flash-kernel fails to handle raw boot partitons on eMMC

[Olivier Naudan]

Binary package hint: initramfs-tools

The postinst trigger calls update-initramfs which fails on "Cannot find mtd partition 'Kernel'"
Configuration: eMMC memory, so no NAND MTD partition

[Olivier Naudan (o-naudan)]

This problem appeared recently, likely on initramfs-tools 0.97.2ubuntu2

[Michael Opdenacker (michael-opdenacker)]

Here's a quick 'n dirty workaround reported by Olivier Naudan. This is not a fix at all, of course!

$ sudo vi /var/lib/dpkg/info/initramfs-tools.postinst
# Add "exit 0" at the beginning of the script
$ sudo dpkg --configure initramfs-tools
$ sudo vi /var/lib/dpkg/info/initramfs-tools.postinst
# Remove "exit 0"

[Nicolas Dechesne (ndec)]

@ogra: I would guess that this is because the flash script has not been updated yet to support Blaze eMMC. It detects properly that it does not boot from SD card, so it then believes it is running from NAND. Is that correct?

[Oliver Grawert (ogra)]

flash-kernel looks for /etc/flash-kernel.conf and then falls back to a generic method (see
https://blueprints.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/mobile-maverick-arm-improved-subarch-detection)

if /etc/flash-kernel.conf exists and contains a value for UBOOT_PART it will try to update a vfat on that partition that u-boot can use for booting.

we are a) missing a switch for RAW partitons yet as the blaze needs and b) a method to handle these kind of partitions at all.

[Oliver Grawert (ogra)]

this is a whishlist item for a feature non of the ubuntu images provides yet, there is no need to release note it.
for oneiric we have a spec to discuss building images with raw partitions instead of (or additionally to) vfat, if this gets implemented, flash-kernel will get support for such kind of images. before we have general support for raw boot partitions, we will neither need to milestone nor release note this whishlist item.

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

maverick has seen the end of its life and is no longer receiving any updates. Marking the maverick task for this ticket as "Won't Fix".

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

natty has seen the end of its life and is no longer receiving any updates. Marking the natty task for this ticket as "Won't Fix".

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

oneiric has seen the end of its life and is no longer receiving any updates. Marking the oneiric task for this ticket as "Won't Fix".