Center Server Appliance Boot Failure Caused by Missing Boot Configuration Files

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA). The vCenter Server virtual machine fails to boot and remains stuck on the startup screen or GRUB menu. Attempts to bypass the issue by rebooting the virtual machine or executing manual boot parameter repairs (e.g., fsck.repair=yes) from the GRUB console are unsuccessful. Console history observation shows that the OS initialization halts prior to loading the kernel.

Environment

vCenter Server Appliance 8.0.x

Cause

The photon.cfg and Linux initialization configuration files were removed from the boot partition, preventing the GNU GRUB bootloader from locating the kernel and loading the operating system.

Resolution

 

1. Attach a Live CD/ISO to the vCenter Server Appliance virtual machine or access the system via a recovery shell.
2. Mount the vCenter Server Appliance boot partition to a temporary directory.
3. Manually recreate the missing photon.cfg and necessary Linux boot configuration files.

cd /boot and inspect the files in the folder. The photon.cfg file is missing from the folder.

Create the file by executing the following command :

vi and create the file: vi photon.cfg

Press the i key on your keyboard. The bottom of the screen should display -- INSERT --.

Input content: Type or paste the following content exactly as provided:

# GRUB Environment Block
photon_cmdline=init=/lib/systemd/systemd ro loglevel=3 quiet fips=1
photon_linux=vmlinuz-5.10.247-12.ph4
photon_initrd=initrd.img-5.10.247-12.ph4

Exit Insert mode:

Press the Esc key. The -- INSERT -- message will disappear.

Save and Exit:

Type :wq and press Enter.

• • : enters command mode.

  • w writes (saves) the changes.

  • q quits the editor.

 

Verify the file content:

To ensure the file was saved correctly, execute:

cat photon.cfg

  4. Unmount the boot partition safely.

  5. Reboot the vCenter Server Appliance.