FreeBSD on a DockStar - doesn't mount root

[Milan Obuch]

On Sunday 06 February 2011 18:16:59 Torfinn Ingolfsen wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I have a Seagate DockStar (Sheevaplug derivative) and have followed
> this guide[1] to install FreeBSD on it. In particular:
> - installed a new uboot[2], this works nicely
> - prepared a new usb memory stick[3], which behaves well when connected to
> my workstation - installed the pre-built distribution[4] on the memory
> stick
> - configured uboot as mentioned here[5]
> 
> When I boot the DockStar with this usb memory stick, the kernel boots, but
> then it stops because it fails to mount root. Relevant parts of the
> output:
> ugen0.3: <Verbatim> at usbus0
> umass0: <Verbatim STORE N GO, class 0/0, rev 2.00/1.00, addr 3> on usbus0
> umass0:  SCSI over Bulk-Only; quirks = 0x0000
> umass0:0:0:-1: Attached to scbus0
> Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/ufs/kirkwoodroot
> ROOT MOUNT ERROR:
> If you have invalid mount options, reboot, and first try the following from
> the loader prompt:
> 
>      set vfs.root.mountfrom.options=rw
> 
> and then remove invalid mount options from /etc/fstab.
> 
> Loader variables:
> vfs.root.mountfrom=
> vfs.root.mountfrom.options=
> 
> Manual root filesystem specification:
>   <fstype>:<device>  Mount <device> using filesystem <fstype>
>                        eg. ufs:/dev/da0s1a
>                        eg. cd9660:/dev/acd0
>                        This is equivalent to: mount -t cd9660 /dev/acd0 /
> 
>   ?                  List valid disk boot devices
>   <empty line>       Abort manual input
> 
> mountroot>
> 
> at this point trying '?' gives no GEOM devices, and also trying to manually
> input ufs:/dev/ufs/kirkwoodroot
> doesn't help either. Yes, I have verified on my workstation that the memory
> stick have /dev/ufs/kirkwoodroot and that I can mount the partition from
> it.
> 
> What can I do to fix the problem?
> 

Did you try typing several dots to test whether some more time to mount root 
device helps? I would try it, sometimes it helps... Just some more time for 
background tasks (one dot means one second, It I am not mistaken).

Regards,
Milan