Alpine on ZFS root issues in wiki procedure (v1)

Alpine on ZFS root issues in wiki procedure
===========================================

# Generic

enable networking after booting in the alpine extended iso:
  $ mkdir -p /etc/networking
  --> /etc/network/interfaces
  """
     auto eth0
     iface eth0 inet dhcp
  """
  $ /etc/init.d/networking restart

# Notes in the install guide:


## Part 1

Guide: https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Setting_up_ZFS_with_native_encryption

The installation is from the current alppine extended iso.
I add the part where I need to install ext4 and zfs (apk add e2fsprogs zfs).
I load the zfs module (modprobe zfs).
and than start with following the setps described in:

  2 Setting up Alpine Linux Using ZFS with native encryption
    2.1 Creating the Partition Layout
    2.2 Setting up the root pool
      2.2.1 Creating the required datasets
    2.3 Creating the /boot filesystem
    2.4 Mounting the /boot filesystem

The only change I made, is that I name my zpool 'tank'instead of 'rpool'.


## Part 2

Guide: https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Alpine_Linux_in_a_chroot

Issues:

   Entering your chroot
   $ chroot /mnt /bin/bash -l
   --> chroot: can't execute '/bin/bash': No such file or directory
   --> resolved using /bin/sh
   $ chroot /mnt /bin/sh -l


## Part 3

Guide: https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Setting_up_ZFS_with_native_encryption

I following the setps described in:

  2.5 Installing Alpine Linux
  2.6 Unmounting the filesystems
  2.7 Booting the system

I start where the previous part ends, so I am still in the chroot environment.

Issues:

   Install the ZoL and linux-vanilla package: apk add linux-vanilla zfs
   $ apk add linux-vanilla zfs
   --> ERROR: unsatisfiable constraints
         linux-vanilla (missing)
           required by: world[linux-vanilla]
   --> resolved by installing linux-lts
   $ apk add linux-lts zfs

   Edit the /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf file and append zfs module to the features parameter:
   $ vi /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf
   --> The folder /etc/mkinitfs does not exist
   --> Resolved by installing mkinitfs
   $ apk add mkinitfs
   --> Than the folder and file exist and can be edited

   Rebuild the initial RAM disk: # mkinitfs $(ls /lib/modules/)
   --> ls: /lib/modules/: No such file or directory
       /lib/modules/5.4.5-0-lts does not exist or is not a directory
   --> resolved by installing linux-lts
   $ apk add linux-lts
   --> Than the folder exist and the command finishes

   Edit the /etc/update-extlinux.conf file, set the root ZFS dataset and append the following kernel options to the default_kernel_opts parameter:
   $ vi /etc/update-extlinux.conf
   --> the folder and file do not exist
   --> resolved by installing syslinux
   # apk add syslinux
   --> Than the folder and file exist and can be edited

   Edit the /etc/update-extlinux.conf file, set the root ZFS dataset and append the following kernel options to the default_kernel_opts parameter:
   --> The wiki instructs to add: root=rpool/ROOT/alpine
   --> This should instead be: root=ZFS=rpool/ROOT/alpine

   Update extlinux's config (if you're not using a different bootloader)
   $ update-extlinux
   --> /boot is device /dev/sda1
       extlinux: no  previous syslinux boot sector found
   --> Is this command output expected? Or does it point to an error?

   Reboot the system:
   --> After reboot the following message appears:
   --> Missing operating system.
       FATAL: INT18: BOOT FAILURE

   To go an fix this I did:
   - Reboot with iso
   - $ apk add e2fsprogs zfs
   - $ modprobe zfs
   - $ zpool import -a
   - $ mount -t zfs tank/ROOT/alpine /mnt/
   - $ mount -t ext4 /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot/
   - Redo steps from: Update extlinux's config...

   Update extlinux's config (if you're not using a different bootloader)
   $ update-extlinux
   --> /boot is device /dev/sda1
       extlinux: no  previous syslinux boot sector found
   --> resolved by installing extlinux from the chroot environment
   $ extlinux --install /boot
   --> /boot is device /dev/sda1
   --> than exit, umount, and reboot

Result after reboot:
	--> The ZFS modules are not loaded.
	    Try running '/sbin/modprobe zfs' as root to load them.
	    mount: mounting tank/ROOT/alpine on /sysroot failed: No such file or directory
	    Mounting root failed.
	    initramfs emergency recovery shell launched. Type 'exit' to continue boot
	    etc. etc. etc.


## Part 4

I think it is useful go give some more hints on how to get it running again in the installation environment after a reboot.
Therefore these steps could be added/clarified in the troubleshooting section of the wiki:

   - Reboot with iso
   - $ apk add e2fsprogs zfs
   - $ modprobe zfs
   - $ zpool import -a
   - $ mount -t zfs tank/ROOT/alpine /mnt/
   - $ mount -t ext4 /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot/