Ubuntu Core: Stuck in Initial Setup Loop – Ubuntu Core 22/24 on Raspberry Pi 4 (Using Pi Imager)

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1

Hi all,

I’m trying to set up Ubuntu Core 22 on a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (also tested with Core 24 on a Raspberry Pi 5), using the Raspberry Pi Imager. Here’s what I’m experiencing:

What I Did

  • Selected Ubuntu Core 22 (64-bit) from the Raspberry Pi Imager (under “Other general-purpose OS” → “Ubuntu Core”)
  • Wrote the image to a 64GB SD card
  • Booted the Pi 4 with:
    • HDMI monitor connected
    • USB keyboard connected

The Problem

  • On first boot, the system shows the Ubuntu Core boot screen, but I can’t complete the initial configuration wizard (console-conf) that normally asks for:
    • Network settings
    • Ubuntu One login

Detailed Behavior

  • On first boot, I see the screen with “Press Enter to configure”.
  • After pressing Enter, it proceeds to the next screen, but returns to the first screen after a few seconds.
  • If I keep pressing Enter repeatedly, it eventually reaches the network configuration screen — but even from there, it jumps back to the initial screen.
  • The keyboard works, but the system keeps looping back to the “Press Enter to configure” screen.

What I Tried

  • Verified SD card is valid and written correctly
  • Tested both Ubuntu Core 22 and Core 24 — same issue
  • Swapped keyboards and monitors
  • Let the system sit for over 10 minutes — no change

Looking For

  • Is this a known issue with Raspberry Pi 4 and Ubuntu Core 22/24 via Raspberry Pi Imager?
  • Is there a way to force console-conf to stay open or debug what’s causing it to exit?
  • Is there a workaround or manual step I may be missing post-flashing?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

2

Do you have a serial console attached? Are there any logs on the console?

3

No. I don’t have a serial console connected.

Is there any specific log or systemd journal I can access by mounting the SD card after boot on my Ubuntu desktop, which I can check?

4

The logs aren’t saved anywhere by default. You’d need to reach a point where you can set: System options | Snapcraft documentation or use a custom gadget and set that in the system defaults like described here: https://snapcraft.io/docs/the-gadget-snap#heading--gadget

Still, the simplest solution right now I think is to attach a serial console and see what’s being logged.

5

Okay. Let me try whether I can attach a serial console and view the log.

6

Did you add any customization to the image?

7

No, I didn’t. Used the Ubuntu Core 22 (64-bit) from the Raspberry Pi Imager without adding any additional customization.

8

@mborzecki1 Here are the details logged after attaching to a serial console https://limewire.com/d/FkUv6#w9JHIKQiKx

I can see that the boot is getting completed without any errors. Once the “Press enter to configure” screen is reached, nothing more is received.

9

Looks like it has reached the configuration prompt. Can you try to provision the system using the serial console?

10

It reaches the configuration prompt, and after that, I could not move forward. It is always looping back.

11

Check the SD card in a PC, there should be a log in (/writable/system-files)/var/log/console-conf/…

12

@ogra, I have the log files here https://limewire.com/d/Hmce6#qJAjOMox9O https://limewire.com/d/AbyET#GHUlRcLwRa

I could see details like “console_conf:78Starting console-conf v0.0.5” and “console_conf/Welcome:107 start: starting UI” at the start.

After that, there are entries like:

  • 2023-07-03 14:14:25,707 DEBUG subiquitycore.utils:101 arun_command [‘netplan’, ‘apply’] exited with code 0

  • 2023-07-03 14:14:27,031 DEBUG subiquitycore.utils:77 run_command [‘udevadm’, ‘settle’, ‘-t’, ‘0’] exited with code 0