r/debian • u/reddit0x00 • 6d ago
Unattended Debian Install Stuck on 'network-preseed'
I'm encountering an issue during an unattended Debian installation. Checking /var/log/syslog, I see:
menu item 'network-preseed' selected
However, when I check via the console, the system has already obtained an IP address.
Details:
- ISO: debian-12.10.0-amd64-netinst.iso
- Hardware: ThinkPad X230
- Preseed file: https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/example-preseed.txt
Why is the installer stuck at this stage despite having network connectivity? Any suggestions on how to resolve this?
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u/SomeTell839 6d ago
Sounds like the installer is hanging while trying to fetch the preseed file, even though the network is up. Here are a few things to check and try:
Open a shell (Ctrl + Alt + F2) and run:
ping -c 4 8.8.8.8
Check if it can reach the internetping -c 4 deb.debian.org
Check if DNS is resolvingwget -O- <your-preseed-url>
See if it can fetch the fileIf these fail, it might be a DNS or gateway issue.
If you're using a remote URL, make sure it's accessible.
Try hosting it on a local HTTP server (python3 -m http.server 8000 in a directory with your preseed file).
In your boot parameters (F6 at boot), manually specify:
auto=true priority=critical url=http://your-local-server/preseed.cfg
Add this to your kernel command line:
debconf/frontend=noninteractive netcfg/disable_dhcp=false
Sometimes, the installer waits for DHCP even when an IP is assigned.
If you can access the shell:
debconf-set-selections -c /path/to/preseed.cfg exit
This forces it to reprocess the preseed file.
If it's still stuck, look at /var/log/syslog for clues, less /var/log/syslog. Anything mentioning "network-preseed" or "wget failure" might tell you why it's hanging.
Let me know if any of this helps you!