Fix for Proxmox container failing to start after dist-upgrade

proxmox_CT_distupgrade_fix.md

• Upgraded from Ubuntu 16.04 LTS to 18.04 (pre-release) using dist-upgade
• Upon restart CT would not start
• Error displayed in Web GUI: command 'systemctl start pve-container@101' failed: exit code 1
• SSHd in and manually ran CT with pct start 101:

>root@server:~# pct start 101
Job for pve-container@101.service failed because the control process exited with error code.
See "systemctl status pve-container@101.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
command 'systemctl start pve-container@101' failed: exit code 1

>root@server:~# journalctl -xe
-- Subject: Unit pve-container@101.service has begun start-up
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://www.debian.org/support
-- 
-- Unit pve-container@101.service has begun starting up.
Jan 11 22:35:02 server kernel: EXT4-fs (dm-8): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. Opts: (null)
Jan 11 22:35:02 server lxc-start[14122]: lxc-start: 101: lxccontainer.c: wait_on_daemonized_start: 751 No such file or directory - Failed to receive the container state
Jan 11 22:35:02 server lxc-start[14122]: lxc-start: 101: tools/lxc_start.c: main: 368 The container failed to start.
Jan 11 22:35:02 server lxc-start[14122]: lxc-start: 101: tools/lxc_start.c: main: 370 To get more details, run the container in foreground mode.
Jan 11 22:35:02 server lxc-start[14122]: lxc-start: 101: tools/lxc_start.c: main: 372 Additional information can be obtained by setting the --logfile and --logpriority options.
Jan 11 22:35:02 server systemd[1]: pve-container@101.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=1
Jan 11 22:35:02 server systemd[1]: Failed to start PVE LXC Container: 101.
-- Subject: Unit pve-container@101.service has failed
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: https://www.debian.org/support
-- 
-- Unit pve-container@101.service has failed.
-- 
-- The result is failed.

How to Fix

Edit /usr/share/perl5/PVE/LXC/Setup/Ubuntu.pm and add 18.04 to list of known distros.

my $known_versions = {
    '18.04' => 1, # bionic
    '17.10' => 1, # artful
    '17.04' => 1, # zesty
    '16.10' => 1, # yakkety
    '16.04' => 1, # xenial
    '15.10' => 1, # wily
    '15.04' => 1, # vivid
    '14.04' => 1, # trusty LTS
    '12.04' => 1, # precise LTS
};

bro, i did that and work but then after shutting down the VM and start again appears the same error...
TASK ERROR: command 'lxc-start -n 108' failed: exit code 1

Thank you so much

Thanks for the tip it helped me a lot!

Had the same issue with Debian containers not starting:

Edited /usr/share/perl5/PVE/LXC/Setup/Debian.pm and added version 11 to the list:

$version = 9.1 if $version eq 'stretch/sid';
$version = 10 if $version eq 'buster/sid';
$version = 11 if $version eq 'bullseye/sid';

Then changed the line

if !($version >= 4 && $version <= 10);

to match

if !($version >= 4 && $version <= 11);

and then it was fixed!

You Rock!

You save my live bro thank you.

Thank you! That helped me a lot today!

Thanks, you saved my day.

Thanks, save my job :)

This gotcha is still alive and well with upgrades to Ubuntu impish. Your answer just helped me today, too.

my proxmox containers giving the same error to start up "Job for pve-container@115.service failed because the control process exited with error code.
See "systemctl status pve-container@115.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
TASK ERROR: command 'systemctl start pve-container@115' failed: exit code 1

hoe do i resolve...save a soul urgently.
checked usr/share/perl5/ubuntu.pm have this
my $known_versions = {
'18.10' => 1, # cosmic
'18.04' => 1, # bionic
'17.10' => 1, # artful
'17.04' => 1, # zesty
'16.10' => 1, # yakkety
'16.04' => 1, # xenial
'15.10' => 1, # wily
'15.04' => 1, # vivid
'14.04' => 1, # trusty LTS
'12.04' => 1, # precise LTS

my proxmox containers giving the same error to start up "Job for pve-container@115.service failed because the control process exited with error code. See "systemctl status pve-container@115.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details. TASK ERROR: command 'systemctl start pve-container@115' failed: exit code 1

hoe do i resolve...save a soul urgently. checked usr/share/perl5/ubuntu.pm have this my $known_versions = { '18.10' => 1, # cosmic '18.04' => 1, # bionic '17.10' => 1, # artful '17.04' => 1, # zesty '16.10' => 1, # yakkety '16.04' => 1, # xenial '15.10' => 1, # wily '15.04' => 1, # vivid '14.04' => 1, # trusty LTS '12.04' => 1, # precise LTS

You need to add not just '18.10' but whatever more recent version(s) of Ubuntu you have upgraded your container to use. For example, adding # Focal '20.04' => 1, or # Jammy LTS '22.04 => 1.

In a more serious production scenario, you would also be best served with support from Proxmox which would a) update this list with system updates, and b) have verified compatibility for the versions that are being asserted in the list.

my proxmox containers giving the same error to start up "Job for pve-container@115.service failed because the control process exited with error code. See "systemctl status pve-container@115.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details. TASK ERROR: command 'systemctl start pve-container@115' failed: exit code 1
hoe do i resolve...save a soul urgently. checked usr/share/perl5/ubuntu.pm have this my $known_versions = { '18.10' => 1, # cosmic '18.04' => 1, # bionic '17.10' => 1, # artful '17.04' => 1, # zesty '16.10' => 1, # yakkety '16.04' => 1, # xenial '15.10' => 1, # wily '15.04' => 1, # vivid '14.04' => 1, # trusty LTS '12.04' => 1, # precise LTS

You need to add not just '18.10' but whatever more recent version(s) of Ubuntu you have upgraded your container to use. For example, adding # Focal '20.04' => 1, or # Jammy LTS '22.04 => 1.

In a more serious production scenario, you would also be best served with support from Proxmox which would a) update this list with system updates, and b) have verified compatibility for the versions that are being asserted in the list.

ok thanks but i seem not to have upgraded my version of ubuntu how do i check version of ubuntu am using on Proxmox to confirm am on the right path

ok thanks but i seem not to have upgraded my version of ubuntu how do i check version of ubuntu am using on Proxmox to confirm am on the right path

This issue (and thus fix) is presuming you ran an update such as "do-release-upgrade" within one of your LXC containers, not about upgrades to the Proxmox server itself. Aside from loading that container image in a different environment, it won't launch.

wtf !!! You save my time !!
thanks I was never think about declaration on pve setup!

great thanks!

Here is the update code for following versions:

my $known_versions = {
'23.10' => 1, # Mantic
'23.04' => 1, # Lunar
'22.04' => 1, # Jammy
'20.04' => 1, # focal LTS
'19.10' => 1, # eoan
'19.04' => 1, # disco
'18.10' => 1, # cosmic
'18.04' => 1, # bionic LTS
'17.10' => 1, # artful
'17.04' => 1, # zesty
'16.10' => 1, # yakkety
'16.04' => 1, # xenial LTS
'15.10' => 1, # wily
'15.04' => 1, # vivid
'14.04' => 1, # trusty LTS
'12.04' => 1, # precise LTS
};