Proxmox VE 9 installer fails on Dell PowerEdge T630 before installer UI, while Proxmox VE 8 and Debian 13.6 installer boot successfully-same hardware

[MVerBerkmoes]

I have been struggling with this for several weeks and even opened a bug report without success. I'm hoping someone here that is far more versed in Linux and ProxMox can help me get my v8 machine upgraded.

I attempted to bare install v9.2 on new SD cards on working ProxMox v8.4.19 hardware so in case of failure, I didn't lose my working v8 machine.

Dell PowerEdge T630
BIOS: 2.17.0
iDRAC/Lifecycle Controller: 2.84.84.84
CPU: (2) Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2695 v4 @ 2.10GHz
RAM: 384.00 GB
Storage controller: 06:00.0 Serial Attached SCSI controller: Broadcom / LSI SAS2308 PCI-Express Fusion-MPT SAS-2 [1000:0087]
Kernel driver: mpt3sas

Boot with Proxmox VE 9.2 ISO (Tried via several USB sticks in different ports, a burned DVD and a Virtual CD/DVD)

Install presents the install menu, I choose 'Install Proxmox VE - Graphical" fails when machine hangs in the same place ("Waiting for /dev to be fully populated" point), then reboots back to Dell POST

Tried edited installer by pressing 'e' and removing 'quiet' and adding 'modprobe.blacklist=mpt3sas'. This changed the failure behavior. The installer progressed past the previous "Waiting for /dev to be fully populated" point, but later rebooted before the installer UI appeared.

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Next step was to completed a fresh install of Debian 13 with PVE 9 on top as per these instructions: https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_13_Trixie. This would rule out the Debian kernel as the fail point.

Debian installed and updated without issue proving the hardware was compatible with Debian 13.

Then proceed to follow the above instructions in 'Install Proxmox VE on Debian 13 Trixie' at the URL provided.

Completed without error:
- Hostname Resolves to Hosts IP Address
- Add Proxmox VE Repository
- Add the Proxmox VE repository key as root
- Update your repository and system
- Installed the Proxmox VE Kernel
- Issued system reboot -> systemctl reboot

System failed to load and reboots back to Dell POST.

In both cases, the system reboots immediately after GRUB begins loading the Proxmox kernel. It returns to the Dell POST before I can capture any kernel messages, so there isn't a journal or dmesg from the failed boot.

Screen captures and logs can be found here: ProxMox Boot Failures

I'm at a loss on how to get my v8 upgraded to v9.

 

[Onslow]

Welcome to the Forum, @MVerBerkmoes

I would try the following:
a) check if the BIOS version is up-to-date,
b) add nomodeset boot parameter (similarly like you removed quiet parameter),
c) try Legacy BIOS instead of UEFI.

I don't know if these help in your case, but one or more of them have had helped me in similar situations.

 

[GMBauer]

I attempted to bare install v9.2 on new SD cards on working ProxMox v8.4.19 hardware so in case of failure, I didn't lose my working v8 machine.

Storage controller: 06:00.0 Serial Attached SCSI controller: Broadcom / LSI SAS2308 PCI-Express Fusion-MPT SAS-2 [1000:0087]

Proxmox doesnt work with SDs. VMware worked with SDs, Proxmox doesnt.

Which SSDs/HDDs do you use in which configuration?

 

[daanw]

Proxmox doesnt work with SDs. VMware worked with SDs, Proxmox doesnt.

You can install Proxmox on the IDSDM of the Dell T630, but do not use this as a permanent solution because the SD cards will wear out quickly.

New PVE9 install looks like nomodeset kernel parameter is needed indeed.
Do you boot your working Proxmox 8 on that machine with any kernel parameters?
How are you booting this Proxmox 8 setup (UEFI/BIOS, grub/systemd-boot)? I assume this install is on the raid controller. Did you configure the disk volume on the controller or is it in HBA/IT mode so the OS sees the individual disks? What is the used filesystem (LVM/ZFS)?

I'm at a loss on how to get my v8 upgraded to v9.

If you have a working PVE8 system you can obviously follow the upgrade steps.
https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Upgrade_from_8_to_9
But reading your post you assumably first want the confidence of a working PVE9 installation before doing that. The test install on the IDSDM is however not 100% identical to your actual setup.

Debian installed and updated without issue proving the hardware was compatible with Debian 13.

I assume you also installed debian 13 on the IDSDM? Did you try (re)booting the plain debian 13 before installing proxmox on top of it?
How are you booting this setup (UEFI/BIOS, grub/systemd-boot)? What is the used filesystem (LVM/ZFS)?

In both cases, the system reboots immediately after GRUB begins loading the Proxmox kernel. It returns to the Dell POST before I can capture any kernel messages, so there isn't a journal or dmesg from the failed boot.

Remove the quiet kernel parameter to see the boot messages on screen. Or check the bootlog after chrooting into your system using the installer.

 

[GMBauer]

The only safe way to test a 9 on that device is to disconnect the drives and connect one blank ssd for a quick installation. But for complete confidence you will have to restore your vms.

Did you try https://forum.proxmox.com/threads/p...l-nx3230-doesnt-fully-boot.183192/post-851045

There is written that there are some isssues regarding Dell x30 Server when using PVE9.2, which can be fixed by changing something in the BIOS.