Grub version 2.12 error: couldn't claim memory.

[WiiNewU]

Hello, I recently got an IBM Power 720 server, I am having major issues with any Linux distro that uses a recent version of grub (in this case the archpower-2025.02.01-powerpc64.iso). There is an issue where grub boot menu will pop up, but when you run any option such as Boot LiveCD (kernel: ppc64) or Boot LiveCD (kernel: ibmpower) you will get this error:

error: couldn't claim memory
error: you need to load the kernel first.

Press any key to continue...

Then it will go back to the menu selection screen.

This happens with other Linux distro's that has updated Grub to version 2.12 like Debian Ports. The debian-12.0.0-ppc64-NETINST-1.iso ran just fine but when the install ran updates at the end and updated GRUB to ver 2.12 it has the same issue.

This error also happens on bare metal and through PowerVM/VIOS (a AIX based hypervisor).

I also tried running to boot the CD through yaboot through the open firmware prompt but yaboot just passes back to grub defeating the workaround.

Any help would be great, Thank you

[kth5]

This is an interesting box I have next to no experience with. However, the boot options you mention do not sounds like it loaded the ArchPOWER grub.cfg. There is no option LiveCD or a ibmpower kernel.

Are you sure it boots the CD/image and not some leftover OS?

As a side note, for the S822L we have no access to any entitlements. Then again, I installed it in PowerVM mode and Opal the same with blank disks and it was able to install the powerpc64 flavor from physical CD.

[WiiNewU]

It has no other OS installed, but there have been issues with IBM Power 7 and 8 servers recently regarding memory issues at boot. The grub issue also appears with the Gentoo iso. As well there are memory issues when booting Ubuntu 16.04 & 16.10 (the last Power BE versions of Ubuntu) and outside of Linux, with FreeBSD 14.1 BSD Source 1 BSD Source 2 BSD Source 3 . I did test the final version of openSUSE Tumbleweed for PPC64 BE but its widely known to be bad in general and does not work. I been trying to use Yaboot, but for some reason yaboot just passes on to grub when running the command boot cd:,\boot\yaboot in open firmware, as well boot cdrom:1,yaboot from the Gentoo wiki

When booting on bare-metal it gives some different menu options, but the two available give the same error as before.

[kth5]

The only options you should see are:

ArchPOWER Install (ppc64)
ArchPOWER Install (serial hvc0 as console) (ppc64)

If you see any other options, it is not loading the correct grub & grub.cfg. Your yaboot issue may stem from the same source really.

[WiiNewU]

Those two only options did appear, but only when running on bare-metal, within PowerVM many more options appeared for some reason. It looks like another bug, likely with PowerVM rather then Arch. The same error: couldn't claim memory does appear when you select either ArchPOWER Install (ppc64) or ArchPOWER Install (serial hvc0 as console) (ppc64) though.

[kth5]

Is there any way to get serial on the box/LPAR with the iso mounted?

[WiiNewU]

There is, I did burn to a CD to run on bare metal and access through the serial cable. Is possible to write the iso to a USB flash drive and boot from it as well. I just cant get pass grub. Same applies when virtualisation within PowerVM that I can mount the iso virtually and access the console, just not pass grub.

[mrbubzie]

I’m also running into issues with GRUB on regular PowerPC (big-endian) at the last step of generating the configuration file. I’ve been using Arch for 10 years, and just for my own sanity, I tried the same process on another system with a new partition table and fresh partitions, but it still just sits at generating the configuration file. I’ve used your installs for the last two years so I’m not new at this. But there is something up with grub…ya boot runs fine!

[kth5]

Regarding the 720 server, there's a patch in Debian's grub that disables VSX for Grub in reference to POWWER7 and POWER6. I'm going to apply these and upload a package soon.

[WiiNewU]

I tested some older iso's from Arch Power and other distro's, the 2023.09.19 release was able to boot, as well as got Debian 12 sid to boot if I don't upgrade grub and the kernel that came from the 2022 iso. There seems to be a regression some time after kernel 6.1 that may make the initramfs too big to boot (about over 40MB). I'm able to chroot from the old iso into a 2025 current install but I need to figure out how to install an older kernel in order to have a functional install.

[kth5]

Grub is queued to go up into [testing] in a bit with a new revision including various security fixes as well as additional patches I was able to gather. Right now, I am unable to reproduce the problem on any of my machines or VMs though.