Arch Linux

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 35

[SOLVED] Kernel taking a long time to display LUKS unlock prompt

I'm on 6.14.9-arch1-1 and I've been noticing that it's taking a lot longer to reach the prompt to unlock my root LUKS partition. The prompt showing the kernel parameters is showing for about 30 secs - 1 minute before progressing to the unlock prompt. I'm using refind, so bios and refind are going about as fast as they normally go, but as soon as I hit enter to boot into Arch, the screen that shows the kernel params goes really slow. The actual drive unlocking (btrfs on an nvme drive) and the kernel bootup messages goes at about its normal speed.

Does anyone know what might be causing this recent slowdown?

Last edited by avr (2025-06-07 21:33:41)

stonks

Member

Registered: 2025-06-03

Posts: 1

Re: [SOLVED] Kernel taking a long time to display LUKS unlock prompt

What bootloader are you using? GRUB is notoriously slow with decryption. If your kernel is also encrypted then it will take a long time. I would recommend using systemd-boot if using LUKS. GRUB only supports LUKS and not LUKS2.

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 35

Re: [SOLVED] Kernel taking a long time to display LUKS unlock prompt

What bootloader are you using? GRUB is notoriously slow with decryption. If your kernel is also encrypted then it will take a long time. I would recommend using systemd-boot if using LUKS. GRUB only supports LUKS and not LUKS2.

I'm using refind. Kernel / boot partition is not encrypted.

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 65,581

Re: [SOLVED] Kernel taking a long time to display LUKS unlock prompt

the screen that shows the kernel params goes really slow

Please post your complete system journal for the boot:

sudo journalctl -b | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st

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How to upload text · How to boot w/o GUI · Disable Windows Fast-Start! · Fix your xinitrc

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 35

Re: [SOLVED] Kernel taking a long time to display LUKS unlock prompt

the screen that shows the kernel params goes really slow

Please post your complete system journal for the boot:

sudo journalctl -b | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st

https://0x0.st/8gJB.txt also note the new kernel version (still same exact issue)

Also noting that the BIOS screen is now showing for a few seconds. Before this issue, the BIOS logo would only ever show every once and a while, and it would be for about 2 seconds max. Now it's consistently showing for 15 - 20 seconds. I have not made any changes to the BIOS nor done an update. I am not dual-booting Arch is my one and only.

seth

Member

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 65,581

Re: [SOLVED] Kernel taking a long time to display LUKS unlock prompt

Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: new high-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=5411, bcdDevice= 1.44
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: Product: 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: Manufacturer: Generic
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: new high-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: new high-speed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2-port1: attempt power cycle
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: new high-speed USB device number 7 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device not accepting address 7, error -62
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: new high-speed USB device number 8 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device not accepting address 8, error -62
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2-port1: unable to enumerate USB device
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: new full-speed USB device number 9 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: New USB device found, idVendor=16c0, idProduct=27db, bcdDevice= 3.05
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: Product: Glove80 Left
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: Manufacturer: MoErgo
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: SerialNumber: moergo.com:GLV80-69970DE387A62492
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: new full-speed USB device number 10 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=c52b, bcdDevice=12.11
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: Product: USB Receiver
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: Manufacturer: Logitech
…
Jun 07 11:17:08 mycomp systemd[1]: Started Simple Desktop Display Manager.

There's some noise on the hub where the logitech dongle and the wireless keyboard are attached, then 3s later SDDM starts
The device can never be enumerated, so I can't tell what that is, but I'd strip all external USB devices and replace mouse and keyboard w/ $5 wired office supply.
See whether that prevents the delay.

There's only one nvme, no mmc, no sata, so it doesn't make sense that the bootloader would have to wait for the encrypted device to show up (cause it's the same disk)

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How to upload text · How to boot w/o GUI · Disable Windows Fast-Start! · Fix your xinitrc

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 35

Re: [SOLVED] Kernel taking a long time to display LUKS unlock prompt

Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: new high-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=5411, bcdDevice= 1.44
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: Product: 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2: Manufacturer: Generic
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: new high-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: new high-speed USB device number 6 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2-port1: attempt power cycle
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: new high-speed USB device number 7 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device not accepting address 7, error -62
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: new high-speed USB device number 8 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.1: device not accepting address 8, error -62
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2-port1: unable to enumerate USB device
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: new full-speed USB device number 9 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: New USB device found, idVendor=16c0, idProduct=27db, bcdDevice= 3.05
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: Product: Glove80 Left
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: Manufacturer: MoErgo
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.3: SerialNumber: moergo.com:GLV80-69970DE387A62492
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: new full-speed USB device number 10 using xhci_hcd
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=c52b, bcdDevice=12.11
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: Product: USB Receiver
Jun 07 11:17:05 mycomp kernel: usb 3-2.2.4: Manufacturer: Logitech
…
Jun 07 11:17:08 mycomp systemd[1]: Started Simple Desktop Display Manager.

There's some noise on the hub where the logitech dongle and the wireless keyboard are attached, then 3s later SDDM starts
The device can never be enumerated, so I can't tell what that is, but I'd strip all external USB devices and replace mouse and keyboard w/ $5 wired office supply.
See whether that prevents the delay.

There's only one nvme, no mmc, no sata, so it doesn't make sense that the bootloader would have to wait for the encrypted device to show up (cause it's the same disk)

Yep, that was the source of the problem. I've been using this USB 3.0 switch since 2020 to share keyboard and mouse with my work laptop, which was recently upgraded. If I unplugged the laptop from the kvm then no bios screen and about 5 seconds before prompt to enter disk password (which was about the time it was before).