Ubuntu server on VB 3.2.* - dev disk does not exist

[bind00]

Hello
I'm trying to install ubuntu-10.04-server-i386 in Virtualbox on Windows XP Home (for use as a Drupal development server) using the instructions here
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox
and here
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ubuntu_as_Guest_OS

However, the Ubuntu server will not start properly. Instead it goes to an initramfs prompt as follows

Code: Select all

Gave up waiting for root device. Common problems:
— Boot args (cat /proc/cmdline)
— Check rootdelay= (did the system wait long enough?)
— Check root= (did the system wait for the right device?)
— Missing modules (cat /proc/modules: ls /dev)
ALERT! /dev/disk/by—uuid/7fe12763—234b—4a75—910b—3fb00Bebb2f1 does not exist. Dropping to a shell!
BusyBox v1.13.3 (Ubuntu 1:1.13.3—1ubuntu11) built—in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built—in commands.
(initramfs) _

Another thread suggested typing 'exit' after a while but it just repeats the same output.

It seems the root disk doesn't exist. I allowed the installer to set up partitions to its own recommendation (Guided) so there are two partitions.

The host disk is SATA. The CPU is a dualcore but I've only enabled one CPU on the guest within Virtualbox. Also, I had to enable PAE mode as without it Virtualbox crashed every time I started the guest with the message "Virtualbox GUI has encountered a problem and needs to close". PAE wasn't mentioned in the instructions mentioned above.

I've tried changing the various other disk parameters in Virtualbox (without fully understanding them) but no luck.
I had this problem on VB 3.2.0 and 3.2.2.

I've posted this at the Ubuntu forum too where someone has the exact same problem on a Solaris host.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[bind00]

I've gone to Ubuntu server 9.10 which works.
It still crashes VB if PAE isn't checked. Not a problem but I thought it might exit more gracefully.

Still open to ideas about v10.4 if anyone has them.

[dserodio]

I'd like to install Ubuntu 10.4 server on Virtualbox too.

[Perryg]

Ubuntu server requires that you have PAE enabled. Other then that it works great.
I have been using the Ububtu server since 8.04 and have every release since then and in every release of VBox that has been released with no problems.
I don't use the OSE version though so I can't tell you about that. The PUEL version works flawlessly with Ubuntu.

[Sasquatch]

You use VB 3.2.x, what if you install Ubuntu Server when you set the HDD to IDE controller instead of the default SATA?

[xakep]

Easy fix. Go into settings and remove your virtual hard drive file from the SATA controller. Add a new SCSI controller and reattach the virtual hard drive file. DONE

[giorgiob]

Easy fix. Go into settings and remove your virtual hard drive file from the SATA controller. Add a new SCSI controller and reattach the virtual hard drive file. DONE

DONE!Worked for me in guest Ubuntu Server 10.10 Maverick with linux-virtual + linux-headers-virtual installed.

TNX!

Giorgio