O, all the things that can go wrong when replacing a failing NVMe card with a new one in the server. Based on that I wrote this poem, all by myself of course, not using AI (*not*). The poem below was written by the gpt-oss (20b) model running on my RTX 3090 which still worked after reenabling Intel VT-d. Somehow, I feel a bit like ‘Brave Sir Robin’ from Monty Python. <\/p>\n
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For some time now, the NVMe disk in the server the root filesystem was giving some smart errors, so I finally decided to replace it. To prepare, I copied the filesystem to the RAID array (running on two regular 12TB disks) and used a USB boot stick for booting, thus bypassing the, soon to fail, NVMe disk. I prepared tha new NVMe disk for booting by copying the root file system on it together with the boot and EFI partition. <\/p>\n
That part for booting the system worked fine. UEFI is easy compared to the old-style boot method, see also this post<\/a> for example. But it doesn’t help if you accidentally put the original NVMe disk back instead of the replacement, and if because of power loss, the BIOS is reset, disabling intel VT and VT-d. In the humming chamber where silicon breathes, I slid the old one out, a hiss of freed air, So I laughed, then cursed, a tiny dance of doom, \nThe screen glowed \u201cBoot Error\u201d, \u201cConfigure Now?\u201d Solder\u2011welded patience, a BIOS reset, \nAnd as the RAID array came alive, Now I write this ode from the command line, \nSo let the logs record: \u201cFixed by Hand\u201d\u2014 O, all the things that can go wrong when replacing a failing NVMe card with a new one in the server. Based on that I wrote this poem, all by myself of course, not using AI (*not*). The poem below … Continue reading Perhaps I should also replace the battery next?<\/del> Replaced that as well. <\/p>\n
\nI knelt beside the tower, a quiet breeze of heat.
\nAn NVMe card, a silent heart,
\nHad grown too weary, its promise obsolete.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nPlaced the new one with reverent care.
\nYet in that fleeting moment, a careless glance\u2014
\nThe card slipped back into itself, my own mistake, a glance.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThe server\u2019s eyes went dark, a blinking gloom.
\nI lifted the chassis, the firmware fled,
\nAll BIOS settings vanished, a cloudless dread.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nIntel VT and VT\u2011D, gone, erased somehow.
\nI pressed the keys, a frantic typing storm,
\nRe\u2011enabling virtualization, a hero\u2019s reform.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nI wove through menus, a code\u2011tangled set.
\nThe lights returned, the fans whirred once more,
\nThe server sang a low, metallic score.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nI saw the blinking, my triumph thrive.
\nFor every misstep, I steadied the helm\u2014
\nA warrior in data, an unseen realm.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nA hero who battled firmware and design.
\nThough the card was replaced by its twin at first,
\nI triumphed, restored, my servers rehearse.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nA humble savior of silicon land.
\nIn the echo of the fans, I hear the praise,
\nFor I, the server\u2011hero, won the maze.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"