Archiso appears to need output screen to work

meowxiik · 2019-08-23 20:46:09

I am trying to follow https://tech.cccp.io/post/13_build_live_arch_iso_sshd/. I followed it to the dot.

However my archiso only boots with a screen attached on boot.

If I attach a screen afterwards or no screen it all, it freezes. I presume systemd is waiting for something, because the shutdown button is unresponsibe as well. But I have no way to check it, since it is a live usb.
If I attach a screen afterwards, it shows nothing.

So to my question:

Is Archiso supposed to do this when no monitor is found?

If not, then:

How can I debug this kind of scenario?

Maniaxx · 2019-08-24 10:29:10

Check your bootloader. When using GRUB you have to disable gfx indeed (console only). I'm running a headless server with this grub.cfg. I successfully adapted it to an arch usb-stick as well.

terminal_input console; terminal_output console

set default="0"
set timeout="2"
set root='(hd0,gpt1)'

insmod part_gpt
insmod fat

menuentry "Linux" {
        linux vmlinuz root=PARTUUID=1234-5678 rootfstype=ext4 rootwait console=tty2 noinitrd
}

You can use qemu to test headless images (redirect console/tty to screen).

Last edited by Maniaxx (2019-08-24 10:31:56)

meowxiik · 2019-08-28 14:01:30

Thanks for the advice!

Unfortunately, that has not been the issue.

I have discovered that the hardware I am using (Intel NUC) just won't boot under certain conditions, one of which includes no monitor found.

So this had nothing to do with Arch Linux.

I will not tag this as solved for now, for I did not solve it. I just can't run it headless while booting from USB.

progandy · 2019-08-28 14:22:39

If you can't find BIOS/UEFI settings (maybe even a BIOS update) to make it work, then you could use a so-called hdmi emulator or hdmi dummy. It will pretend to be a monitor and then throws away all image data it receives.

Last edited by progandy (2019-08-28 14:37:46)

Maniaxx · 2019-08-29 14:38:40

meowxiik wrote:

(Intel NUC) just won't boot under certain conditions, one of which includes no monitor found.

How did you figure that out (if you have no output at all)?

meowxiik · 2019-09-09 13:25:27

Maniaxx wrote:

meowxiik wrote:
(Intel NUC) just won't boot under certain conditions, one of which includes no monitor found.
How did you figure that out (if you have no output at all)?

I spent an atrocious amount of time diagnosing the problem and then I googled it and it fits exactly. I know that it boots OK with a HDMI, then I remove it, reboot and nothing. And Google said that's somewhat common with NUCs so I asssume it's that.

Maniaxx · 2019-09-10 22:57:03

Which NUC do you have exactly? Some disable the IGPU on purpose if nothing is connected indeed. There's an option in the BIOS to enable a special headless mode (that might be hidden in your BIOS/NUC). It's maybe possible to re-enable/unhide that option (if its present in your BIOS).

Edit: On the other hand... looks like intel use some kind of proprietary, protected BIO files. It's probably not possible to unhide certain menu options.

Last edited by Maniaxx (2019-09-10 23:02:02)

Arch Linux

#1 2019-08-23 20:46:09

Archiso appears to need output screen to work

#2 2019-08-24 10:29:10

Re: Archiso appears to need output screen to work

#3 2019-08-28 14:01:30

Re: Archiso appears to need output screen to work

#4 2019-08-28 14:22:39

Re: Archiso appears to need output screen to work

#5 2019-08-29 14:38:40

Re: Archiso appears to need output screen to work

#6 2019-09-09 13:25:27

Re: Archiso appears to need output screen to work

#7 2019-09-10 22:57:03

Re: Archiso appears to need output screen to work

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