Subject: Re: [vserver] Kernel panic - not syncing
From: Herbert Poetzl <herbert@13thfloor.at>
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 18:00:53 +0200

On Fri, Aug 23, 2013 at 03:33:15PM -0700, Roderick A. Anderson wrote:
> I am trying to build a new CentOS 6.4 64bit host.

> Started with a Minimal Desktop, followed the instruction on the
> wiki, but when I reboot I get:

>  kernel panic - not syncing. No init found. 
>  Try passing init= option
>  Pid: 1. comm: init Not tainted 
> 2.6.32-358.14.1.el6.vs2.3.0.36.29.6.31.x86_64

sounds like the rootfs cannot be properly mounted and
thus the designated init cannot be found/executed.

> There are Call Trace: lines but I only have them as a image 
> with my phone.  If they will help I'll transpose them to text.

still no serial (or other remote) console on a server?

> This kernel is from Daniel's repo.

>   2.6.32-358.14.1.el6.vs2.3.0.36.29.6.31.x86_64

> The CentOS kernel is (which boots just fine):

>   2.6.32-358.14.1.el6.x86_64

> Any suggestions on how to get this working?

well, if you provide the boot log, it's probably simple
to diagnose where it goes wrong, possible reasons include
but are not limited to:

 - bad initramfs (old initrd tools)
 - driver for rootdev/rootfs missing
 - device names changed (hda -> sda)
 - incompatible hardware

> Additionally: I'm about 35 miles from the server, no IPMI 
> (yet), so I have to travel for each reboot/test attempt.

you must really like travelling then :)

best,
Herbert

> TIA,
> Rod
> --