Knowing what points your install attempts hang at might be useful in identifying the root cause of the problem. Even if nobody knows what causes the issue, knowing what to watch out for might help others avoid frustration. Also, since there tend to be slight variations between units with the same Model Number, if you post more clues about your "hangs" and another user finds they do not have the same issue, this might reveal the cause.
It could be something as simple as the type of memory chip being used in the motherboard (I think; not sure).
Found this information regarding Linux on the GX620 using Google Groups.
"From: Mike M - view profile Date: Wed, Feb 15 2006 12:30 pm Email: "Mike M" <nos...@nodomain.com> Groups: novell.support.zenworks.desktop-management.7x.imaging-server.nw-win Not yet ratedRating: show options
(posted this to the three Zen Imaging NG's where this issue applies: 6.5 imaging, 7x.linux, 7.x NW-Win)
Issue: When booting from the SuSE 6.5sp2 boot.iso on a Dell Optiplex GX620, the SuSE imaging main menu never shows up. As a result, the SuSE generic character-mode GUI is presented with options to install SuSE, eject CD, etc. Essentially, it's very broken.
The issue was isolated to only those GX620's with the Philips DVD drive. Any GX620 having the generic HL-Data DVD drive worked flawlessly.
Novell and Dell have worked together on the support call that I opened a while back on this issue. TID10100469 is the result. It's a work in progress. I would reckon that we'll see a patch for this sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, the workaround we've used has been to plug an external USB CD or DVD drive and unplug the internal one. Then the same ZFD 6.5.2 boot.iso works fine once again.
The majority of the error that was getting reported was missing rpm. The rpm would be different on different attemps, and sometimes I was able to get beyond the message by selecting the retry option. I know that this error sometimes indicates a corrupt image, but I have used this set successfully in the past, and ran a verification on them. Other times the install would just hang at random points again and the system had to be power-cycled to retry.
Since I first reported this I have successfully gotten a good install, but it was quite painful. Luckly, or not, we had purchased two of these systems with identical hardware configurations. I wanted to rule out a hardware issue and attempted the install on the second system, but that failed with the missing rpm X error. I decided to give it one more try but this time I decided to reorient the machine to stand like a tower unit rather than a desktop. The reasoning behind this was I thought that maybe there was a calibration issue with the dvd when it was horizontal... Well it worked! I was able to get through the entire install without a single error. I didn't have the time to experiment with the other system so I just ran a dd to the other disk.
The dvd unit in these systems is a Phillips DVD+/-RW DVD8801.
It sounds like you barked up the right tree and chased down an answer to the problem yourself (at least once anyway). You are to be commended for this insight!
I was thinking there was a problem with your image also, and then I read what you wrote. Is it possible the DVD drive has dust contamination within the drive? If the unit is older / used then you may be experiencing read errors, the occurence of which may vary depending on how stirred-up the air gets inside the drive(s) each time you use them. People often underrate the value of a clean mechanism (IMHO).
costeaden
20 Posts
0
July 12th, 2006 14:00
Knowing what points your install attempts hang at might be useful in identifying the root cause of the problem. Even if nobody knows what causes the issue, knowing what to watch out for might help others avoid frustration. Also, since there tend to be slight variations between units with the same Model Number, if you post more clues about your "hangs" and another user finds they do not have the same issue, this might reveal the cause.
It could be something as simple as the type of memory chip being used in the motherboard (I think; not sure).
Good luck!
Message Edited by costeaden on 07-12-200610:34 AM
Message Edited by costeaden on 07-12-200610:34 AM
costeaden
20 Posts
0
July 12th, 2006 15:00
Found this information regarding Linux on the GX620 using Google Groups.
"From: Mike M - view profile
Date: Wed, Feb 15 2006 12:30 pm
Email: "Mike M" <nos...@nodomain.com>
Groups: novell.support.zenworks.desktop-management.7x.imaging-server.nw-win
Not yet ratedRating:
show options
(posted this to the three Zen Imaging NG's where this issue applies: 6.5
imaging, 7x.linux, 7.x NW-Win)
Issue:
When booting from the SuSE 6.5sp2 boot.iso on a Dell Optiplex GX620, the
SuSE imaging main menu never shows up. As a result, the SuSE generic
character-mode GUI is presented with options to install SuSE, eject CD, etc.
Essentially, it's very broken.
The issue was isolated to only those GX620's with the Philips DVD drive.
Any GX620 having the generic HL-Data DVD drive worked flawlessly.
Novell and Dell have worked together on the support call that I opened a
while back on this issue. TID10100469 is the result. It's a work in
progress. I would reckon that we'll see a patch for this sooner rather than
later. Meanwhile, the workaround we've used has been to plug an external
USB CD or DVD drive and unplug the internal one. Then the same ZFD 6.5.2
boot.iso works fine once again.
Cheers,
Mike"
rdrr
2 Posts
0
July 12th, 2006 17:00
Since I first reported this I have successfully gotten a good install, but it was quite painful. Luckly, or not, we had purchased two of these systems with identical hardware configurations. I wanted to rule out a hardware issue and attempted the install on the second system, but that failed with the missing rpm X error. I decided to give it one more try but this time I decided to reorient the machine to stand like a tower unit rather than a desktop. The reasoning behind this was I thought that maybe there was a calibration issue with the dvd when it was horizontal... Well it worked! I was able to get through the entire install without a single error. I didn't have the time to experiment with the other system so I just ran a dd to the other disk.
The dvd unit in these systems is a Phillips DVD+/-RW DVD8801.
costeaden
20 Posts
0
July 12th, 2006 17:00