Missing support for md and LVM in repair mode and rescue system

This document (7003366) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11

Situation

You want to repair your system because it is unable to boot (e.g. due to a non-functional bootloader). You have configured LVM on top of software RAID.

Although configuring LVM on top of software RAID (md RAID) is supported by YaST during the installation neither the "Repair Installed System" tool nore the "Rescue System" tool detect partitions. In the "Repair Installed System" tool for example you get the following error message:

ERROR: No Valid Linux Partitions found.

Resolution

Procedure when using the "Repair Installed System" tool:

Boot off the SLE11 installation CD/DVD and select "Repair Installed System".
Before starting to use the YaST Repair tool, switch to a console by pressing CTRL-ALT-F2.
Enter the following commands in order to activate md RAID:
- mdadm -Es -c partitions > mdadm.conf && mdadm -As -c mdadm.conf
Enter the following commands in order to activate LVM:
- vgscan && vgchange -a y
Switch back to the grafical YaST Repair interface by pressing CTRL-ALT-F7 and continue repairing your system.

Procedure when using the "Rescue system":

Boot off the SLE11 installation CD/DVD and select "Rescue System".
On the console log in as user "root".
Enter the following commands in order to activate md RAID:
- mdadm -Es -c partitions > mdadm.conf && mdadm -As -c mdadm.conf
Enter the following commands in order to activate LVM:
- vgscan && vgchange -a y
Continue repairing your system.

Disclaimer

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