[Bio-linux-dev] USB-stick checksum failures

[Tony Travis]

On 07/03/15 22:23, Tony Travis wrote:
> [...]
> Any idea why "initrd.lz" is being written to?

Hi, Tim.

I've compared the original and updated initrd.lz's:

> # extract original initrd.lz from original USB-stick
> root at beluga:/media/ajt/bl-live-iso/casper#
> cp -ai initrd.lz /var/tmp/original-initrd.lz
> cd /var/tmp
> mkdir original-
> initrd
> cd original-initrd
> lzma -dc -S .lz ../original-initrd.lz | cpio -id
>
> # extract updated initrd.lz from updated USB-stick
> root at beluga:/media/ajt/bl-live-iso/casper#
> cp -ai initrd.lz /var/tmp
> cd /var/tmp
> mkdir updatedupdated-initrd
> lzma -dc -S .lz ../updated-initrd.lz | cpio -id
>
> # compare contents of initrd's
> root at beluga:/var/tmp# diff -r original-initrd updated-initrd
> Binary files original-initrd/etc/console-setup/cached.kmap.gz and updated-initrd/etc/console-setup/cached.kmap.gz differ
> diff -r original-initrd/etc/default/keyboard updated-initrd/etc/default/keyboard
> 9c9
> < XKBLAYOUT="gb"
> ---
> > XKBLAYOUT="us"
> Only in original-initrd/etc/ld.so.conf.d: zz_i386-biarch-compat.conf
> Only in original-initrd/etc/modprobe.d: dkms.conf
> Binary files original-initrd/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libdrm.so.2 and updated-initrd/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libdrm.so.2 differ

The file is NOT being corrupted, but it is being updated by changes to
the keyboard and kernel 'drm' (i.e. display) modules. This all seems
quite normal, according to diferent hardware, and explains why the
'self-test' fails. On read-only media (e.g. DVD) these files would not
be changed and the 'self-test' would not fail...

Bye,

  Tony.

--
Dr. A.J.Travis, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Biological and
Environmental Sciences, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen
AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK. tel +44(0)1224 272700, fax +44 (0)1224 272 396
http://www.abdn.ac.uk, mailto:tony.travis at abdn.ac.uk, skype:ajtravis


The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683.
Tha Oilthigh Obar Dheathain na charthannas clàraichte ann an Alba, Àir. SC013683.