RHEL8: Installation over the network fails, Emergency mode is entered while switching root

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • When installing a system with RHEL8 over the network, the Emergency mode is entered and EXT4 failures are seen on the console

    ...
    [           ... ] EXT4-fs error (device dm-0): ext4_find_entry:1446: inode #...
    [           ... ] Buffer I/O error on dev dm-0, ...
    [FAILED] Failed to start Switch Root
    [           ... ] EXT4-fs error (device dm-0): ext4_find_entry:1446: inode #...
    [           ... ] Buffer I/O error on dev dm-0, ...
    [           ... ] EXT4-fs error (device dm-0): ext4_find_entry:1446: inode #...
    [           ... ] Buffer I/O error on dev dm-0, ...
    ...
    Warning: /dev/root does not exist
    ...
    Entering emergency mode. Exit the shell to continue.
    ...
    
  • Alternatively, the following messages can be seen on the console (numbers may vary):

    ...
    [           ... ] loop: Write error at byte offset 29511680, length 4096.
    [           ... ] loop: Write error at byte offset 29515776, length 4096.
    [           ... ] loop: Write error at byte offset 29519872, length 4096.
    [           ... ] loop: Write error at byte offset 29523968, length 4096.
    [           ... ] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev loop2, sector 57640 op 0x1:(WRITE) flags 0x800 phys_seg 1 prio class 0
    [           ... ] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev loop2, sector 57648 op 0x1:(WRITE) flags 0x800 phys_seg 1 prio class 0
    [           ... ] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev loop2, sector 57656 op 0x1:(WRITE) flags 0x800 phys_seg 1 prio class 0
    [           ... ] blk_update_request: I/O error, dev loop2, sector 57664 op 0x1:(WRITE) flags 0x800 phys_seg 1 prio class 0
    ...
    Warning: /dev/root does not exist
    ...
    Entering emergency mode. Exit the shell to continue.
    ...
    

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Installation over the network (PXE / HTTP / NFS)

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