Ubuntu guest on Ubuntu 19.10

[franko_108]

Hi there,
I'm using virtualbox for many years now and didn't have much troubles.
Now I can't install Ubuntu guest on Ubuntu 19.10 hosts machine with vbox 6.1. (with the 6.0 also had problems.)
Funny enough, I successfully installed CentOS 6 on the same host.
My old VM's (ubuntu 19.04 server, centos, windows 7) are all working properly. Those have been installed much earlier on Debian host.

I tried with several versions of ubuntu as guest - 18.04 server, 19.04 server, 19.10 server.
Installation process begins properly, iso is mounted, I'm able to enter asked data - language, keyboard settings, partition, username and password, installation process starts but always fails.
Sometimes it is getting stacked during installation process that never finishes, sometimes it goes in some loops, after entering all the data (language, partition, username) it starts the whole process from the scratch, again asking for the language, keyboard settings
In the attachment is my vbox log from this VM -

I installed various os on virtualbox, this is not the first time, but I can't locate this issue.
Best

[fth0]

In the VBox.log file I don't see any problems during the guest OS installation. I suggest to provide the VM with 2 vCPUs, 2 GB RAM and 128 MB VRAM (optionally enable 3D acceleration and provide 256 MB VRAM). Make sure the virtual disk is potentially large enough (e.g. 20 GB dynamic VDI). Does the problem persist?

Since the problem occurs while the guest OS is running (from the CD image), you can analyze inside the guest OS itself. See below for some ideas.

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Analyze problems during the Ubuntu Desktop Linux installation procedure

Boot from the installation medium and select Try Ubuntu. On the Ubuntu Desktop there is a link to the installation program named Install Ubuntu. Before starting the installation program, open multiple terminal windows and start monitoring commands inside them (e.g. tail -f /var/log/syslog, top). Now start the installation program and begin with the installation. During the installation, minimize the installation program to watch the terminals. If you're lucky, you can even investigate the problem situation later on, from within the terminals already started. If necessary, you can let VirtualBox create a video capture of the VM window, to read the terminal contents later.

Alternatively, you can boot from the installation medium, select Install Ubuntu, and then switch between text based terminals using CTRL+ALT+Fn or HostKey+Fn (n = 1, 2, 3, ...). This alternative has the disadvantage that you can only see one terminal at a time, and the advantage of using less VM resources.

[franko_108]

Hi,
@fth0 thank you for your post and comments.

I've tried to increase resources on 2 GB RAM and 2 CPU cores, but same situation.
Also, I enabled 3D acceleration with 256 MB RAM.
I'm trying to install ubuntu server as a guest, so, not much gui in there (in fact nothing at all).
In the past typically was enough providing 1-1.5 GB or RAM, and 1-2 CPU core because those servers are only for research, no traffic there.

I couldn't fire option "Try Ubuntu", on the server iso, there isn't such an option. So, I couldn't have two terminals and following the process as you suggested. Also, during installation process, I couldn't switch the another terminal with CTR+Alt+2 or 3 or another number.
I've followed /var/log/syslog on the host machine, in the attachment is one part of it. I don't see anything related.
Also, here is attached the screenshot (sorry, it is visible only last part of message) when installation falls.

On the same computer I've tried to install vbox on the windows 7 host (dual boot), there is working fine, 3 VM ubuntu servers are working simultaneously with no problem.

[franko_108]

in the previous post is only one attachment, here is attachment of syslog from host machine during the installation process.

[fth0]

I'm trying to install ubuntu server as a guest, so, not much gui in there (in fact nothing at all).

Ok, than you could only use the alternative method. I've enhanced the instructions in my post, please reread it (added "Desktop" to the title, and the possibility of using the VirtualBox host key for terminal switching).

I couldn't switch the another terminal with CTR+Alt+2

Try CTRL+ALT+F2 or HostKey+F2.

/var/log/syslog on the host machine

Since the problem probably is on your guest machine, you should look at the syslog on the guest machine.