Kernel panic not syncing VFS: Error during booting remastered CD

[Basudeb]

I have remastered a Live CD by adding some executable and using this script:
#! /bin/sh
# krhowto_4
# Path to partition you will work on
PFAD="/media/sda1"
START=$(date +'%s')
# Disable screensaver
xscreensaver-command -exit
# Build new inital RAM-disk
cd $PFAD/knx/minirt/minirtdir/
find . | cpio -oH newc | gzip -9 > ../minirt.gz
cp $PFAD/knx/minirt/minirt.gz $PFAD/knx/master/boot/isolinux/
# Make the big compressed filesystem KNOPPIX
genisoimage -input-charset ISO-8859-15 -R -l -D -V KNOPPIX_FS -quiet \
-no-split-symlink-components -no-split-symlink-fields \
-hide-rr-moved -cache-inodes $PFAD/knx/source/KNOPPIX \
| /usr/sbin/create_compressed_fs -q -B 65536 -t 8 -L -1 \
-f $PFAD/knx/isotemp - $PFAD/knx/master/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX
# Update the file hashes used by the "testcd" boot option
cd $PFAD/knx/master ; find -type f -not -name \
sha1sums -not -name boot.cat -not \
-name isolinux.bin -exec sha1sum '{}' \; > KNOPPIX/sha1sums
# Create new Knoppix ISO
genisoimage -l -r -J -V "KNOPPIX" \
-b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 \
-boot-info-table -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat \
-o $PFAD/knx/remasterd.iso $PFAD/knx/master
# Enable screensaver
su knoppix -c "xscreensaver -nosplash &"
echo -e "\nFinished! Used time: $(expr $(expr $(date +'%s') - $START) / 60) min. \
and $(expr $(expr $(date +'%s') - $START) % 60) sec. \
\n\nThe new ISO is stored in '$PFAD/knx/remastered.iso' "[/COLOR]

My knoppix version is 6.7.1.
When I run the iso which is 725 mb it boots up, shows logo, and boot.. if i let it continue it shows this:
Decompressing Linux... Parsing ELF.... done
Booting the kernel..
[ 3.171152] Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(8,1)....
I have tried it many times but get the same result. I am using VMWare 8.0.6 to do all this.

[Werner P. Schulz]

Did you get an error message booting your remastered version with cheatcode

knoppix testcd

[Basudeb]

I do not know how to use cheatcode. But I have tried
kvm -m 512 -cdrom $PFAD/knx/remastered.iso
It showed the logo, boot: and then the same messages
Decompressing Linux... Parsing ELF.... done
Booting the kernel..
[ 3.171152] Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(8,1)....

[Werner P. Schulz]

http://knoppix.net/wiki/Cheat_Codes

[Basudeb]

If I type knoppix testcd, I get same error

[Basudeb]

I tried all the cheatcodes including 'knoppix debug' This gave me more detailed information that was:
[ 3.317878] VFS: Cannot open root device "(null)" or unknown-block(8,1)
[3.317944] Please append a correct "root=" boot option; here are the available partitions:
[ 3.318010] 0b00 1048575 sr0 driver:sr
[ 3.318076] Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(8,1)
[ 3.318142] Pid: 1. comm: swapper Tainted:G W 3.0.4 #12 etc.

Where do I start checking?

[Werner P. Schulz]

I have remastered a Live CD by adding some executable and using this scriptYour remaster by itself is wrong. The sripts of Remaster HowTo (http://knoppix.net/wiki/Knoppix_Remastering_Howto) I've tested many times.

[Basudeb]

Of course my remaster is wrong. and I have also tested it many times before. But this time it does not work. I have also given the script I have used for remaster. I have used only two major steps for remastering that could affect the final result:
1. ran the following:
#! /bin/sh
# krhowto_1
# Path to partition you will work on
PFAD="/media/sda1"
START=$(date +'%s')
# Disable screensaver
xscreensaver-command -exit
# One sub-directory will be used for the Master-CD
mkdir -p $PFAD/knx/master
cd $PFAD/knx
# You will need a swapfile
dd if=/dev/zero of=swapfile bs=1M count=500
mkswap swapfile ; swapon swapfile
# Make a sub-directory for the source
mkdir -p $PFAD/knx/source/KNOPPIX
echo "Copy the KNOPPIX files to your source directory."
echo "This will take a long time!"
cp -rp /KNOPPIX/* $PFAD/knx/source/KNOPPIX
# Additionally, copy the files to build the ISO later
rsync -aH --exclude="KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX*" /mnt-system/* $PFAD/knx/master
# gunzip inital RAM-disk
mkdir -p $PFAD/knx/minirt/minirtdir
cp $PFAD/knx/master/boot/isolinux/minirt.gz $PFAD/knx/minirt/
cd $PFAD/knx/minirt/
gunzip minirt.gz
cd minirtdir
cpio -imd --no-absolute-filenames < ../minirt
# Enable screensaver
su knoppix -c "xscreensaver -nosplash &"
echo -e "\nFinished! Used time: $(expr $(expr $(date +'%s') - $START) / 60) min. \
and $(expr $(expr $(date +'%s') - $START) % 60) sec."

2. copied my executables
3. Did the following:
Create the autostart parameters as below.

Created a file called myprog.desktop in /media/sda3/knx/source/KNOPPIX/home/knoppix/.config/autostart folder with the following contents:cd us

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=myprog
Exec=sudo /usr/loca/bin/myprog.sh &
Terminal=false
X-GENOME-Autostart-enabled=true

B. Create a file in /usr/local/bin/myprog.sh with exec permission with contents:
#!/bin/sh
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/lib
/bin/myprog



3. Executed Bash remaster.sh which created the .iso

So, where I am going wrong.

[Werner P. Schulz]

# Path to partition you will work on
PFAD="/media/sda1"You have to declare the value of "PFAD" as you need it within all the four scriptparts of the HowTo.
Created a file called myprog.desktop in /media/sda3/knx/source/KNOPPIX/home/knoppix/.config/autostart folder with the following contents:cd us/sda3 or /sda1? And what about "cd us"?
Create a file in /usr/local/bin/myprog.sh with exec permission with contents:
#!/bin/shAt this point are you working within the chroot or after leaving it?

But as I can see it, this is not the reason for the unbootable remastered version.

[Basudeb]

Sure I changed all the PFAD to proper sda or sdb as the case may be. I did not use chroot but copied the files in the proper path. As the system anyway booted and came upto boot: , I also think this is not the reason. So, what is the reason? Firstly what is the error? And how do I get rid of it?

[Basudeb]

Created a file called myprog.desktop in /media/sda3/knx/source/KNOPPIX/home/knoppix/.config/autostart folder with the following contents:cd us

cd us must be some typo introduced while writing the post.

[klaus2008]

I am using VMWare 8.0.6 to do all this. I think you have to add some kernel modules to your minirt.gz because support for the SCSI device of VMWare is not included in the Linux kernel of Knoppix.

There is an old thread http://knoppix.net/forum/threads/29398-new-Knoppix-hangs-in-vmware-waiting-for-root-device with a description of the creation of an IDE HDD for VMWare. Maybe that helps.

[Basudeb]

I made iso burnt into CD and ran it. Exactly same error came. Shouldn't the debug log and the error numbers give indication of what exactly is failing? I thought Knoppix or linux experts should be able to say something on that