[systemd-devel] Help! iSCSI based file systems with "_netdev" causing ordering cycles to occur (random services and mounts fail)

[Tony Rodriguez]

Experiencing this same issue with iSCSI and systemd-239 for RH8/Rocky8 
and RH9/Rocky9 system-252. Nothing was done on my end to create this 
issue.  In other words, no custom mount/unit files or services, just 
your typical ISO install and rpm updates.

An ordering cycle occurs, when "_netdev" is specified within /etc/fstab 
for systemd.  This happens with systemd-239-14 and systemd-239-18 using 
iSCSI based file systems.    Seems others are experiencing this as well 
(see link below).  I can also confirm this happens with systemd-252 
(RH9/Rocky9)l. Especially if "_netdev" is used with either "/var" or 
"/usr" iSCSI based devices/file systems.  The system may not boot, may 
not mount file systems, may not start services/unit files, and the 
system becomes slow during system boot.

Does anyone know of a fix/patch and root cause for this?

Please see this link:
https://issues.redhat.com/browse/RHEL-12987?jql=project%20%3D%20RHEL%20AND%20affectedVersion%20%3D%20rhel-9.2.0%20AND%20text%20~%20%22iscsi%22

# cat /etc/fstab
[...]
/dev/mapper/rhel-root /                       xfs defaults,_netdev 0 0
UUID=2177a7fc-bc41-43e4-bdc1-d231a5eb4680 /boot xfs defaults,_netdev 0 0
/dev/mapper/rhel-tmp /tmp                    xfs defaults,_netdev 0 0
/dev/mapper/rhel-var /var                    xfs 
defaults,_netdev,x-initrd.mount 0 0
/dev/mapper/rhel-var_log /var/log                xfs defaults,_netdev 0 0
/dev/mapper/rhel-var_tmp /var/tmp                xfs defaults,_netdev 0 0

# journalctl -b | grep deleted
Oct 13 08:15:35 vm-isci8 systemd[1]: basic.target: Job tmp.mount/start 
deleted to break ordering cycle starting with basic.target/start
Oct 13 08:15:35 vm-isci8 systemd[1]: network.target: Job 
network-pre.target/start deleted to break ordering cycle starting with 
network.target/start
Oct 13 08:15:35 vm-isci8 systemd[1]: NetworkManager.service: Job 
dbus.socket/start deleted to break ordering cycle starting with 
NetworkManager.service/start

# mount | grep " /tmp "
--> not mounted

# systemctl status dbus.socket
● dbus.socket - D-Bus System Message Bus Socket
    Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/dbus.socket; static; vendor 
preset: enabled)
    Active: inactive (dead)
--> not started