CentOS 7/VMware Hang On Boot ([sda] Assuming Drive Cache: Write Through

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Introduction

As a new user of Linux, you may encounter various issues while setting up your CentOS 7 system in VMware Workstation 9. One common problem is the system hanging on boot, displaying an error message such as [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through. In this article, we will explore the possible causes and solutions to this issue, helping you to troubleshoot and resolve the problem.

Symptoms and Error Messages

When your CentOS 7 system hangs on boot, you may see an error message similar to the following:

[sda] Assuming drive cache: write through

This error message indicates that the system is having trouble with the disk cache settings. The [sda] part refers to the first hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) in your system.

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue:

  1. Incorrect Disk Cache Settings: The error message suggests that the disk cache settings are not properly configured. This can be due to a misconfigured BIOS or UEFI settings, or a problem with the VMware virtual machine settings.
  2. Corrupted File System: A corrupted file system can cause the system to hang on boot. This can be due to a faulty installation, a corrupted disk, or a problem with the file system itself.
  3. Insufficient RAM: If your system is running low on RAM, it can cause the system to hang on boot.
  4. Conflicting VMware Settings: Conflicting VMware settings can cause the system to hang on boot.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot and resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Check BIOS or UEFI Settings

  1. Enter BIOS or UEFI Settings: Restart your host system and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing the corresponding key (e.g., F2, F12, or Del).
  2. Check Disk Cache Settings: Look for the disk cache settings and ensure that they are set to the correct value (e.g., write through or write back).
  3. Save and Exit: Save the changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI settings.

Step 2: Check VMware Virtual Machine Settings

  1. Open VMware Workstation: Open VMware Workstation and select the CentOS 7 virtual machine.
  2. Edit Virtual Machine Settings: Click on the "Edit Virtual Machine Settings" button.
  3. Check Disk Settings: Look for the disk settings and ensure that they are set to the correct value (e.g., write through or write back).
  4. Save and Exit: Save the changes and exit the virtual machine settings.

Step 3: Check File System

  1. Run File System Check: Run the file system check command fsck -y to check and repair the file system.
  2. Run File System Repair: If the file system check command finds any errors, run the file system repair command fsck -y -f to repair the file system.

Step 4: Check RAM

  1. Check RAM Usage: Check the RAM usage by running the command free -m.
  2. Add More RAM: If the RAM usage is high, add more RAM to system.

Step 5: Check VMware Settings

  1. Check VMware Settings: Check the VMware settings to ensure that they are not conflicting with the CentOS 7 system.
  2. Disable Conflicting Settings: Disable any conflicting settings in the VMware settings.

Solutions

After troubleshooting and identifying the cause of the issue, you can try the following solutions:

Solution 1: Update BIOS or UEFI Settings

  1. Update BIOS or UEFI Settings: Update the BIOS or UEFI settings to the latest version.
  2. Reboot System: Reboot the system and check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 2: Update VMware Virtual Machine Settings

  1. Update VMware Virtual Machine Settings: Update the VMware virtual machine settings to the latest version.
  2. Reboot System: Reboot the system and check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 3: Run File System Check and Repair

  1. Run File System Check: Run the file system check command fsck -y to check and repair the file system.
  2. Run File System Repair: If the file system check command finds any errors, run the file system repair command fsck -y -f to repair the file system.

Solution 4: Add More RAM

  1. Add More RAM: Add more RAM to the system to ensure that it has sufficient RAM to run smoothly.

Solution 5: Disable Conflicting VMware Settings

  1. Disable Conflicting VMware Settings: Disable any conflicting settings in the VMware settings.

Conclusion

Q: What is the [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through error message?

A: The [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through error message is a common issue that occurs when the disk cache settings are not properly configured. This can be due to a misconfigured BIOS or UEFI settings, or a problem with the VMware virtual machine settings.

Q: Why is my CentOS 7 system hanging on boot?

A: There are several possible causes for this issue, including:

  • Incorrect disk cache settings
  • Corrupted file system
  • Insufficient RAM
  • Conflicting VMware settings

Q: How do I troubleshoot the issue?

A: To troubleshoot the issue, follow these steps:

  1. Check BIOS or UEFI settings
  2. Check VMware virtual machine settings
  3. Check file system
  4. Check RAM
  5. Check VMware settings

Q: What are the possible solutions to the issue?

A: The possible solutions to the issue include:

  • Updating BIOS or UEFI settings
  • Updating VMware virtual machine settings
  • Running file system check and repair
  • Adding more RAM
  • Disabling conflicting VMware settings

Q: How do I update BIOS or UEFI settings?

A: To update BIOS or UEFI settings, follow these steps:

  1. Enter BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing the corresponding key (e.g., F2, F12, or Del)
  2. Look for the disk cache settings and ensure that they are set to the correct value (e.g., write through or write back)
  3. Save the changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI settings

Q: How do I update VMware virtual machine settings?

A: To update VMware virtual machine settings, follow these steps:

  1. Open VMware Workstation and select the CentOS 7 virtual machine
  2. Click on the "Edit Virtual Machine Settings" button
  3. Look for the disk settings and ensure that they are set to the correct value (e.g., write through or write back)
  4. Save the changes and exit the virtual machine settings

Q: How do I run file system check and repair?

A: To run file system check and repair, follow these steps:

  1. Run the file system check command fsck -y to check and repair the file system
  2. If the file system check command finds any errors, run the file system repair command fsck -y -f to repair the file system

Q: How do I add more RAM to the system?

A: To add more RAM to the system, follow these steps:

  1. Check the RAM usage by running the command free -m
  2. Add more RAM to the system to ensure that it has sufficient RAM to run smoothly

Q: How do I disable conflicting VMware settings?

A: To disable conflicting VMware settings, follow these steps:

  1. Check the VMware settings to ensure that they are not conflicting with the CentOS 7 system
  2. Disable any conflicting settings in the VMware settings

Q: What are the common mistakes that can cause the issue?

A: The common mistakes that can cause the issue include:

  • Incorrect disk cache settings
  • Corrupted file system
  • Insufficient RAM
  • Conflicting VMware settings

Q: How can I prevent the issue from occurring in the future?

A: To prevent the issue from occurring in the future, follow these steps:

  1. Regularly update BIOS or UEFI settings
  2. Regularly update VMware virtual machine settings
  3. Regularly run file system check and repair
  4. Regularly check RAM usage and add more RAM if necessary
  5. Regularly check VMware settings and disable any conflicting settings