Cant get OSX server guest working on OSX host

[shootdigital]

Hi folks,

I am trying to get an OS X server guest working under VirtualBox 3.2.10 and an OS X host. The Host: 1st gen MacPro dual core Intel Xeon 3ghz running 10.6.4 server. I attempted to run

Code: Select all

VBoxManage showvminfo x5vb

to get you the config info for the guest, but it gives me this error:

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ERROR: Could not find a registered machine named 'x5vb'
Details: code VBOX_E_OBJECT_NOT_FOUND (0x80bb0001), component VirtualBox, interface IVirtualBox, callee nsISupports
Context: "FindMachine(Bstr(VMNameOrUuid), machine.asOutParam())" at line 2070 of file VBoxManageInfo.cpp

I tried the same command on other guests that are running ok and I got the same error. I will detail current potentially relevant settings manually:

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General== OS: Mac OS X, Version: Mac OS X Server
System/Motherboard== Boot Order: CD then Hard Disk, Extended Features: Enable IO APIC checked
System/Processors== 1 CPU, Enable PAE/NX checked
System/Acceleration== Enable VT-x/AMD-V checked, Enable Paging checked
Storage Controllers== IDE Controller Type ICH6 with Use host I/O cache checked (for CD), SATA Type AHCI with use host I/O cache checked
Storage Devices== IDE: Slot: Primary Master wth Device: OSX_10_5_Server.iso. SATA: Slot: Sata Port 0, Hard Disk: x5vb.vdi, Differencing unchecked, 20GB Fixed, Type: Normal (VDI)
Audio== not enabled
Network== Attached to: Bridged Adapter, Name: en0: Ethernet 1, Type: Intel Pro/1000 T Server network card (I82543GC), cable connected is checked
USB== Enable USB 2.0 Controller is checked
Shared Folders== none

Currently I have several Windows XP and RedHat guests running successfully. Ive been using the Web Interface and running all guests in headless mode with the OS X server at the log in screen. All seems well generally. However, when I try to get an OS X guest going, I run into some problems that stop me very early on in the process. Ive tried just about every configuration of storage devices, and various methods found on the internet. Ive done as much research as I can and Im stumped. Documentation says this should just work, but it doesnt. The ISO's im using were made by ripping retail copies of OSX server install discs with Disk Utility as a CD/DVD master, then changing the ".cdr" suffix to ".iso" This method has worked for windows installer discs, and other ISO's so I figure the method of obtaining my ISO is ok, but some feedback on that would be appreciated. Heres whats happens:

In this configuration it will attempt to boot into the installer until it reaches a line that says: Intel8254X -- Negotiated Speed: 1 Gb/s, Duplex: Full, Flow Control: Receive Pause Disabled, Transmit Pause Disabled, and then it says "Still waiting for root device" which it will repeat over and over indefinitely. If I get rid of the SATA controller, put the Hard Disk as Primary Master on the IDE controller, and make the CD drive secondary master, same outcome. Using a 10.6 server iso yields same outcome. Using other Hard Disks seem to make no difference.

I tinkered with all the settings, checking and unchecking, nothing improved the situation, so I decided to log into the server's desktop and try working from the VirtualBox GUI in non-headless mode. Seems I found something awry. Every machine I try to launch from the GUI says:

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Failed to open a session for the virtual machine x5vb.
The virtual machine 'x5vb' has terminated unexpectedly during startup because of signal 6.

Details: Result Code: NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005)
Component: Machine
Interface: IMachine {looks like uuid here}

Same result if I try to launch any of my machines from the command line.

Thanks in advance for any help, I really appreciate it!

[Sasquatch]

I believe that you need VT-x in order to run OSX Guests. The 1st gen Macs don't have a CPU with VT-x capabilities. Verify this, then you know why it doesn't work.

[Perryg]

The ISO's im using were made by ripping retail copies of OSX server install discs

I am curious as to why you are using a ripped CD instead of the original, which will work properly.

[shootdigital]

The ISO's im using were made by ripping retail copies of OSX server install discs

I am curious as to why you are using a ripped CD instead of the original, which will work properly.

Ah, good question, another problem Im having is that I cant get the host cd drive to work. If I set the cd device to host (passthrough off, or on) I get this message everytime. What I find curious about it is that I dont even have it set to PIIX3, its set to ICH6, but Ive tried all three available IDE types, and they all yield the same message:

PIIX3 cannot attach drive to the Secondary Master
(VERR_GENERAL_FAILURE). Unknown error creating VM
(VERR_GENERAL_FAILURE)

and in the details:

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Exception Object
(
    [message:protected] => PIIX3 cannot attach drive to the Secondary Master (VERR_GENERAL_FAILURE).
Unknown error creating VM (VERR_GENERAL_FAILURE)
    [string:Exception:private] => 
    [code:protected] => 0
    [file:protected] => /Library/WebServer/Documents/virtualbox/lib/vboxconnector.php
    [line:protected] => 671
    [trace:Exception:private] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [file] => /Library/WebServer/Documents/virtualbox/lib/ajax.php
                    [line] => 91
                    [function] => getProgress
                    [class] => vboxconnector
                    [type] => ->
                    [args] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [progress] => c01822ab56c7cbb6-00000000000bbc08
                                    [fn] => getProgress
                                )

                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [data] => Array
                                        (
                                            [progress] => c01822ab56c7cbb6-00000000000bbc08
                                            [info] => Array
                                                (
                                                    [completed] => 1
                                                    [canceled] => 
                                                    [description] => Starting virtual machine
                                                    [timeRemaining] => Array
                                                        (
                                                        )

                                                    [timeElapsed] => Array
                                                        (
                                                            [seconds] => 6
                                                        )

                                                    [percent] => 20
                                                )

                                        )

                                    [errors] => Array
                                        (
                                        )

                                    [persist] => Array
                                        (
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                )

        )

    [previous:Exception:private] => 
)

[shootdigital]

I believe that you need VT-x in order to run OSX Guests. The 1st gen Macs don't have a CPU with VT-x capabilities. Verify this, then you know why it doesn't work.

Thanks for the tip! Ill try on a newer model and post results sometime soon.

[shootdigital]

so I tried virtualbox 3.2.10 on a brand new mac pro (mid 2010) 3.33 ghz 6-core intel xeon, and essentially have the same problem. "still waiting for root device". one improvement from prior situation is that i can use the host cd drive to attempt installing from the retail disc directly, but sadly this doesnt solve the problem. im using the gui on the desktop for this testing.

with regards to 1st gen mac pros (or any intel macs) being vt-x enabled, i found some info on this in an apple support article: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2744

the essence of it, according to this article, is that they tell you to run latest efi updates (which i already had). you can get them through software update, or apple's site, and:

Intel VT-x technology is enabled on Intel-based Macs. Make sure your Intel-based Mac has all available EFI updates installed; also update any third-party virtualization software.

so im pretty much back to square one. anyone have any ideas why i cant get past this "still waiting for root device" issue on os x guests?

thanks for any help with this!

[Perryg]

Have you read Chapter 3.1.1. Mac OS X Server guests in your VirtualBox users manual?

[shootdigital]

Have you read Chapter 3.1.1. Mac OS X Server guests in your VirtualBox users manual?

i did, and chapter 13 for the known limitations. none of it seems to be relevant to my problem unfortunately...

[shootdigital]

has anyone gotten an os x server guest running on an os x host, using virtualbox 3.2 or later? if so, can you share what your guest settings are, and anything else you think might be relevant about how you have it set up?

thanks a lot