Hey y'all,

 

Been (blissfully) using unRAID for a few years as a storage server. Finally caught it in the butt, though.

 

Tried to create a new share this AM but couldn't edit any of the settings (even entering a description for the share). Did some Googling and found that my USB could likely be set to read-only mode. Server'd been up for about 110 days without issue at this point. I ran a diagnostic and found in there that the USB was read only.

 

Also read that rebooting could fixing any potential corruptions (read some other unRAID forum posts that indicated this) so, obviously, gave that a shot as it was the easiest thing to try first.

 

I don't have a dedicated screen or keyboard hooked up to my server -- it's sitting in the storage room, doing its thang -- so I never see any of the POST stuff or unRAID loading stuff. I just know it takes a bit to get loaded up. But when it took a bit too long, I went to go check it. Motherboard was giving an AE error code which meant it couldn't find a boot device.

 

Dug out a screen and keyboard and confirmed as much -- no more boot device. Also read that if the USB is corrupted, you can plug it into a Windows PC and chkdsk it, so I did that next. When I plugged it in it did, Windows told me the drive had an issue. So I followed the prompt to fix it. Go back, throw it in the server... no boot device.

 

At this point, I try wiping the USB (after backing up the contents) and reformatting. No dice.

 

New USB that's confirmed working as a boot device. No dice.

 

Panic begins to set in.

 

I'd been meaning to upgrade the hardware for my server (CPU, mobo, RAM, case) with parts I had waiting but didn't want to do it now. But looks like we're doing it now, as the only thing I can think of now is a hardware issue.

 

So I dismantle the thing, put the new mobo/CPU/RAM in the new case, and try. No dice. Perplexing.

 

Try downloading the fancy new unRAID bootable media creator... that gives me an error about not being able to lock as it completes. And it doesn't work, still no boot.

 

More Googling: can use the bootable media creator and run the make_bootable command to get it working. Try that... success! Bootable media recognized.

 

I didn't even bother booting in unRAID, just copied the old files onto this new bootable media (which is the same old USB drive I've used since day one, the old recommended Sandisk) and... kernel panic.

 

And that's where I am now. Kernel panic with the bare essentials: CPU, mobo, RAM, bootable USB, USB keyboard, monitor. Panic with fresh unRAID install or copied-over old unRAID config.

 

I've attached the last diagnostic I ran as well as a picture of the kernel panic error on screen.

 

Sorry for the length; just wanted to be as detailed as possible. I'm lost at this point. Tried to run memtest from the bootable USB but the screen just goes blank and it boots back to the unRAID boot screen (where you choose safe mode, GUI, etc.). I also tried safe mode and that didn't work. I also swapped out the RAM with other previously working RAM, and no dice.

 

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

thevelourserver-diagnostics-20230713-0919.zip

Next step from here for the evening (while I hopefully await someone to gallantly spring to my rescue):

 

Succumb to defeat and wallow in self pity -- 

 

OR

 

Migrate back to old hardware configuration and see if I get the same kernel panic.

 

Leaning toward the former, as it's getting late and the migration will be a hassle. Might wait until the morning.

10 hours ago, CasanovaFly said:

New USB that's confirmed working as a boot device. No dice.

If this was a new flash drive with a stock Unraid install and it still didn't boot, and before it did, it suggests a hardware problem.

On 7/14/2023 at 4:04 AM, JorgeB said:

If this was a new flash drive with a stock Unraid install and it still didn't boot, and before it did, it suggests a hardware problem.

 

Occam's Razor. After a night's sleep, seemed to be the most likely.

 

Went back to old hardware that was working before the issue and same thing, same panic.

 

Started trying to great different images/boot versions of unRAID on different flashes, got nowhere.

 

Until I noticed that a fresh overwrite install by the unRAID USB Creator didn't actually overwrite anything. All the same (likely corrupted) files were still there. So I deleted everything, downloaded a .zip of the latest unRAID, copied over to original USB... boots!

 

Copied over my config folder... boots!

 

So I seem to have solved this. Seems like some files on the USB got corrupted along the way.

 

Just to confirm: the only thing I need to copy over to get my "old" server back is the /config folder, correct?

16 hours ago, CasanovaFly said:

Just to confirm: the only thing I need to copy over to get my "old" server back is the /config folder, correct?

Correct.