Topic: SME 7.2: Harddisk problem

[123chris]

Hi all,

I am using SME 7.2 for about a year now and I like it very much.
My config is a Pentium 4 with a single 80GB SATA disk. Last weekend I noticed that my internet connection wasn't working and I couldn't reach the server via ssh.
So I connected my screen, rebooted it and I got this screen:
 

I must say that I got errormessages before like these:

DegradedArray Event on /dev/md1:sme.hatschoe.nl
DegradedArray Event on /dev/md2:sme.hatschoe.nl

Is there any way I recover my data from this single disk system?

I searched this forum but all other examples are about multidisk or RAID-systems.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks, Chris

[byte]

I am using SME 7.2 for about a year now and I like it very much.
My config is a Pentium 4 with a single 80GB SATA disk. Last weekend I noticed that my internet connection wasn't working and I couldn't reach the server via ssh.

Please report bugs and potential bugs in the bug tracker. Thanks.

[thomasc73]

Is there any way I recover my data from this single disk system?

Chris,

now you know the importance of  backup system ..

enter a sme rescue mode.
boot the server from smeserver installer cdrom

In boot prompt type 'sme rescue' and enter rescue mode

In rescue mode run fsck partionname  for all partitions and fix from there.

Code: [Select]

fsck /dev/sda

hope this help

[123chris]

@byte. OK, ill post a bugreport.

Chris,

now you know the importance of  backup system ..

You are right. But because I use it in a personal environment, making backups does not get much priority. 

enter a sme rescue mode.
boot the server from smeserver installer cdrom

In boot prompt type 'sme rescue' and enter rescue mode

In rescue mode run fsck partionname  for all partitions and fix from there.

Code: [Select]

fsck /dev/sda

hope this help

I'll try that. Thanks.

[123chris]

I rebooted from CD and started with sme rescue. Could not fix anything with the option fsck /dev/sda. Instead of that the system suggested to use e2fsck -b

lI used that to fix some options, but the results are the same. Same kernel panic in the end.

Did I miss anything or is my server gone forever?

[byte]

Did I miss anything or is my server gone forever?

You "may" be able to use:

http://wiki.contribs.org/Recovering_SME_Server_with_lvm_drives

But it depends on your lvm state.

[123chris]

 
Oooh, that looks spooky. Have to think twice before trying that.

Anyhow: Thanks!

[pmstewart]

Chris,

I have seen a similar panic error on one of my test bed servers. It turned out to be a bad
ram chip - after replacing it the server and running fsck I was back up and running.

Good luck,

Paul

[Confucius]

Chris,

I had that experience myself a few times aswell. Replace the memory and make sure they are all matching (not different timings). In most cases that resolves the panic issues.

Harro

[7eis]

Make sure to install with the no lvm option if you dont plan to add a 2nd drive next time you install. It will make it easier to make a ghost to a larger drive since you can resize the partition with gparted (or even partition magic) that way. Also recovering data in an other pc is easier when you can just mount the partition wich contains your data. I recently learned this the hard way so I will have to completely re-customize my install on the new hardware had no luck with recovering from backup - data is copied but users, ibays, settings etc. fails to recover. Oh heck, I'll just get more experience working with SME (and a clean setup with no 'leftovers' )

Regards
7eis

[123chris]

Chris,

I had that experience myself a few times aswell. Replace the memory and make sure they are all matching (not different timings). In most cases that resolves the panic issues.

Harro

Ok, thanks for the tip. I'll replace the RAM and try again.

[123chris]

Make sure to install with the no lvm option if you dont plan to add a 2nd drive next time you install.

Regards
7eis

Is that an standard option when installing?

[byte]

Is that an standard option when installing?

Yep, Pop the cd in the drive when you see the boot prompt type:

sme nolvm

hit enter and it will install with no lvm. Although I wouldn't recommend using no lvm as LVM is alot more flexible than ext3.

[123chris]

I replaced the RAM this evening by a new single 256MB RAM unit. But even after the fsck /dev/sda the kernel panic returned.


Think I will do a fresh install. Is this harddisk lost forever or is it still fit after a reformat?

Thanks, Chris

[CharlieBrady]

Could not fix anything with the option fsck /dev/sda. Instead of that the system suggested to use e2fsck -b

fsck /dev/sda will not find and fix a file system on the whole of drive /dev/sda because there is no such file system. /dev/sda has on it multiple partitions, within which there is a raid array, on which there is a logical volume, and within that there is a file system. You should have been trying to fix the filesystem on /dev/mapper/main-root. And in trying to 'fix' /dev/sda you may have caused further corruption.

[william_syd]

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks, Chris

I would take advice from CharlieB before taking mine....however, here is a thread that helped me previously.

http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=34493

I wasn't in rescue mode, so maybe thats where a difference to your situation lies.

[123chris]

Hi guys,

I installed a freshly new server and it is working fine. Thanks for your help anyway.

One final question about this issue: is it advisable to use this harddisk again? In other words: was this crash caused by a diskerror or by something else?

What do you think?

[jonic]

One final question about this issue: is it advisable to use this harddisk again? In other words: was this crash caused by a diskerror or by something else?

What do you think?

Before using it again, you have to test it. You can use the UBCD (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/), to test it. It has a lot of diagnostic software for hard disks. Just plug the drive in a computer, and boot using the UBCD CD.

[123chris]

Thanks. I'll try that.