XigmaNAS

Hi,

I have tried many times to install the latest nas4free (1349) from scratch using Live CD/USB but end up with a server that does not boot. The error pertains to "can't locate kernel". It starts to boot from USB flash drive as I can see light blinking but always displays the error above. Also while installing I get an error that refers to a partition that is not available. It is partition2. (DAS0S2 or something like that). Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was able to load the latest by directly imaging the 1349.img.xg to USB flash drive but am getting the "Boot partition is too small. You need reinstall from LiveCD or LiveUSB, or resize boot partition of da0s1a." when checking Firmware tab in System.

Thanking You In Advance

will the usb boot in any other machine
did you repartition / reformat the usb flash first.
many have a too small active partition with drivers for the large storage partition
these are unsuitable for boot as there is no OS yet to use the driver
did you install the recommended embedded OS

if the CD booted the CD and hardware are likely not the problem

Yes the flash drive does boot on other PCs. I did not think that I had to repartition the usb flash drive first. What would the partitioning scheme be? It is a 2GB flash drive. I did manage to use diskimager to install the embedded OS (i.e. 1349.img.xz). But as I mentioned, Nas4free runs fine but complains about "Boot partition is too small. You need reinstall from LiveCD or LiveUSB, or resize boot partition of da0s1a." when checking Firmware tab in System

since yours booted on other hardware
flash file size is likely not the issue

a 2 Gb flash
with a disk utility
wipe all partitions
re partition to a single active boot partition in FAT32.
re load the embedded OS

booting starts in real mode where the instructions are going right to the processor
once there is enough loaded to move to a level of protected mode
the need for absolute compatibility starts to recede.

however as mentioned above, if it booted OK on other hardware there may be other issues


USB booting of the embedded OS is great when it works, unpleasant when it does not
lots of hardware/bios issues. some times it is solved with as little as a different usb stick
or trying a different usb port for the earliest polled. [on the board nearest the keyboard plug usually]
your error message seems more along the line of this issue.

I prefer to boot from the IDE using a small Hdd [set to spin down after the embedded boot] or industrial flash
while this looses a port for one storage drive, I've gained enough grey hair attempting USB boot on some hardware.
there are many non-USB ways to boot N4F where usb is not usable. or even when it is. see link
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