EFI Stub Errors on XCP-ng Virtual Machine Attempting 'Perform Full Host Registration and Inventory'

[JCS-RVK]

Hello!
I’m trying to capture a Windows 11 base image from an XCP-ng VM. The VM will boot to the FOG menu, and I can select the desired option (Full host registration), but after loading bzImage and init.xz, the VM hangs on

EFI stub: Loaded initrd from LINUX_EFI_INITRD_MEDIA_GUID device path
EFI stub: Measured initrd data into PCR 9

I’ve tried a list of different kernel versions:

• 5.15.93
• 5.15.98
• 6.1.22
• 6.1.89
• 6.6.49
• 6.6.69
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.35
• The experimental kernel listed here: https://github.com/FOGProject/fos/issues/108

None have allowed the VM to get any further. What else should I be trying?

Other devices are able to image successfully. We deploy laptops to staff and students, and all are imaging as expected.

System info:
FOG server is running AlmaLinux 9.5, in a VM that was migrated from ESXi to XCP-ng.
FOG version is 1.5.10.15
XCP-ng hosts are Dell PowerEdge R630. 2x Intel Xeon E5-2660v3, 128GB RAM
Windows 11 VM has 2 CPUs, 4GB RAM, 64GB disk

Thanks for your time!

[BPSTravis]

I have a windows 11 golden VM residing on an xcp-ng 8.3 host, I am able to boot into the fog menus and upload images(although sometimes the console window blanks out after 3-4 minutes so I use snapshots and brute force to get it to complete).

Try adding this to your host kernel arguments: xen_emul_unplug=unmodified nomodeset vga=788

Also use the intel nic option not realtek. I am not using a custom kernel for my VM, just the latest same as any other machine.

UEFI bios mode on the VM(required for TPM).

[JCS-RVK]

@BPSTravis
Sorry for the slow response. Apparently I didn’t have email alerts set up yet, and I’m only at this job in the middle of the week, so just seeing your reply this morning.

I manually added the host and tried the host kernel arguments you suggested. This did not make a difference. I also tried with just xen_emul_umplug=unmodified and this did not work either.

I switched to the Intel NIC option, this did not make a difference.

UEFI BIOS mode was set already.

[rodluz]

@JCS-RVK Hi I have a kernel that should work for XCP-ng. If you don’t mind giving it a try and let me know if it works for you please.
You will need to download and set it up manually but here are the instructions.

On your FOG server, run this command to download the test kernel
wget https://github.com/rluzuriaga/fos/releases/download/EXPERIMENTAL_XCP_1/bzImage
That will download it to whatever directory you are currently on.

Rename the file and move it to the correct location like this:
sudo mv bzImage /var/www/fog/service/ipxe/bzImage_XCP

Then you need to change the permissions and ownership of that file:
sudo chmod 644 /var/www/fog/service/ipxe/bzImage_XCP

Red Had based server: sudo chown fogproject:apache /var/www/fog/service/ipxe/bzImage_XCP

Debian based server: sudo chown fogproject:www-data /var/www/fog/service/ipxe/bzImage_XCP

Then add bzImage_XCP to the Host Kernel line in the XCP-ng host on the FOG web.
Also, remove all the host kernel arguments.