If you’re experiencing LVM snapshot problems, namely:

  LV system/rootsnap in use: not deactivating
  Couldn't deactivate new snapshot

It may be related to udev. In some kernel version (from what I’ve been reading here and there), there’s a race condition between udev (the thing that makes /dev tick) and LVM. LVM creates a snapshot volume, udev grabs it, LVM loses control. You can fix this by editing your udev rules under /etc/udev/rules.d (keep in mind this fix was made on Slackware 12):

1. Open /etc/udev/rules.d/50-udev.rules
2. Find the line with `LABEL=”persistent_input_end”` and after this line, add

3. KERNEL=="dm-[0-9]*",	OPTIONS+="ignore_device"

4. Restart

That should fix it. Please keep in mind this is for Slackware 12, and even still may not work. If you really want to solve all your problems, please download and use Slack 13 :).

I gotta say, even though Linode is the first provider I’ve had a VPS through, they kick ass.

Their control panel is boss, and adding units is apparently very easy (haven’t messed with it quite yet). I’m excited to have beeets on there.

Having full control of the environment (and the fact that it’s Slackware!!) gives me a boner. I’m on there tinkering too much. I almost hope the site never gets big, because once it does I can’t fuck with it anymore (or I’ll have to have a test machine, I guess).

Anyway, there’s not enough positive information about these guys on the net. It was between them and Slicehost, but I ended up going with Linode because they were a) a bit cheaper, and b) not as “hip.” I tend to shy away from trendy companies.

Good work, Linode. Keep it up. Oh yeah, and thanks for offering Slack ;)