Newsgroups:  gmane.linux.debian.user
Date:        Sat, 29 Jan 2005 07:24:24 -0800

> I tried to install Debian on sata disks. With the 'normal' 2.4.8 kernel,
> this works, but it was giving disk kernel errors.
> When I then upgrade the kernel to the latest 2.4 series (2.4.7-2-686),
> the machine doesn't boot anymore and is giving the error message:
>
> --
> pivot_root: No such file or directory
> --
>
> Same problem with the 2.6 kernel.
> I added the normal sata driver to the /etc/mkinitrd/modules file, remade
> the init image, but same results.

I am using a vanilla 2.6.10 kernel with a Seagate SATA drive and Silicon Image controller. I ran into the pivot root problem when I used an initrd image. So, I changed my config so that all necessary modules were compiled into the kernel and didn't use an initrd image. I made sure that my filesystem was compiled into the kernel and I had SCSI selected and compiled into the kernel. Then I went into SCSI low level devices (using xconfig) and selected Serial ATA (SATA) support to be compiled into the kernel. Then I selected Silicon Image SATA support to be compiled into the kernel. I recompiled then I was able to boot the new kernel. You should be able to select the correct support for your controller. Use lspci to determine which controller you are using.

Tom Brown

> I am using a vanilla 2.6.10 kernel with a Seagate SATA drive and Silicon
> Image controller. I ran into the pivot root problem when I used an initrd
> image.  So, I changed my config so that all necessary modules were
> compiled into the kernel ...

$ uname -rm
2.4.27-1-386 i686