CentOS dead at boot?

[chuck123]

The newest CentOS disc to install the server version dies at boot after setup is finished and the ISO is removed from the virtual disk drive.

What can fix this? Please help.

[socratis]

The newest CentOS

Does it have a version? Because if I read your message a couple of months from today, "newest" is going to have a different meaning. Always include the versions of *everything* when asking for help.

dies at boot after setup is finished and the ISO is removed from the virtual disk drive.

Dies in what sense? Your motherboard gets fried? Your power supply exploded? Your host crashes? VirtualBox crashes? The VM crashes? Other?

What can fix this?

Start with this...

We need to see a complete VBox.log, from a complete VM run, where the problem occurs:

• Start the VM from cold-boot (not from a paused or saved state) / Observe or recreate the problem / Shutdown the VM (force close it if you have to).
• With the VM completely shut down (not paused or saved), right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and select "Show Log".
• Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response. See the "Upload attachment" tab below the reply form.

[chuck123]

charles@charles-Inspiron-5482:~$ ls /media/charles/ADATA\ SU800/CentOS*
'/media/charles/ADATA SU800/CentOS-8-x86_64-1905-dvd1.iso'
charles@charles-Inspiron-5482:~$

CentOS 8 is the version
It just starts and almost does the loader screen but that aborts and it just shows a blinking cursor in the VM.

Log file included.

[socratis]

00:00:00.577462 VirtualBox VM 6.0.14_Ubuntu r132055 linux.amd64 (Oct 17 2019 07:24:16) release log

It looks like you're using the distro's fork version of VirtualBox. You can either ask in their forums/channels for help, or completely remove/uninstall/delete/purge their version and install the official version from the Linux Downloads section of VirtualBox. You can even add VirtualBox as a repository, so you could use your traditional install/upgrade/uninstall tools.

But, since I'm doing the analysis, here are some things that need your attention when you install the official VirtualBox...

00:00:00.628624   RamSize           <integer> = 0x0000000053500000 (1 397 751 808, 1 333 MB)

Increase the RAM to a minimum of 2048, if not 3072 MB. Giving a modern OS like CentOS 8 less than 1.5 GB is going to make the OS suffer.

00:00:00.628622   NumCPUs           <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)
00:00:00.743018 CPUM: Physical host cores: 4

You can certainly afford a 2nd vCPU for your guest, you have 4 cores on your Host.

00:00:00.628826 VMSVGAEnabled      <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)
00:00:00.628826 VMSVGAPciBarLayout <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)    <-- Missing
00:00:00.628826 VMSVGAPciId        <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)    <-- Missing
00:00:00.628827 VRamSize           <integer> = 0x0000000001e00000 (31 457 280, 30 MB)

Go to the VM Settings » Display » Screen. Change the Graphics controller from "VBoxSVGA" (which is meant for Win Guests) to "VMSVGA" (which is meant for Linux Guests). Increase the VRAM to the max of 128 MB.

[Just2Evil]

Hi,

Unless things have changes recently the server version of RHEL 8 will install but hangs during first boot. Blank screen and such.

With regards to RHEL/CENTOS/ORACLE etc version 8 you are limited to Workstation.

Taken from the link below

Note: Do not choose Server with a GUI as your base environment. There is a known issue that will prevent the graphical desktop from starting

Here is the link from redhat provinding basic instructions on how to install RHEL 8
https://developers.redhat.com/rhel8/install-rhel8-vbox/

[socratis]

Very good call 'Just2Evil'!

Just helped me resolve another issue as well...

[Just2Evil]

No problems 'socratis', glad I can help.