CentOS - Jan 2012 - Cannot use kickstart file to install CentOS 6.2 into a blank harddisk

I am trying using a kickstart file to install CentOS 6.2 into a new virtual
machine (the MBR sector
of the harddisk is all zero), however I found that the installer cannot go
through the harddisk
partition. It failed after I chose "Use All Space" at harddisk
partition option.
The error message is:
http://anony.ws/i/bMcTJ.png

"You have not defined a root partition (/), which is required for
installation of CentOS to continue.
You have not created a/boot/efi partition (note: I am using BIOS, not (U)EFI)
This can happen if there is not enough space on your harddrive(s) for
installation."

However, if I create a blank MBR partition table before before CentOS
installation, then there is no
problem. The same kickstart file works for CentOS 6.1 with blank harddisk. (with
url parameter
changed of course)

Below is the kickstart file I used (between dash lines)

-------
url --url="http://ftp.twaren.net/Linux/CentOS/6.2/os/i386/"
interactive
timezone  Asia/Hong_Kong
firstboot --enable
-------

Steps to reproduce:
1. create a new virtual machine with blank harddisk image (or, a real blank
harddisk)
2. boot the netinstall iso
3. at boot menu, press tab and append ks=<kickstart_file_location> and
press enter to boot
4. go through the boot option as usual until harddisk partition options
5. Choose "Use All Space" at harddisk partition options
6. error occurs

On Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 07:25, lee_yiu_chung at yahoo.com
<lee_yiu_chung at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Below is the kickstart file I used (between dash lines)
>
> -------
> url --url="http://ftp.twaren.net/Linux/CentOS/6.2/os/i386/"
> interactive
> timezone ?Asia/Hong_Kong
> firstboot --enable
> -------
clearpart --all --initlabel

----- Original Message -----
| I am trying using a kickstart file to install CentOS 6.2 into a new
| virtual machine (the MBR sector
| of the harddisk is all zero), however I found that the installer
| cannot go through the harddisk
| partition. It failed after I chose "Use All Space" at harddisk
| partition option.
| The error message is:
| http://anony.ws/i/bMcTJ.png
| 
| "You have not defined a root partition (/), which is required for
| installation of CentOS to continue.
| You have not created a/boot/efi partition (note: I am using BIOS, not
| (U)EFI)
| This can happen if there is not enough space on your harddrive(s) for
| installation."
| 
| However, if I create a blank MBR partition table before before CentOS
| installation, then there is no
| problem. The same kickstart file works for CentOS 6.1 with blank
| harddisk. (with url parameter
| changed of course)
| 
| Below is the kickstart file I used (between dash lines)
| 
| -------
| url --url="http://ftp.twaren.net/Linux/CentOS/6.2/os/i386/"
| interactive
| timezone Asia/Hong_Kong
| firstboot --enable
| -------
| 
| Steps to reproduce:
| 1. create a new virtual machine with blank harddisk image (or, a real
| blank harddisk)
| 2. boot the netinstall iso
| 3. at boot menu, press tab and append ks=<kickstart_file_location> and
| press enter to boot
| 4. go through the boot option as usual until harddisk partition
| options
| 5. Choose "Use All Space" at harddisk partition options
| 6. error occurs
| _______________________________________________
| CentOS mailing list
| CentOS at centos.org
| http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos


clearpart --all --initlabel

part /boot --fstype=ext4 --size=1024
part pv.0 --grow --size=1
volgroup ROOTDISK --pesize=4096 pv.0
logvol swap --name=swap --vgname=ROOTDISK --recommended
logvol / --fstype=ext4 --name=root --vgname=ROOTDISK --size=1 --grow


They that.  Should work for you.  Feel free to adjust as necessary

-- 
James A. Peltier
Manager, IT Services - Research Computing Group
Simon Fraser University - Burnaby Campus
Phone   : 778-782-6573
Fax     : 778-782-3045
E-Mail  : jpeltier at sfu.ca
Website : http://www.sfu.ca/itservices
          http://blogs.sfu.ca/people/jpeltier
I will do the best I can with the talent I have

> clearpart --all --initlabel
>
> part /boot --fstype=ext4 --size=1024
> part pv.0 --grow --size=1
> volgroup ROOTDISK --pesize=4096 pv.0
> logvol swap --name=swap --vgname=ROOTDISK --recommended
> logvol / --fstype=ext4 --name=root --vgname=ROOTDISK --size=1 --grow
Thanks for your suggestion, but I just wished to keep the kickstart file bare
minimum. It is
intended to save my little trouble in typing installation repository path and
choosing timezones
only and do nothing else. All other options would be asked interactively,
including disk partition.
(timezone and installation repository are the only options that are absolutely
the same in every
machine in a local environment :) )

Since this problem doesn't occur in 6.1, is it possible to be a installer
bug in 6.2?

? 2012/1/4 ?? 08:25, lee_yiu_chung at yahoo.com ??:
> I am trying using a kickstart file to install CentOS 6.2 into a new virtual
machine (the MBR sector
> of the harddisk is all zero), however I found that the installer cannot go
through the harddisk
> partition. It failed after I chose "Use All Space" at harddisk
partition option.
> The error message is:
> http://anony.ws/i/bMcTJ.png
> 
> "You have not defined a root partition (/), which is required for
installation of CentOS to continue.
> You have not created a/boot/efi partition (note: I am using BIOS, not
(U)EFI)
> This can happen if there is not enough space on your harddrive(s) for
installation."
> 
> However, if I create a blank MBR partition table before before CentOS
installation, then there is no
> problem. The same kickstart file works for CentOS 6.1 with blank harddisk.
(with url parameter
> changed of course)
> 
> Below is the kickstart file I used (between dash lines)
> 
> -------
> url --url="http://ftp.twaren.net/Linux/CentOS/6.2/os/i386/"
> interactive
> timezone  Asia/Hong_Kong
> firstboot --enable
> -------
> 
> Steps to reproduce:
> 1. create a new virtual machine with blank harddisk image (or, a real blank
harddisk)
> 2. boot the netinstall iso
> 3. at boot menu, press tab and append ks=<kickstart_file_location>
and press enter to boot
> 4. go through the boot option as usual until harddisk partition options
> 5. Choose "Use All Space" at harddisk partition options
> 6. error occurs
> _______________________________________________
> CentOS mailing list
> CentOS at centos.org
> http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
> 
I just tested with equivalent upstream version, and confirmed the same bug
occurred in upstream. I
opened a bugzilla ticket for this.
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=771806