Ubuntu Server 19.10 installer uses wrong NVMe path for Samsung 970 EVO Plus M.2 SSD (could not stat device - failed to find device at path)

[Young Montana]

I am booting an Ubuntu Server 19.10 image (ubuntu-19.10-live-server-ppc64el.iso downloaded Jan 18, 2020) on a DVD to install Ubuntu on a RaptorCS Blackbird with an IBM Power9 CPU (ppc64el/ppc64le architecture) and a Samsung 970 EVO Plus M.2 SSD attached via an PCIe v4 adapter card.

The installer does recognize the NVME initially but when the installation finally starts it does no longer recognize the path to the NVMe and says:

Error: Could not stat device /dev/disk/by-id/wwn-eui.0025... - No such file or directory
...
An error occured handling 'disk-nvme0n1': OSError - [Errno Failed to find device at path: %s] /dev/disk/by-id/wwn-eui.0025...
...
Traceback:
...
File "/snap/subiquity/1286/lib/python3.6/site-packages/curtin/commands/block_meta.py", line 182, in devsync

This possible bug was also reported for Intel architecture: https://egevig.org/linux/installing-ubuntu-server-19-10-on-intel-nuc

Current workaround:

Follow the installer until you have specified the partitions but do not yet hit Done to apply this workaround:

- Press Ctrl+Alt+F2 to enter a console outside of the installation program.

- If you are not already in a root shell: Login with the user created earlier in the installation process

- Find out your SSD ID show as folder under
  /dev/disk/by-id/

- Create a symbolic link to your SSD (try with and without "nvme-" and prefix, eg. "nvme-eui.0025... and "eui.0025...":

    # If you have more than one NVMe SSD you may have to change device number eg. to /dev/nvme0n2 for the second SSD...
    sudo ln -s /dev/nvme0n1 /dev/disk/by-id/wwn-eui.0025...

- Exit the shell by pressing Ctrl+D or typing exit.

- Switch back to the installer using Ctrl+Alt+F1.

- Now choose "Done" to apply and use the partitions. The installer will continue the installation on this NVME now.

[Young Montana (yomota)]

There is another user reporting the same problem with a Samsung 950 Pro M.2 2280 512gb PCIe 3.0 SSD MZ-V5P512BW:

https://wiki.raptorcs.com/wiki/User:Tle

[Michael Hudson-Doyle (mwhudson)]

I think this is fixed in the stable channel. You should be offered the chance to update the snap, does this still happen if you take the update?

[Young Montana (yomota)]

What do you mean with "update the snap"? Downloading a new installation image of Ubuntu Server?

BTW: I could not find an issue in the bug tracker so if it is fixed now then without an issue.

[Michael Hudson-Doyle (mwhudson)]

I think this is fixed in the 20.04 installer.

[Young Montana (yomota)]

Thanks for clarifying this, I will test the installer once I have received my replacement hardware (defective planar) and do the installation with 20.04 on exactly the same hardware setup. Please give me at least 4- 8 weeks time, USPS has delivery problems at the moment due to pandemic restrictions...