Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

Steve · 2017-09-17 09:10:35

Im pretty sure Hoas will chime in here

Ok so i have been able to get a partially working alpine labs desktop running but for some reason it has started to freeze and the keyboard and mouse will not work so i have to do a hard reset. At first i was using the standard repos then switched to edge testing and installed tint2 lxappearance neofetch polkit-gnome udisks2 viewnior.

i have added all xf86-inputs (keyboard, mouse, synaptics, evdev)

i have rc-update add (udev, dbus,).

No luck still freezes and i can not use keyboard or mouse, hard reset is the only option to get out of it unfortunatly.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-09-17 09:21:32

Hmmm... NVIDIA, eh?

Try disabling the discrete card and use the integrated Intel one instead, if that's an option.

hard reset is the only option

ext4 can't take that too many times

I've never had to use the logging in Alpine yet but that's where you need to look — try /var/log/{messages,dmesg}

Does the problem occur with the linux-vanilla package?

The grsec kernel that is used as standard is very restrictive and may be exposing bugs in other parts of the system.

EDIT: also, that kernel version is *not* the one that's in edge at the moment:

empty@alpine:~ $ uname -a
Linux alpine 4.9.50-0-hardened #1-Alpine SMP Thu Sep 14 11:59:59 GMT 2017 x86_64 GNU/Linux
empty@alpine:~ $

Are you sure that the correct kernel image is being booted?

Alpine overwrites the old kernel images (like Arch but unlike Debian) so that should only happen if /boot is mounted incorrectly during an upgrade.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2017-09-17 09:24:16)

Steve · 2017-09-17 09:27:48

I will see if i can get the error log up here, i dont want to startx again for fear it freezes again. Can you install the vanilla kernel via apk add ? I would probably have to create a new custom grub entry for it too i suppose?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-09-17 09:30:39

Steve wrote:

Can you install the vanilla kernel via apk add ?

That's the only way to do it, AFAIK.

I would probably have to create a new custom grub entry for it too i suppose?

Yes, the only difference will be the names of the kernel image & initramfs — use `ls /boot` to check these.

Steve · 2017-09-17 09:55:46

Ok i have updated the kernel, im working from bunsenlabs now so i can update-grub and post here but will check uname -a when i am in alpine.

Here is /var/log/dmesg

https://pastebin.com/YpFmauyp

I think this maybe user error and i need to read up on the package system more as i failed to install the new kernel for testing or update & upgrade.

Fingers crosses this is the fix.

Steve · 2017-09-17 10:45:41

Still no joy even with the vanilla kernel. This has me beat, i think i will see how the setup script for xfce4 desktop does on a new install with the vanilla kernel and if i have the same error. Ill keep the partition i have setup today but will create a new partition and see what happens with Xfce4.

Last edited by Steve (2017-09-17 10:46:11)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-09-17 10:51:31

The Alpine mailing lists seem to be quite active, you could ask there for some hints:

https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Alpin … lpine-user

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-09-17 11:51:41

When installing Alpine, did you specify the ROOTFS variable?

For example:

# ROOTFS=ext4 setup-disk -m sys /mnt

You can add the initramfs modules afterwards with:

# apk add mkinitfs

Then edit /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf and add ext4 to the features array; here is mine:

empty@alpine:~ $ cat /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf                                                                                                                                                                   
features="ata base ide kms scsi usb virtio ext4"
empty@alpine:~ $

Then regenerate the initramfs:

# mkinitfs

Steve · 2017-09-18 08:15:45

Sorry for the delay in responding, work and all that.

I did a vanilla xfce4 install and so far have had no problems at all, im going to see how it reacts with the hardened kernel next.

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

The Alpine mailing lists seem to be quite active, you could ask there for some hints:
https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Alpin … lpine-user

I may do this but want to rule out human error first.

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

When installing Alpine, did you specify the ROOTFS variable?
For example:
# ROOTFS=ext4 setup-disk -m sys /mnt
You can add the initramfs modules afterwards with:
# apk add mkinitfs
Then edit /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf and add ext4 to the features array; here is mine:
empty@alpine:~ $ cat /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf                                                                                                                                                                   
features="ata base ide kms scsi usb virtio ext4"
empty@alpine:~ $
Then regenerate the initramfs:
# mkinitfs

I did not do this as i just followed this link here: https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Insta … ualbooting

I honestly think i may have borked the install due to not upgrading to edge properly so i may try again with a fresh install.

#1 2017-09-17 09:10:35

Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

#2 2017-09-17 09:21:32

Re: Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

#3 2017-09-17 09:27:48

Re: Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

#4 2017-09-17 09:30:39

Re: Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

#5 2017-09-17 09:55:46

Re: Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

#6 2017-09-17 10:45:41

Re: Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

#7 2017-09-17 10:51:31

Re: Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

#8 2017-09-17 11:51:41

Re: Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

#9 2017-09-18 08:15:45

Re: Alpine Linux Troubleshooting

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