FreeNas 9.3 fresh install 'GRUB loadingRead Error' on boot

[anthony]

(see configuration at end of message)

Issue Description

After I install the latest 64-bit 9.3 FreeNAS Release from CD-ROM iso to the new 8GB Compact Flash 'Lexar Professional 800x 8GB UDMA 7' I can successfully install but after the reboot I get 'GRUB loadingRead Error'. Verified that my CD-ROM can be read from another couple of machines and can even install using another physical CD-ROM drive on the same machine.

Question/Comment

Any ideas on how to resolve this issue? Hopefully, I can boot from the CD-ROM and do a little editing on the Compact Flash and/or possible run fsck or re-install grub (or something like that).

Additional Information

• previously used Compact Flash 'Kingston 4GB 133x Elite Pro' with FreeNAS 9.2.19 release (64-bit) and that worked fine for years with the 9.2.x series FreeNAS
• had another 4GB Industrial no-name SLC Compact Flash lying around so I tried to install FreeNAS 9.3 64-bit and that worked and booted into FreeNAS 9.3 and I can hit the Web Interface but then ... I get the following after entering and submitting login credentials through firefox web browser (but putting that issue aside as I want to run FreeNAS 9.3 with the minimum recommended Compact Flash size of 8 GB ... not the recommended bare minimum of 4 GB)

--snip
Forbidden (403)
CSRF verification failed. Request aborted.

More information is available with DEBUG=True.
--snip

but that is another issue that I can address later as I want to deal with one problem at a time.

Configuration
Gigabyte Mobo Intel Core2 Duo 2.1 GHz Processor
8 GB RAM
4 2TB WD Green Drives
Raid Level 1
Compact Flash OS install/boot
CD-ROM
PCIe 1Gb Ethernet Card (Integrated Ethernet has FreeBSD watchdog issue)
Previously running 9.2.x 64-bit release for years now (last working version 9.2.19 64-bit)

-- Anthony

 

[dlavigne]

[QUOTEI can successfully install but after the reboot I get 'GRUB loadingRead Error'.[/QUOTE]

Haven't seen that one before. Please create a bug report at bugs.freenas.org and post the issue number here.

 

[cyberjock]

Are you using a CF -> (something) converter? I've got personal experience that says converters are almost always a problem. They might not be a problem at first, but they seem to randomly create problems and are best avoided from the beginning.

You've also got a Core 2 Duo, which is beyond ancient, and almost certainly isn't going to be compatible with GPT booting nor is it going to be anything resembling a "good performer".

I think you should stop and examine your hardware more closely before anything else.

 

[Ericloewe]

Are you using a CF -> (something) converter? I've got personal experience that says converters are almost always a problem. They might not be a problem at first, but they seem to randomly create problems and are best avoided from the beginning.

You've also got a Core 2 Duo, which is beyond ancient, and almost certainly isn't going to be compatible with GPT booting nor is it going to be anything resembling a "good performer".

I think you should stop and examine your hardware more closely before anything else.

Nitpick: A CF to IDE adapter is ok, since it's electrically the same. YMMV with other adapters.

Of course, anything that still has IDE is tending towards the "too old" part of the spectrum.

 

[cyberjock]

I know all the motherboards I've bought since 2010 won't even boot from IDE, so yeah.... it gets sketchy real fast.

 

[anthony]

Thank for your reply Dru. I got the post number but I don't believe that I have access to post a bug as my freenas forum username/password did not work on bugs.freenas.org.

 

[anthony]

Update:

As I have FreeNAS installing on the 'bare minimum' 4GB (SLC) compact flash card ... I played around with the web gui and found a workaround to get past not being able to login through the Web Interface (django issue for http/https). Now that I'm past that, I have FreeNAS 9.3 up and running. I've ordered a reasonably priced 8 GB (SLC) compact flash card online as my 8 GB (MLC) compact flash card does not work to run GRUB after the FreeNAS 9.3 install. I'll know for sure in about a week if the new 8GB SLC CF Card fixes my 8GB install issue on a CF Card.

 

[anthony]

Success! I just got my new 8GB SLC Compact Flash card in the mail today and it works. I'm up and running FreeNAS 9.3 on my desired hardware configuration.