I've been trying to install Ubuntu Server 24.04.2 (ubuntu-24.04.2-live-server-ppc64el.iso) onto an IBM Power S922 (9009-22G) that I bought second hand.
I checked the compatibility for my machine as stated here (https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/linux-on-systems?topic=lpo-linux-distributions-virtualization-options-power8-power9-linux-power-systems#liaamdistros__table_i11_l3f_1cc) and I am installing under PowerVM LPARs configuration and the machine firmware is properly configured.
I am following the procedure described on the IBM documentation here (https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/linux-on-systems?topic=ilps-installing-linux-power-systems-servers-by-using-serial-console) to install via the serial console, since the machine does not have a graphic card.
The only difference is that I am using a bootable USB stick with the Ubuntu iso flashed onto it.
The machine has a preinstalled Red Hat Enterprise installation that I would like to wipe while installing Ubuntu since I do not own the license.
Right after booting, I get a kernel panic error, as shown below:
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Elapsed time since release of system processors: 2 mins 47 secs
Welcome to GRUB!
error: unrecognized number.
GNU GRUB version 2.12
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|*Try or Install Ubuntu Server |
| Ubuntu Server with the HWE kernel |
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Use the ^ and v keys to select which entry is highlighted.
Press enter to boot the selected OS, `e' to edit the commands
before booting or `c' for a command-line.
OF stdout device is: /vdevice/vty@30000000
Preparing to boot Linux version 6.8.0-53-generic (buildd@bos03-ppc64el-041) (powerpc64le-linux-gnu-gcc-13 (Ubuntu 13.3.0-6ubun 17 15:29:57 UTC 2025 (Ubuntu 6.8.0-53.55-generic 6.8.12)
Detected machine type: 0000000000000101
command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinux quiet ---
Max number of cores passed to firmware: 256 (NR_CPUS = 2048)
Calling ibm,client-architecture-support... done
memory layout at init:
memory_limit : 0000000000000000 (16 MB aligned)
alloc_bottom : 0000000014430000
alloc_top : 0000000020000000
alloc_top_hi : 0000000020000000
rmo_top : 0000000020000000
ram_top : 0000000020000000
instantiating rtas at 0x000000001ec90000... done
prom_hold_cpus: skipped
copying OF device tree...
Building dt strings...
Building dt structure...
Device tree strings 0x0000000014440000 -> 0x0000000014441a0f
Device tree struct 0x0000000014450000 -> 0x0000000014470000
[ 2.636172] Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init! exitcode=0x00000100
[ 2.636188] CPU: 49 PID: 1 Comm: init Not tainted 6.8.0-53-generic #55-Ubuntu
[ 2.636195] Hardware name: IBM,9009-22G POWER9 (architected) 0x4e0203 0xf000005 of:IBM,FW950.11 (VL950_075) hv:phyp pSeries
[ 2.636202] Call Trace:
[ 2.636205] [c00000000954fa30] [c0000000016c85f8] dump_stack_lvl+0xe0/0x10c (unreliable)
[ 2.636218] [c00000000954fa60] [c000000000192aec] panic+0x300/0x524
[ 2.636226] [c00000000954fb00] [c00000000019e048] do_exit+0x5b8/0x5ec
[ 2.636234] [c00000000954fba0] [c00000000019e264] do_group_exit+0x4c/0xbc
[ 2.636243] [c00000000954fbe0] [c00000000019e2fc] pid_child_should_wake+0x0/0x11c
[ 2.636252] [c00000000954fc00] [c000000000033308] system_call_exception+0xf8/0x290
[ 2.636260] [c00000000954fe50] [c00000000000d05c] system_call_vectored_common+0x15c/0x2ec
[ 2.636269] --- interrupt: 3000 at 0x7b40d4529914
[ 2.636274] NIP: 00007b40d4529914 LR: 00007b40d4529914 CTR: 0000000000000000
[ 2.636280] REGS: c00000000954fe80 TRAP: 3000 Not tainted (6.8.0-53-generic)
[ 2.636286] MSR: 800000000280f033 <SF,VEC,VSX,EE,PR,FP,ME,IR,DR,RI,LE> CR: 42002848 XER: 00000000
[ 2.636304] IRQMASK: 0
[ 2.636304] GPR00: 00000000000000ea 00007ffffbf63b50 00007b40d4686d00 0000000000000001
[ 2.636304] GPR04: 0000000000000000 00007ffffbf63d50 00007ffffbf63d60 000004ebf32cd3e0
[ 2.636304] GPR08: 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 0000000000000000
[ 2.636304] GPR12: 0000000000000000 00007b40d473a640 0000000000000000 0000000000000000
[ 2.636304] GPR16: 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 0000000000000000
[ 2.636304] GPR20: 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 000004ebd5abb6f4
[ 2.636304] GPR24: 00007b40d472f458 00007b40d4730000 00007ffffbf646f8 0000000000000003
[ 2.636304] GPR28: 00007ffffbf646d8 00007b40d4733650 fffffffffffff000 0000000000000001
[ 2.636368] NIP [00007b40d4529914] 0x7b40d4529914
[ 2.636372] LR [00007b40d4529914] 0x7b40d4529914
[ 2.636377] --- interrupt: 3000
[ 2.642259] pstore: backend (nvram) writing error (-1)
[ 2.647645] Rebooting in 10 seconds..
What I already tried to solve this error and nothing changed:
- Added boot parameters to the grub boot command line: inst.headless console=ttys0 crashkernel=auto efi_pstore.pstore_disable=1
- Tried with Ubuntu Server 24.10 -> Same error
- Tried with Ubuntu Server 22.04 -> Kernel Panic, error "unable to open console"
- Tried with another USB key (up to 64GB)
What am I doing wrong? What can I do to properly boot the Ubuntu Server install ?
Thank you in advance for your help
Kind regards
