RHBA-2011:1126 - Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

An updated mdadm package that fixes several bugs is now available for Red Hat
Enterprise Linux 6.

Description

The mdadm package contains a utility for creating, managing, and monitoring
Linux MD (multiple disk) devices.

This update fixes the following bugs:

• When an array was changing level from redundant to non-redundant such as RAID

0, mdadm failed to exit and remained in memory. This caused a variety of issues,
including a termination with a segmentation fault when two array transitions
were executed sequentially. With this update, a patch has been provided to
address this issue, and the monitor is now properly removed from memory after
the backward takeover operation. (BZ#723135)

• If an array size was not properly aligned to the chunk size, the expansion

process failed to start and the "New chunk size does not divide component size"
error message was returned. This bug has been fixed, and the array alignment is
now checked before the expansion process begins. (BZ#723137)

• Previously, when a volume was created with the "--size" option but without

providing a chunk size and a container, mdadm used the "UnSet=65534" option for
rounding the volume size before setting the default chunk size. This caused the
new volume to be created with an incorrect size. This bug has been fixed, and
the volume size is now properly rounded to the chunk size. (BZ#723139)

• When the expansion process of a RAID 0 volume was restarted, mdadm failed to

correctly assemble the array because the critical section could not be restored
from a backup file, and the "mdadm: Failed to restore critical section for
reshape - sorry" error message was returned. A patch has been provided to
address this issue, and now, the RAID 0 expansion process cannot be restarted,
thus fixing this bug. (BZ#723140)

• Previously, mdadm incorrectly calculated reshape start data disks number (0)

during the reshape restart operation and used it for calculations. This caused a
variety of issues; for example, when two disks were added to the 3-disk RAID 5
array and the array under migration was disassembled and then assembled again,
mdadm terminated unexpectedly. A set of patches has been provided to address
this issue, and the reshape process is now properly restarted in the described
scenario. (BZ#723141)

• When two arrays were configured in a container and the arrays were reassembled

during a rebuild or initialization process, the stored checkpoint for one of the
arrays was sometimes lost. Consequently, the restarted process did not use the
checkpoint information and started from zero position instead. A patch has been
provided to address this issue, and the restarted process now properly continues
from the stored checkpoint. (BZ#723142)

Users of mdadm are advised to upgrade to this updated package, which fixes these
bugs.

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to
use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
https://access.redhat.com/kb/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 6.1 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 6.1 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 6 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support 6.1 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 6 ppc64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian - Extended Update Support 6.1 ppc64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Scientific Computing 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Update Support from RHUI 6.1 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Update Support from RHUI 6.1 i386
• Red Hat Virtual Storage Appliance (from RHUI) 6.1 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support (for IBM z Systems) 6 s390x

Fixes

CVEs

(none)

References

(none)