SuSE Support Database

Title: Unable to open an initial console

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Unable to open an initial console

Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions since 4.3
Kernel: Versions since 2.0.18

Symptom:

When booting the message

Unable to open an initial console

appears. The system freezes.

Cause:

This message appears exactly when it is being tried to open /dev/tty1 while it is not there. Reasons for this:

wrong root partition
/dev/tty1 got erased
You're booting with the bootdisk supplied with version 4.3 of S.u.S.E. Linux 4.3 and the root-filesystem is located on an UMSDOS partition (demo mode)

Solution:

1. Wrong root partition :

If you boot with LILO, specify the correct root partition at the LILO prompt. In our example this will be /dev/sdb1 :

        LILO: linux root=/dev/sdb1

You should then adapt /etc/lilo.conf (don't forget to call /sbin/lilo afterwards).

2. `/dev/tty1` got erased :

Start the rescue system. Mount the root partition on /mnt and recreate the device (see also maddin_devices2.html):

        mknod -m600 /mnt/dev/tty1 c 4 1

3. For the UMSDOS problem :

Get a new bootdisk from ftp.suse.de:/pub/suse43/disks/modboot1.

Keywords: CONSOLE, UMSDOS, BOOTING, UNABLE TO OPEN AN INITIAL CONSOLE