You are not logged in.
Hello,
I have a VPS at OVH and cannot update it since system 259 was released a few month ago. Boot hangs after grub on "Loading initial ramdisk", providing no indication at what's failing.
I have tried a lot of options and none of them have managed to solve the issue:
- reinstalling kernel, rebuilding mkinitcpio and grub
- installing LTS kernel
- trying to boot on fallback image
- adding virtio to modules in mkinitcpio.conf
- removing microcode from hooks in mkinitcpio.conf (not sure why I had it since I had no *-ucode package installed)
- adding debug instructions to grub command line (still doesn't output anything more)
I'm a bit clueless about what to try now. I can't try reinstalling from scratch, because OVH no longer provide custom images on their VPSes, and I don't want to move to a dedicated server that's 3 times more expensive.
Reverting to working versions in rescue mode worked in November, but I'm not sure it's still possible now (and not a long-time viable option anyway).
Version that worked:
- systemd-258.1-1
- linux-6.17.5
Version that no longer works:
- systemd-259.4-1
- linux-6.19.6.arch1-1
(earlier version already failed, I've had the problem since November)
/etc/mkinitcpio.conf:
MODULES=(virtio virtio_blk virtio_pci virtio_scsi)
BINARIES=()
FILES=()
HOOKS=(base systemd autodetect modconf kms keyboard keymap sd-vconsole block filesystems fsck)/etc/default/grub:
GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR="Arch"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="loglevel=7 debug earlyprintk=ttyS0,115200 console=ttyS0,115200 initcall_debug systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=0 break=mount"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="console=ttyS0 "
# Preload both GPT and MBR modules so that they are not missed
GRUB_PRELOAD_MODULES="part_gpt part_msdos"
# Uncomment to enable booting from LUKS encrypted devices
#GRUB_ENABLE_CRYPTODISK=y
# Set to 'countdown' or 'hidden' to change timeout behavior,
# press ESC key to display menu.
GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
# Uncomment to use basic console
GRUB_TERMINAL_INPUT=console
# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal
#GRUB_TERMINAL_OUTPUT=console
# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
GRUB_GFXMODE=auto
# Uncomment to allow the kernel use the same resolution used by grub
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep
# Uncomment if you want GRUB to pass to the Linux kernel the old parameter
# format "root=/dev/xxx" instead of "root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/xxx"
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true
# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY=true
# Uncomment and set to the desired menu colors. Used by normal and wallpaper
# modes only. Entries specified as foreground/background.
#GRUB_COLOR_NORMAL="light-blue/black"
#GRUB_COLOR_HIGHLIGHT="light-cyan/blue"
# Uncomment one of them for the gfx desired, a image background or a gfxtheme
#GRUB_BACKGROUND="/path/to/wallpaper"
#GRUB_THEME="/path/to/gfxtheme"
# Uncomment to get a beep at GRUB start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"
# Uncomment to make GRUB remember the last selection. This requires
# setting 'GRUB_DEFAULT=saved' above.
#GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT="true"/etc/fstab:
LABEL=rootfs / ext4 rw,relatime 0 1/boot/grub/grub.cfg:
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
insmod part_gpt
insmod part_msdos
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
load_env
fi
if [ "${env_block}" ] ; then
set env_block="(${root})${env_block}"
export env_block
load_env -f "${env_block}"
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
set default="${next_entry}"
set next_entry=
if [ "${env_block}" ] ; then
save_env -f "${env_block}" next_entry
else
save_env next_entry
fi
set boot_once=true
else
set default="0"
fi
if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi
export menuentry_id_option
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi
function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
if [ "${env_block}" ] ; then
save_env -f "${env_block}" saved_entry
else
save_env saved_entry
fi
fi
}
function load_video {
if [ x$grub_platform = xefi ]; then
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
elif [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}
if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi
if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
set timeout_style=menu
set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
set timeout=5
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Arch Linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5' {
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
fi
echo 'Loading Linux linux-lts ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux-lts root=UUID=6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5 rw console=ttyS0 loglevel=7 debug earlyprintk=ttyS0,115200 console=ttyS0,115200 initcall_debug systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=0 break=mount
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initramfs-linux-lts.img
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Arch Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5' {
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux-lts' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-lts-advanced-6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5' {
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
fi
echo 'Loading Linux linux-lts ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux-lts root=UUID=6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5 rw console=ttyS0 loglevel=7 debug earlyprintk=ttyS0,115200 console=ttyS0,115200 initcall_debug systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=0 break=mount
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initramfs-linux-lts.img
}
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-advanced-6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5' {
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
fi
echo 'Loading Linux linux ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5 rw console=ttyS0 loglevel=7 debug earlyprintk=ttyS0,115200 console=ttyS0,115200 initcall_debug systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=0 break=mount
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initramfs-linux.img
}
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux (fallback initramfs)' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-fallback-6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5' {
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5
fi
echo 'Loading Linux linux ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=6ba6ed91-6eb9-4125-a33a-85c55db5edd5 rw console=ttyS0 loglevel=7 debug earlyprintk=ttyS0,115200 console=ttyS0,115200 initcall_debug systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=0 break=mount
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img
}
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/25_bli ###
if [ "$grub_platform" = "efi" ]; then
insmod bli
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/25_bli ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
if [ "$grub_platform" = "efi" ]; then
fwsetup --is-supported
if [ "$?" = 0 ]; then
menuentry 'UEFI Firmware Settings' $menuentry_id_option 'uefi-firmware' {
fwsetup
}
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###Offline
I'm a ovh customer, too - but a have a physical root instead of a vps - so I'm not familiar with the differences and tools you may have available
you have serial output specified - can you access it via the customer panel? do you have access to kvm?
the actual output would be interesting
can you boot the debian emergency system? don't know if this is even a thing on VPS or if that's only for dedicated machines
have you tried to contact ovh support, yet?
Offline
you have serial output specified - can you access it via the customer panel? do you have access to kvm?
Yes, I have access to kvm and can restart the VPS in rescue mode (which allows me to chroot into the file system), which is how I performed the tests I mentioned
the actual output would be interesting
It is really just 3 lines:
Booting `Arch Linux`
Loading Linux linux-lts ...
Loading initial ramdisk ...
have you tried to contact ovh support, yet?
No, I assumed they would tell me they no longer support custom images on VPS. But I'm going to try anyway
Last edited by Perdu (2026-03-14 09:13:56)
Offline
Well, it turns out the move to systemd-based init breaks for some reason and reverting to the classical init in mkinitcpio.conf makes it work (+ mkinitcpio -P && grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg)
# pre-update
HOOKS=(base udev autodetect microcode modconf kms keyboard keymap consolefont block filesystems fsck)
# update
# HOOKS=(base systemd autodetect microcode modconf kms keyboard keymap sd-vconsole block filesystems fsck)Last edited by Perdu (2026-03-16 10:27:25)
Offline
so this looks like could be a systemd incompatibility
unfortunate i don't know how to further debug this more in-depth
Offline