Chip - thanks again. (I confused nicedelay and nicdelay, but have is sorted out now.) I tried each option individually: nicdelay=5/50/500/50000 linksleep=5/50/500/50000 both seem to have no effect in the time to bring up the host - at least for my boot loader. I did notice that (1) Anaconda did not hit the web server where my ks.cfg is located when ks=http//config is provided on the boot line and (2) as soon as Anaconda 'times out' and the 'choose a language' menu is presented, the interface is immediately ping-able. So while waiting for things to boot, I ended up with a couple of questions: 1) So is the objective of the 'nicdelay' and 'linksleep' options to pause Anaconda long enough so that physical network negotiation can happen to prevent Anaconda from timing out? Or is it just to delay the physical network from coming up? 2) With the boot line option 'ks=<file>'. What is <file> supposed to look like if the ks.cfg is incorporated into the initrd for a rhel3u5 install? Any and all help is appreciated; including links to documentation. -Bill > -----Original Message----- > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:kickstart-list- > bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shabazian, Chip > Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 12:32 PM > To: Discussion list about Kickstart > Subject: RE: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > Like I said, I've never used it, but it is SUPPOSED to exist: > > https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHEA-2006-0443.html > > nicdelay= > > If you want to download the srpm and take a look at loader, I think > that's where you will find the code. > > Chip > > -----Original Message----- > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ramthun, William > Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 7:34 AM > To: Discussion list about Kickstart > Subject: RE: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > Chip - thanks for the help. > > What I meant to say is that I am not sure how to use "nicedelay". Is > this a boot: line option? I couldn't find any reference on how to use > it. > > -Bill > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:kickstart-list- > > bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shabazian, Chip > > Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 1:38 PM > > To: Discussion list about Kickstart > > Subject: RE: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > > > It's applicable because you said your problem was: > > > > > the network needs to "come up" before Anaconda times out. > > > > That's exactly what nicdelay is supposed to help you with. The > problem > > is, it takes ~ 30 seconds for the nic to negotiate with the switch. > By > > delaying bringing the nic up until enough time has passed that the > > negotiation has taken place, you should then be able to configure the > > nic, get your kickstart file, and be off and running. > > > > Now, I say "supposed" to, because I've never had to use it, and heard > > mixed results from those who have. > > > > Remember, the nic gets completely cycled and needs to renegotiate 3 > > times during a build: > > > > at power on > > when getting the kickstart file > > when starting the build > > > > Chip > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx > > [mailto:kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ramthun, > William > > Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 12:26 PM > > To: Discussion list about Kickstart > > Subject: RE: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > > > I did a cursory search of nicedelay and I don't see how it is > applicable > > for my situation... Maybe I just don't know how to use it. > > > > Portfast is enabled. > > > > I tried the eth0_ethtool option, but that didn't appear to help. > > > > I thought about placing the ks.cfg files in the initrd, but didn't > > really want to go there. > > > > Thanks > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:kickstart-list- > > > bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shabazian, Chip > > > Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 10:56 AM > > > To: Discussion list about Kickstart > > > Subject: RE: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > > > > > I think there was a "nicdelay" or something similar introduced > around > > > RHEL3U7, so you might want to try that. Also, make sure that > portfast > > > > > is enabled on the switches. The other thing we do is set the > > > speed/duplex via ethtool to avoid autonegotion delays: > > > > > > eth0_ethtool="autoneg=on speed=1000 duplex=full" > > > > > > When we have to build via iLO, we embed the kickstart file in the > > initrd > > > and then use ks=file: > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx > > > [mailto:kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ramthun, > > William > > > Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 9:50 AM > > > To: Discussion list about Kickstart > > > Subject: RE: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > > > > > In our normal data centers, we build HP DL385/585 daily as well. > The > > > data center with issues is from an acquired company with older Cisco > > > switches (5 years +). > > > > > > Installing RHEL 3 Update 5 > > > > > > The install client accesses the RHEL 3 media server via eth0. When > > > Anaconda times-out, I can run thru the install setup manually and > > > RHEL3U5 will install over the network. The problem is the Kickstart > > > config is highly configured and doing a manual install is not really > > an > > > option that I want to consider. > > > > > > What I want is to access the ks.cfg via the network. Which implies > > that > > > the network needs to "come up" before Anaconda times out. > > > > > > OR > > > > > > Read the ks.cfg from the cdrom. But the cdrom is virually mounted > > over > > > the ILO port and is not accessible like ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg from the > boot > > > > > prompt. I don't know what the <cdrom> device is. > > > -Bill > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:kickstart-list- > > > > bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shabazian, Chip > > > > Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 10:34 AM > > > > To: Discussion list about Kickstart > > > > Subject: RE: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > > > > > > > We build HP DL 380/385/580/585 servers every day while connected > to > > > > Cisco switches that we don't have any access to. Are you using > RHEL > > 3 > > > > > > > or 4? If 4, do you have spare NIC's in the box? RHEL 4 enumerates > > the > > > > > > > bus backwards from RHEL 3, so if you have a NIC, it's going to be > > eth0 > > > > > > > instead of the onboard... > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > [mailto:kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ramthun, > > > William > > > > Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 8:01 AM > > > > To: Discussion list about Kickstart > > > > Subject: RE: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > From: kickstart-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:kickstart-list- > > > > > bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of nate > > > > > Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 10:33 AM > > > > > To: kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > > Subject: Re: "pump" times out -- extend a few seconds more? > > > > > > > > > > Bill-Schoolcraft said: > > > > > > Hello Family, > > > > > > > > > > > > I have a series of switches, in racks, and one of them seems > to > > be > > > a > > > > bit > > > > > > slow so when kickstart goes for it's dhcp request, pump times > > out. > > > > The > > > > > > initial PXE takes much more time to get an "ack" at the > initial > > > > contact > > > > > > than the same boxes in other racks with other switches but > then > > > > finally > > > > > > starts chugging away -- it's the next dhcp request that fails, > > > times > > > > out. > > > > > > > > > > > > Today I took the same box, draped a cat6 cable to another, > less > > > > > > populated switch, and it kicked fine. > > > > > > > > > > > > (question) > > > > > > So my question is, how or where can I place an argument to > tell > > > > > > kickstart's "pump" request to try longer before timing out. > > > > > > > > > > just curious, what type of switch? many older cisco switches > have > > > STP > > > > > on by default, if you set the port(s) to 'portfast' the links > come > > > up > > > > > immediately rather than waiting ~45 seconds. > > > > > > > > > > I'm not a cisco guy but if your switches are cisco the command > is > > > > > something like > > > > > > > > > > int (interface) > > > > > spanning-tree portfast > > > > > ^Z > > > > > wr mem > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > e.g. on my old 3500s (IOS 12.0 is the latest they'll run) int > > fa0/5 > > > > > spanning-tree portfast > > > > > > > > > > I haven't encountered any other switch vendors that have this > > > > > 'feature' enabled by default. You can tell if it's on without > even > > > > > > > logging in(to the switch) by checking to see if the link light > for > > > the > > > > > > > > > port spends a long time in the orange color before turning > green. > > > I've > > > > > > > > > been told more modern cisco switches ship with this feature off > by > > > > > > > default. > > > > > > > > > > as for extending the pump times, I'm not sure, so I can't answer > > > your > > > > > specific question :) maybe the above will help a bit.. > > > > > > > > > > I did a quick search on pump timeout, and what I did see was > that > > it > > > > > > > > may be possible to extend the timeout by adding a > > > > > /etc/pump_device.conf and using the option 'timeout <some > > number>'. > > > > > > > > > > though you'll need to add that to the initrd image..not the > > easiest > > > > > thing in the world. > > > > > > > > > > nate > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I am experiencing a similar problem; however, my situation is > > slightly > > > > > > > different. > > > > > > > > I have HP DL385's connected to a 48 port 10/100 module in a Cisco > > 6509 > > > > > > > (with Sup 2 routing module). I'm using the virtual CDROM via the > HP > > > ILO > > > > (Integrated Lights Out) interface to perform the initial boot. I > > > mount > > > > a customized version of RHEL3U5 CD1. My kickstart file is > specified > > > as > > > > an url. The system boots and Anaconda starts, but before the link > > > > negotiation can complete Anaconda times-out and I am dumped into > an > > > > interactive install. > > > > > > > > A couple of data points: > > > > > > > > 1) The HP DL385 on-board NICs are manufactured by Broadcom. I've > > read > > > > > > > about a known bug with link negotiation between the Broadcom NICs > > and > > > > Cisco 48-port line cards. The link negotiation works, it just > takes > > a > > > > > > > "longer" time than with any other kind of NIC. > > > > > > > > 2) Setting the switch port NIC to enable "spanning-tree portfast" > > does > > > > > > > shorten the link negotiation time, but not enough to get around my > > > > problem. > > > > > > > > Work Arounds: > > > > > > > > 1) I will prebuild the kickstart configs and place them on my > > > customized > > > > RHEL3U5 CD. I've been unsuccessful at reading the kickstart > config > > > from > > > > the CDROM. The driver supporting the ILO virtual cdrom does not > > name > > > > the cdrom device as "cdrom". Still reading up on this. > > > > > > > > That's it so far, > > > > -Bill > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Kickstart-list mailing list > > > > Kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/kickstart-list > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Kickstart-list mailing list > > > > Kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/kickstart-list > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Kickstart-list mailing list > > > Kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/kickstart-list > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Kickstart-list mailing list > > > Kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/kickstart-list > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Kickstart-list mailing list > > Kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/kickstart-list > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Kickstart-list mailing list > > Kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/kickstart-list > > _______________________________________________ > Kickstart-list mailing list > Kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/kickstart-list > > _______________________________________________ > Kickstart-list mailing list > Kickstart-list@xxxxxxxxxx > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/kickstart-list
