Upgrade to linux3.1.4 causes no boot(Solved?)

Question

While troubleshooting the failures of my raid0 bootable Compact Flash devices, I proceeded to perform the following setup.
I first upgraded my system in the raid0 kernel 2.6.39.3-1 with a download via pacman -Syu.  Total packages downloaded was 317.  Linux kernel 3.1.4 was not accepted for download.  All packages were successfully downloaded and installed( rm/etc/profile.d/xxxx.sh was removed).  The device was recognized in /etc/proc/mdstat as /dev/md0.
Therefore all items concerned with the latest packages were installed.  This without the new kernel 3.1.4.  I upgraded mirrorlist which was included in the packages.  I then rebooted into my raid0 system successfully.  I then upgraded to linux 3.1.4 kernel with pacman.
I then rebooted but failed to boot with the error : unable to find /dev/md0...no major-minor number on device by uuidxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Thus, it seems obvious there is a problem in the linux-3.1.4-1-x86_64.pkg .tar.xz which affects the blkid, using UUID, since previous failures encountered with this kernel indicate that the uuid changed in linux kernels to accept the uuid of the booting device in this case, the boot device is the first device (0) of the two devices(0,1).  There are also indications that the /dev/md0 becomes dev md127.
Any guidance to the solution of this discrepancy would be welcomed.
Last edited by lilsirecho (2011-11-16 15:34:12)

Answer 1

The problem occurs with many users.
My postings in the following arch post may give you a solution.  My views are expressed therein and may not be valid(however, I have had messed up downloads with bad mirrors, despite what has been reported in that post)
Anyhow, there have been successful uses of my approach, even though it may seem off base.
I did the complete list of steps to correct my system.  It is possible the mirror download did not include initramfs.  My approach was to " cover the bases" in proper pacman order not having left out pertinent possibilities and has helped others to correct their problem.
I suggest you read the whole post , decide what might be useable including the recommend from falconindy.  He can well be right but why does it hit more than one user?
Good luck and let us know how it goes...............
EDIT:  The same problem occurred when I upgraded to the latest Kernel.  I performed the same procedure I recommended and now have the latest kernel in 3 pairs of CF raid0 cards.  They run faster than normal by 50% in hdparm -t.  I attribute this to the raid0 mode striping.
It is not apparent to me what order of install or what speed of performance is applicable to pacman when downloading the core items in archlinux.  Perhaps a delay(ugh) is needed for initramfs to properly install.
All of pacman is a black art but most definitely needs to be run according to hoyle but system changes such as initramfs need to be compatible with pacman if that is the problem with upgrades(as suggested by falconindy) .
I expect the next kernel upgrade to cause the same failure based on past experience with linux kernels.
Last edited by lilsirecho (2011-11-17 22:08:32)