Arch Linux

pav02

Member

Registered: 2016-01-03

Posts: 4

[Closed] EFI variables are not supported on this system - A. on VPS

I have read arch wiki pages, googled tons of others and still have not found the solution.
Arch was installed successfully on VPS with MBR partitions and grub, works fine.
Now I am trying to install Arch on VPS with GPT partition tables and make it boot, failed so far on every attempt.
It is a single system on this VPS.
Description of actions, mostly copying installation guide (leaving actions not relevant, such timezone, etc.)

 parted /dev/vda 

Commands in parted

 mklabel gpt 

 mkpart ESP fat32 1MiB 513MiB 

 align check optimal 1 

 set 1 boot on 

 mkpart primary ext4 513MiB 100% 

 align check optimal 2 

Quit parted.

 lsblk 

 mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/vda1 

 mkfs.ext4 /dev/vda2 

Mount the partitions:

 mount /dev/vda2 /mnt 

 mkdir -p /mnt/boot 

 mount /dev/vda1 /mnt/boot 

Select the mirror and install:

 pacstrap -i /mnt base 

Generate fstab:

 genfstab -U >> /mnt/etc/fstab 

Chroot:

 arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash 

Install packages:

 pacman -S grub 

 pacman -S efibootmgr 

Can regenerate kernel.

 mkinitcpio -p linux 

And there the success ends because boot loader installation and configuration starts.

The steps leading to failure (grub is chosen; bootctl has the same results):

 grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=grub 

Error (twice the same line): efibootmgr: EFI variables are not supported on this system.
Installation finished. No error reported.

Still can generate config:

 grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg 

Several pages suggested that it should be booted in UEFI mode. I cannot influence that at all as I am booting from ISO image in some directory and I am booting a virtual machine. Archiso CD (image) boots fine.

Checking /sys/firmware directory does not produce any efi directory.

Trying to boot fails.

The solution must be near but I do not see it, hopefully someone knows.

Update, closing:

The provider confirmed they did not support UEFI boot for VPS, installed with MBR partitions.

Last edited by pav02 (2016-06-22 20:44:24)

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,418

Re: [Closed] EFI variables are not supported on this system - A. on VPS

Sounds like the VPS doesn't boot UEFI.