[Bug 1654561] [NEW] Server OS installation fails with low RAM.

[A. J. Giurato]

Public bug reported:

When trying to image a VirtualBox VM with the netboot image, the
installation fails when my VM has 256 MB of RAM.  Once I increased the
RAM to 512 MB, it completes successfully.  This is for 16.04 with the
command-line install.

When I ran the installer with 256 MB of RAM, it looked like it failed on
"Loading additional components".  It was listed as "Retrieving irda-
modules-4.4.0-31-generic-di".  I don't believe this particular component
is the issue, as my VM doesn't even have any IR hardware.

I came across the solution of increasing the RAM on a Ubuntu forums
thread.  In the thread, the original poster was complaining about
failing with the Ubuntu Minimal install on a VM.  But other than that,
his symptoms were the same as mine.  I can confirm that once the VM is
imaged, I can power it off, reduce the RAM back to 256 MB, and it works
fine.

The error I am presented with is "The installer failed to download a
file from the mirror.  This may be a problem with your network, or with
the mirror.  You can choose to retry the download, select a different
mirror, or cancel and choose another installation method.  Downloading a
file failed:"


Similar Ubuntu thread with same issue:
https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2329080

Netboot image:
http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/xenial-updates/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/

Ubuntu page specifying minimum RAM is 192 MB:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements#Ubuntu_Server_.28CLI.29_Installation

** Affects: debian-installer (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1654561

Title:
  Server OS installation fails with low RAM.

Status in debian-installer package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  When trying to image a VirtualBox VM with the netboot image, the
  installation fails when my VM has 256 MB of RAM.  Once I increased the
  RAM to 512 MB, it completes successfully.  This is for 16.04 with the
  command-line install.

  When I ran the installer with 256 MB of RAM, it looked like it failed
  on "Loading additional components".  It was listed as "Retrieving
  irda-modules-4.4.0-31-generic-di".  I don't believe this particular
  component is the issue, as my VM doesn't even have any IR hardware.

  I came across the solution of increasing the RAM on a Ubuntu forums
  thread.  In the thread, the original poster was complaining about
  failing with the Ubuntu Minimal install on a VM.  But other than that,
  his symptoms were the same as mine.  I can confirm that once the VM is
  imaged, I can power it off, reduce the RAM back to 256 MB, and it
  works fine.

  The error I am presented with is "The installer failed to download a
  file from the mirror.  This may be a problem with your network, or
  with the mirror.  You can choose to retry the download, select a
  different mirror, or cancel and choose another installation method.
  Downloading a file failed:"

  
  Similar Ubuntu thread with same issue:
  https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2329080

  Netboot image:
  http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/xenial-updates/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/

  Ubuntu page specifying minimum RAM is 192 MB:
  https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements#Ubuntu_Server_.28CLI.29_Installation

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