fix(P0-iter-5.4): nixos-install --fallback is NOT a valid flag → use --option fallback true (empirical USB install failure Aaron 2026-05-27)#5410
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AceHack merged 1 commit intoMay 27, 2026
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…--option fallback true (Nix-option pass-through) Empirical failure 2026-05-27 (Aaron USB boot, ISO ci26490417201 / commit 282648d): Running nixos-install --flake /mnt/etc/zeta/full-ai-cluster#control-plane --fallback ... /run/current-system/sw/bin/nixos-install: unknown option `--fallback` [zeta-first-boot] Install failed. See output above. Dropped to interactive shell; install completely blocked. Root cause: PR #5383 (`fix(B-0835)+feat(B-0846): zeta-install --fallback`) added `--fallback` as a TOP-LEVEL flag to nixos-install, assuming it was passed through to underlying nix. nixos-install does NOT accept --fallback; the supported form is `--option fallback true` (the Nix-option pass-through convention nixos-install already uses for connect-timeout / stalled-download- timeout / download-attempts in the same invocation block). Fix: 1-line change `--fallback \` → `--option fallback true \` plus comment update noting the empirical anchor + correct pass-through form. Operator unblock for the broken interactive shell on Aaron's USB: sed -i 's|^ --fallback \\| --option fallback true \\|' \ /run/current-system/sw/bin/zeta-install zeta-install control-plane Composes with: - B-0835 (installer-config-bugs canonical bag) — adds Bug 9 to the catalog - B-0846 (WiFi-reproducibility substrate) — this fix preserves the intent (build-from-source fallback) using the correct API Successful empirical anchor for next ISO build will validate the fix.
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…aron 2026-05-27 architectural fix to B-0812) (#5412) Empirical anchor: PR #5408 auto-opened mid-install for node-0fe6eb; install then failed downstream at nixos-install --fallback bug (PR #5410 fix-fwd); registration PR orphaned for a node-id that never came up. Operator framing: "how did it register before it even rebooted? it should not register until the last step when everything comes up and if it reboots it should not register over and over... cluster should realize it's register or has a pr in flight for register and not duplicate." 4 architectural changes: 1. Move self-registration OUT of zeta-install.sh Step 6.9 INTO systemd oneshot service that fires on first boot of installed OS, AFTER network-online + creds-restore + cluster reachable 2. Idempotency: marker file + upstream check + in-flight PR check before composing new PR 3. Cluster-agent coordination via Path B (Otto-pushes-PR-across-finish-line; per Aaron's simpler-form preference); Path A (/tmp folder standard) deferred to future row 4. De-dup: idempotent branch naming + in-flight detection + comment-on-existing 7 sub-rows B-0855.1-7 enumerated. Refines B-0812 (does not replace); keeps B-0813 ArgoCD reconciliation unchanged. Composes with B-0812 + B-0813 + B-0835 (Bug 10) + B-0850 (systemd substrate) + B-0851 (persona-first scheduler) + B-0852 (cred persistence as pre-condition). PR #5408 closed substrate-honestly with cross-link to this row. Co-authored-by: Lior <lior@zeta.dev>
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Summary
P0 install blocker fix-fwd. Aaron's 2026-05-27 USB boot test (ISO ci26490417201 / commit 282648d) hit:
Install dropped to interactive shell; cluster bring-up completely blocked.
Root cause
PR #5383 added
--fallbackas a top-level flag tonixos-install. The flag exists innix-build/nix-storebut NOT innixos-install. The Nix-option pass-through convention--option fallback trueIS supported (same shape as the existing--option connect-timeout 10/--option stalled-download-timeout 60/--option download-attempts 3already in the same invocation).Fix
1-line change
--fallback \→--option fallback true \+ comment update with empirical anchor.Operator unblock (live-USB shell right now)
sed -i 's|^ --fallback \\| --option fallback true \\|' /run/current-system/sw/bin/zeta-install zeta-install control-planeComposes with
--fallbackaddition; supersedes via API correction)Test plan
unknown optionerror)--option fallback truesemantics: Nix builds from source when substituter fails)🤖 Generated with Claude Code