.reraise(self.type_, self.value, self.tb)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/exception.py", line 71, in wrapped
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher return f(self, context, *args, **kw)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 282, in decorated_function
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher pass
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/openstack/common/excutils.py", line 68, in __exit__
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher six.reraise(self.type_, self.value, self.tb)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 268, in decorated_function
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher return function(self, context, *args, **kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 335, in decorated_function
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher function(self, context, *args, **kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 311, in decorated_function
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher e, sys.exc_info())
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/openstack/common/excutils.py", line 68, in __exit__
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher six.reraise(self.type_, self.value, self.tb)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 298, in decorated_function
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher return function(self, context, *args, **kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 2077, in run_instance
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher do_run_instance()
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/openstack/common/lockutils.py", line 249, in inner
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher return f(*args, **kwargs)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 2076, in do_run_instance
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher legacy_bdm_in_spec)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 1209, in _run_instance
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher notify("error", fault=e) # notify that build failed
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/openstack/common/excutils.py", line 68, in __exit__
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher six.reraise(self.type_, self.value, self.tb)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 1193, in _run_instance
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher instance, image_meta, legacy_bdm_in_spec)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 1347, in _build_instance
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher LOG.exception(msg, instance=instance)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/openstack/common/excutils.py", line 68, in __exit__
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher six.reraise(self.type_, self.value, self.tb)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 1304, in _build_instance
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher context, instance, bdms)
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/nova/compute/manager.py", line 1707, in _prep_block_device
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher raise exception.InvalidBDM()
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher InvalidBDM: Block Device Mapping is Invalid.
2014-07-27 17:56:19.693 17060 TRACE oslo.messaging.rpc.dispatcher
I reproduced the error, and I am able to see an explanation of why it failed in n-cpu.log:
2014-08-20 21:54:16.115 DEBUG nova.compute.utils [req-0db5b860- 2e6a-41d7- bb19-fa9f069cdc 64 demo demo] [in a82a-4965- 9b0b-27ded82093 d0] Build of instance 6880fd09- a82a-4965- 9b0b-27ded82093 d0 abor about_instance_ usage /opt/stack/ nova/nova/ comp manager [req-0db5b860- 2e6a-41d7- bb19-fa9f069cdc 64 demo demo] [ a82a-4965- 9b0b-27ded82093 d0] Build of instance 6880fd09- a82a-4965- 9b0b-27ded82093 d0 ab
stance: 6880fd09-
ted: Failure prepping block device. from (pid=5906) notify_
ute/utils.py:306
2014-08-20 21:54:16.115 ERROR nova.compute.
instance: 6880fd09-
orted: Failure prepping block device.
However, it is a DEBUG message. Are you suggesting it be set to an error or warning log?