reading an absent floppy fd0 ?

paulparker · March 5, 2013, 10:31am

With NO floppy on this machine, why is the attempt to access, and how to stop ?

Try command fdisk -l and reads only the existing hard drive partitions, then seems to stall as if trying to read something

linux-gedt:~ # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000b52ff

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1              63     4209029     2104483+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2   *     4209030    25189919    10490445   83  Linux
/dev/sda3        25189920    52452223    13631152   83  Linux
/dev/sda4       347631616   976773119   314570752    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5       347633664   620253183   136309760   83  Linux
/dev/sda6       620255232   976752639   178248704   83  Linux
linux-gedt:~ #

Apparent problems in **/var/log/messages **

Terminal Command: grep -i ‘fd0’ /var/log/messages >/home/USERNAME/Downloads/fd0_20130305

Extracted from file: fd0_20130305


Mar  5 07:47:08 linux-gedt kernel:     0.000000] kernel direct mapping tables up to 0xafdeffff @ [mem 0x1fffd000-0x1fffffff]
Mar  5 07:47:08 linux-gedt kernel:     0.802569] pci 0000:00:11.0: reg 18: [io  0xfd00-0xfd07]
Mar  5 07:47:08 linux-gedt kernel:     9.441601] Floppy drive(s): fd0 is unknown type 13 (usb?)
Mar  5 07:48:04 linux-gedt kernel:    75.261076] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Mar  5 07:48:27 linux-gedt kernel:    97.948839] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Mar  5 07:48:27 linux-gedt kernel:    97.948857] Buffer I/O error on device fd0, logical block 0
Mar  5 07:48:50 linux-gedt kernel:   120.630379] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
----deleted-----
Mar  5 08:10:03 linux-gedt kernel:  1390.916173] FAT-fs (fd0): unable to read boot sector
Mar  5 15:02:11 linux-gedt kernel:     0.000000] kernel direct mapping tables up to 0xafdeffff @ [mem 0x1fffd000-0x1fffffff]
Mar  5 15:02:11 linux-gedt kernel:     0.805787] pci 0000:00:11.0: reg 18: [io  0xfd00-0xfd07]
Mar  5 15:02:11 linux-gedt kernel:     9.734745] Floppy drive(s): fd0 is unknown type 13 (usb?)
Mar  5 15:08:24 linux-gedt kernel:     0.000000] kernel direct mapping tables up to 0xafdeffff @ [mem 0x1fffd000-0x1fffffff]
Mar  5 15:08:24 linux-gedt kernel:     0.801576] pci 0000:00:11.0: reg 18: [io  0xfd00-0xfd07]
Mar  5 15:08:24 linux-gedt kernel:     9.480855] Floppy drive(s): fd0 is unknown type 13 (usb?)
Mar  5 15:11:08 linux-gedt kernel:     0.000000] kernel direct mapping tables up to 0xafdeffff @ [mem 0x1fffd000-0x1fffffff]
Mar  5 15:11:08 linux-gedt kernel:     0.812762] pci 0000:00:11.0: reg 18: [io  0xfd00-0xfd07]
Mar  5 15:11:08 linux-gedt kernel:     8.891820] Floppy drive(s): fd0 is unknown type 13 (usb?)
Mar  5 15:12:04 linux-gedt kernel:    75.164706] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Mar  5 15:12:27 linux-gedt kernel:    97.848059] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Mar  5 15:12:27 linux-gedt kernel:    97.848077] Buffer I/O error on device fd0, logical block 0
----deleted---- 
Mar  5 15:34:02 linux-gedt kernel:  1390.840644] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Mar  5 15:34:02 linux-gedt kernel:  1390.840682] FAT-fs (fd0): unable to read boot sector
----deleted----
Mar  5 15:34:02 linux-gedt kernel:  1390.840644] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Mar  5 15:34:02 linux-gedt kernel:  1390.840682] FAT-fs (fd0): unable to read boot sector
Mar  5 19:39:54 linux-gedt kernel: [16115.737790] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
linux-gedt:~ #

As one of the Technically-Challenged, still with floppy drive(s) in cupboard, am aware floppy’s rarely used these days, believe not one on this machine, yet can see:

linux-gedt:~ # hwinfo --disk --short 
disk:                                                           
  /dev/fd0             Disk
  /dev/sda             ST500DM002-1BC14
  /dev/sdb             Generic Storage Device
linux-gedt:~ # hwinfo --disk 
25: None 00.0: 10600 Disk                                       
  [Created at block.245]
  Unique ID: kwWm.Fxp0d3BezAE
  SysFS ID: /class/block/fd0
  SysFS BusID: floppy.0
  SysFS Device Link: /devices/platform/floppy.0
  Hardware Class: disk
  Model: "Disk"
  Driver: "floppy"
  Device File: /dev/fd0
  Device Number: block 2:0
  Size: 8 sectors a 512 bytes
  Capacity: 0 GB (4096 bytes)
  Drive status: no medium
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
----deleted----

Similar problems found.

Not so clear how to resolve.

Perhaps, source: error.log entry

quote from #19: Re: error.log entry

Sebastian Gottschalk skrev:

Anders wrote:

Sebastian Gottschalk skrev:

Moe Trin wrote:

The file integrity checker should (if possible) be stored on removable
media along with the checkfiles. This removable media should normally
be stored in a secure place, and installed ONLY during the checks.
Installed? Booting a Linux floppy doesn’t require any installation.
No, but you need to mount it.
“/dev/fd0 /floppy/ext2 ext2 ro,root,noauto 0 0”

The floppy will of course mount itself.

Not necessary, if you use a line like the one above in fstab it will
never mount
by itself, and you have to be root to do it too.

/Anders

Changes to /etc/fstab not wish rush do without some more knowledgeable advice, as may not be the best solution

Looking at systemctl wondered if this cause, symptom or possible solution to the problem. Might a change to systemctl stop attempt to load fd0, or make fd0 inactive or dead, and be more appropriate ?


linux-gedt:~ # systemctl  --all | egrep -i "fd0" 
dev-fd0.device                                                                             loaded active   plugged       /dev/fd0
sys-devices-platform-floppy.0-block-fd0.device                                             loaded active   plugged       /sys/devices/platform/floppy.0/block/fd0
linux-gedt:~ #

Not sure yet how to STOP in systemctl yet nervously tried :

linux-gedt:~ # systemctl  stop dev-fd0.device
Job timed out.
linux-gedt:~ #

Mar  5 15:34:02 linux-gedt kernel:  1390.840644] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Mar  5 15:34:02 linux-gedt kernel:  1390.840682] FAT-fs (fd0): unable to read boot sector
Mar  5 19:39:54 linux-gedt kernel: [16115.737790] end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Mar  5 19:51:43 linux-gedt systemd[1]: Job dev-fd0.device/stop timed out.
Mar  5 19:51:43 linux-gedt systemd[1]: Job dev-fd0.device/stop failed with result 'timeout'.
Mar  5 19:51:43 linux-gedt systemd[1]: Job sys-devices-platform-floppy.0-block-fd0.device/stop timed out.
Mar  5 19:51:43 linux-gedt systemd[1]: Job sys-devices-platform-floppy.0-block-fd0.device/stop failed with result 'timeout'.
linux-gedt:~ #

Wiser solution ideas welcome
.

knurpht · March 5, 2013, 10:38am

Check the BIOS, if a floppy entry is available, disable it.

vazhavandan · March 5, 2013, 6:51pm

you might want to use “systemd-gtk - Graphical front-end for systemd”

paulparker · March 6, 2013, 6:41am

BIOS at boot did not appear to recognize any floppy fitted, though was mention of USB drives.

Inside /etc/fstab made change from the below #19: Re: error.log entry

Into /etc/fstab add this line /dev/fd0 /floppy/ext2 ext2 ro,root,noauto 0 0

Computer at boot still appears to recognize fd0 as a floppy, then follows /etc/fstab instruction to ignore, so this seems to work neatly.

Demands to mount fd0 only showing this initial incorrect identification:

 
Mar  6 14:52:14 linux-gedt kernel:     0.000000] kernel direct mapping tables up to 0xafdeffff @ [mem 0x1fffd000-0x1fffffff]
Mar  6 14:52:14 linux-gedt kernel:     0.802575] pci 0000:00:11.0: reg 18: [io  0xfd00-0xfd07]
Mar  6 14:52:14 linux-gedt kernel:     9.806972] Floppy drive(s): fd0 is unknown type 13 (usb?)

Search systemctl for floppy



linux-gedt:~ # systemctl  --all | grep -i "floppy" 
sys-devices-platform-floppy.0-block-fd0.device                                             loaded active   plugged       /sys/devices/platform/floppy.0/block/fd0
floppy-ext2.mount                                                                          loaded inactive dead          /floppy/ext2

search systemctl for fd0



linux-gedt:~ # systemctl  --all | grep -i "fd0" 
dev-fd0.device                                                                             loaded active   plugged       /dev/fd0
sys-devices-platform-floppy.0-block-fd0.device                                             loaded active   plugged       /sys/devices/platform/floppy.0/block/fd0
linux-gedt:~ #

IMHO need improve settings in /etc/fstab where have line /dev/fd0 /floppy/ext2 ext2 ro,root,noauto 0 0

Reading : How to edit and understand /etc/fstab

Even if NOT intend mount, feel should be written better as (more accurate?) setting for any mount point, perhaps replace /floppy/ext2 ?

.