Unable to install Proxmox with ZFS

[Cookie]

Hi,

I have a R730xd with 2 sata SSDs in the back bay. When I try to install Proxmox using ZFS (RAID1 and also tried only one disc with RAID0) I get the error unable to init ESP and install systemd-boot loader on '/dev/sda' after about 5 minutes of it being stuck at 2% progress with the create partitions task.

Is there away I could install Proxmox on another drive with ext4 and then transfer it afterwards to the RAID1 ZFS? Would that work?

Thanks!

 

[mrgohin]

What particular raid controller are you using with what kind of configuration?

 

[Cookie]

Thanks for answering! I'm using a Dell HBA330 card so it's passthrough by default.

 

[mrgohin]

May you boot systemrescue and execute following command:

smartctl -t short /dev/sda

In you screenshot you see a line with "input/output error" this might be a hint for a broken disk.

Otherwise you can still boot systemrescue and try to wipe everything from your ssds.

# Make sure every {blockdevice} which to wipe is not forzen
hdparm -I /dev/sd{blockdevice} | grep not forzen

# Set security pass
hdparm --user-master u --security-set-pass Fancy /dev/sd{blockdevice}

# Verify that not enabled switched to enabled
hdparm -I /dev/sd{blockdevice}

# Best part. NUKE IT.
time hdparm --user-master u --security-erase Fancy /dev/sd{blockdevice}

# Verify if it had switched back to not enabled
hdparm -I /dev/sd{blockdevice}

Normally Proxmox should install with zfs-mirror on your setup since you're using HBA 330. You sure about correct cabling?

 

[Cookie]

Cabling should be fine, it sees the drives after all. The server was a decomm'd one that was working well. I've done the smartctl test but I'm not sure where to find the results? Thank you!!

Edit: nevermind, I did smartctl --all /dev/sda and it showed completed without error.

 

[Cookie]

I did wipe both drives with the procedure you gave me but I'm still getting the same error. This is very mind boggling. I'll try to install it on a random mechanical drive and see what gives with that. Sigh.

 

[ali.bakeer71]

Hi,

Were you able to get this resolved? I'm having the same issue.

 

[Cookie]

Hi,

Were you able to get this resolved? I'm having the same issue.

Hello,

Do you have the same server/hba as me? With further testing I discovered that nothing would install on any drive on the array. Wether it's a regular Linux install, Windows, etc. I stopped trying last week but I intend on trying a few things today before asking for a refund for the HBA330. I'll tell you if I find anything conclusive.

 

[ali.bakeer71]

I have a custom-built PC for testing. I've tried installing on SATA drives and NVMe but I'm getting the same error. eventually, I just installed it on a single SSD