Debian unattended installation uses incorrect menu.cfg configuration

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bertje
Posts: 58
Joined: 4. Nov 2010, 09:49
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu/MATE/Server 16.04, 18.04, 20.04, 21.04, 22.04, 23.10, Windows XP/7/10/11

Debian unattended installation uses incorrect menu.cfg configuration

Post by bertje »

I'm creating an unattended installation on Windows 10 host and VirtualBox v6.1.30 to install the following guests:
  • Ubuntu 20.04 / 21.10: Works
  • Debian 10 / 11: Problem: Unattended installation starts the default Install menu from the original ISO, not the unattended install menu patched by VirtualBox.
Testcase Windows command prompt via VBoxManage.exe:

Code: Select all

$VM_NAME="Debian 10 Unattended"
$USERNAME_FULL="Username"
$USERNAME="username"
$PASSWORD="password"
$HOSTNAME_FQDN="debian.domain.nl"

# ISO: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/10.11.0/amd64/iso-cd/debian-10.11.0-amd64-netinst.iso
$BOOTABLE_ISO="debian-10.11.0-amd64-netinst.iso"

# Source: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\UnattendedTemplates\
$PRESEED_FILE="debian_preseed.cfg"
$POSTINSTALL_FILE="debian_postinstall.sh"

# Create VM before running unattended installation

# Create unattended installation ISO
VBoxManage unattended install "$VM_NAME" `
    --iso="$BOOTABLE_ISO" `
    --full-user-name=$USERNAME_FULL `
    --user=$USERNAME `
    --password=$PASSWORD `
    --hostname=$HOSTNAME_FQDN `
    --country=NL `
    --language=en-US `
    --time-zone=$TIMEZONE `
    --install-additions `
    --script-template=$PRESEED_FILE `
    --post-install-template=$POSTINSTALL_FILE

# Start VM
VBoxManage startvm "$VM_NAME" --type gui
Generated file Unattended-<GUID>-isolinux-isolinux.cfg:

Code: Select all

# D-I config version 2.0
# search path for the c32 support libraries (libcom32, libutil etc.)
path 
include menu.cfg
default vesamenu.c32
prompt 10
timeout 10
The bug is include menu.cfg and must be changed manually to include txt.cfg. Then the unattended Debian installation works.

Can someone confirm this, or do I something wrong? Thanks!
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