orbstack Archliux x86_64 machine on ARM Mac does not boot

Describe the bug

Since the last update of my X86-64 emulated Archlinux machine, it no longer boots:

It migh be related to the latest systemd as it updated from 257.8-2 to 258-4.

Note: I also tried to create a new X86-64 emulated Archlinux machine, without success (the logs also hang at the "Started dbus" message, then the ui displays create 'mymachine': setup: machine didn't start in 30s (missing IP address)).

Here are the logs of the machine from the UI:

systemd 258-4-arch running in system mode (+PAM +AUDIT -SELINUX +APPARMOR -IMA +IPE +SMACK +SECCOMP +GCRYPT +GNUTLS +OPENSSL +ACL +BLKID +CURL +ELFUTILS +FIDO2 +IDN2 -IDN +IPTC +KMOD +LIBCRYPTSETUP +LIBCRYPTSETUP_PLUGINS +LIBFDISK +PCRE2 +PWQUALITY +P11KIT +QRENCODE +TPM2 +BZIP2 +LZ4 +XZ +ZLIB +ZSTD +BPF_FRAMEWORK +BTF +XKBCOMMON +UTMP -SYSVINIT +LIBARCHIVE)
Detected virtualization lxc.
Detected architecture x86-64.

Welcome to Arch Linux!

bpf-restrict-fs: Failed to load BPF object: Operation not permitted
Queued start job for default target Graphical Interface.
[  OK  ] Created slice Slice /system/dirmngr.
[  OK  ] Created slice Slice /system/getty.
[  OK  ] Created slice Slice /system/gpg-agent.
[  OK  ] Created slice Slice /system/gpg-agent-browser.
[  OK  ] Created slice Slice /system/gpg-agent-extra.
[  OK  ] Created slice Slice /system/gpg-agent-ssh.
[  OK  ] Created slice Slice /system/keyboxd.
[  OK  ] Created slice Slice /system/modprobe.
[  OK  ] Created slice User and Session Slice.
[  OK  ] Started Dispatch Password Requests to Console Directory Watch.
[  OK  ] Started Forward Password Requests to Wall Directory Watch.
[  OK  ] Set up automount Arbitrary Executable File Formats File System Automount Point.
[  OK  ] Reached target Local Encrypted Volumes.
[  OK  ] Reached target Image Downloads.
[  OK  ] Reached target Local Integrity Protected Volumes.
[  OK  ] Reached target Path Units.
[  OK  ] Reached target Remote Encrypted Volumes.
[  OK  ] Reached target Remote File Systems.
[  OK  ] Reached target Slice Units.
[  OK  ] Reached target Swaps.
[  OK  ] Reached target Local Verity Protected Volumes.
[  OK  ] Listening on Device-mapper event daemon FIFOs.
[  OK  ] Listening on Query the User Interactively for a Password.
[  OK  ] Listening on Process Core Dump Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on Credential Encryption/Decryption.
[  OK  ] Listening on Factory Reset Management.
[  OK  ] Listening on Journal Socket (/dev/log).
[  OK  ] Listening on Journal Sockets.
[  OK  ] Listening on Network Service Varlink Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on Network Service Netlink Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on udev Control Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on udev Kernel Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on udev Varlink Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on User Database Manager Socket.
         Starting Load Kernel Module configfs...
         Starting Load Kernel Module drm...
         Starting Journal Service...
         Starting Generate network units from Kernel command line...
         Starting Remount Root and Kernel File Systems...
         Starting Apply Kernel Variables...
         Starting Create Static Device Nodes in /dev gracefully...
         Starting Load udev Rules from Credentials...
         Starting Coldplug All udev Devices...
[email protected]: Deactivated successfully.
[  OK  ] Finished Load Kernel Module configfs.
[email protected]: Deactivated successfully.
[  OK  ] Finished Load Kernel Module drm.
[  OK  ] Finished Generate network units from Kernel command line.
[  OK  ] Reached target Preparation for Network.
[  OK  ] Finished Remount Root and Kernel File Systems.
[  OK  ] Finished Load udev Rules from Credentials.
         Starting User Database Manager...
[  OK  ] Finished Apply Kernel Variables.
[  OK  ] Started Journal Service.
         Starting Flush Journal to Persistent Storage...
[FAILED] Failed to start User Database Manager.
See 'systemctl status systemd-userdbd.service' for details.
         Starting User Database Manager...
[  OK  ] Finished Coldplug All udev Devices.
[  OK  ] Finished Flush Journal to Persistent Storage.
[FAILED] Failed to start User Database Manager.
See 'systemctl status systemd-userdbd.service' for details.
         Starting User Database Manager...
[FAILED] Failed to start User Database Manager.
See 'systemctl status systemd-userdbd.service' for details.
         Starting User Database Manager...
[FAILED] Failed to start User Database Manager.
See 'systemctl status systemd-userdbd.service' for details.
         Starting User Database Manager...
[FAILED] Failed to start User Database Manager.
See 'systemctl status systemd-userdbd.service' for details.
[FAILED] Failed to start User Database Manager.
See 'systemctl status systemd-userdbd.service' for details.
[  OK  ] Finished Create Static Device Nodes in /dev gracefully.
[  OK  ] Reached target System Time Set.
         Starting Create Static Device Nodes in /dev...
[  OK  ] Finished Create Static Device Nodes in /dev.
[  OK  ] Reached target Preparation for Local File Systems.
         Starting Rule-based Manager for Device Events and Files...
[  OK  ] Started Rule-based Manager for Device Events and Files.
         Starting Network Configuration...
[  OK  ] Started Network Configuration.
[  OK  ] Reached target Network.
         Starting Enable Persistent Storage in systemd-networkd...
[  OK  ] Finished Enable Persistent Storage in systemd-networkd.
[  OK  ] Reached target Local File Systems.
[  OK  ] Reached target Virtual Machines and Containers.
[  OK  ] Listening on Boot Entries Service Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on Disk Image Download Service Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on System Extension Image Management.
         Starting Automatic Boot Loader Update...
         Starting Create System Files and Directories...
         Starting Load JSON user/group Records from Credentials...
[  OK  ] Finished Automatic Boot Loader Update.
[  OK  ] Finished Load JSON user/group Records from Credentials.
[  OK  ] Finished Create System Files and Directories.
         Starting Record System Boot/Shutdown in UTMP...
[  OK  ] Finished Record System Boot/Shutdown in UTMP.
[  OK  ] Reached target System Initialization.
[  OK  ] Started Refresh existing PGP keys of archlinux-keyring regularly.
[  OK  ] Started Daily rotation of log files.
[  OK  ] Started Daily man-db regeneration.
[  OK  ] Started Daily verification of password and group files.
[  OK  ] Started Daily Cleanup of Temporary Directories.
[  OK  ] Reached target Timer Units.
[  OK  ] Listening on D-Bus System Message Bus Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on GnuPG network certificate management daemon for /etc/pacman.d/gnupg.
[  OK  ] Listening on GnuPG cryptographic agent and passphrase cache (access for web browsers) for /etc/pacman.d/gnupg.
[  OK  ] Listening on GnuPG cryptographic agent and passphrase cache (restricted) for /etc/pacman.d/gnupg.
[  OK  ] Listening on GnuPG cryptographic agent (ssh-agent emulation) for /etc/pacman.d/gnupg.
[  OK  ] Listening on GnuPG cryptographic agent and passphrase cache for /etc/pacman.d/gnupg.
[  OK  ] Listening on GnuPG public key management service for /etc/pacman.d/gnupg.
[  OK  ] Listening on OpenSSH Server Socket (systemd-ssh-generator, AF_UNIX Local).
[  OK  ] Listening on Hostname Service Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on User Login Management Varlink Socket.
[  OK  ] Listening on Virtual Machine and Container Registration Service Socket.
[  OK  ] Reached target Socket Units.
         Starting D-Bus System Message Bus...
[  OK  ] Started D-Bus System Message Bus.

Here are the dbus logs (using a chroot from an other machine):

Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1429]: Failed to watch child 1433: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1429]: Failed to start up daemon: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed to kill control group /system.slice/systemd-userdbd.service, ignoring: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Failed to start User Database Manager.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Starting User Database Manager...
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1436]: Failed to watch child 1437: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1436]: Failed to start up daemon: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed to kill control group /system.slice/systemd-userdbd.service, ignoring: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Failed to start User Database Manager.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Starting User Database Manager...
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1439]: Failed to watch child 1440: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1439]: Failed to start up daemon: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed to kill control group /system.slice/systemd-userdbd.service, ignoring: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Failed to start User Database Manager.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Starting User Database Manager...
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1442]: Failed to watch child 1443: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1442]: Failed to start up daemon: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed to kill control group /system.slice/systemd-userdbd.service, ignoring: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Failed to start User Database Manager.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Starting User Database Manager...
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1445]: Failed to watch child 1446: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-userdbd[1445]: Failed to start up daemon: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed to kill control group /system.slice/systemd-userdbd.service, ignoring: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Failed to start User Database Manager.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Failed to start User Database Manager.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: systemd-userdbd.socket: Failed with result 'service-start-limit-hit'.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/50-udev-default.rules:13 Unknown group 'clock', ignoring.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd[1]: Started Rule-based Manager for Device Events and Files.
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:22:03 Archamd3 systemd-udevd[1428]: Failed to create worker object: Function not implemented

I tried to replace dbus-broker by the old dbus implementation.

It allows to partially boot the machine, however it no longer have internet access and displays the following logs:

[  OK  ] Reached target Graphical Interface.
         Starting User Manager for UID 501...
[FAILED] Failed to start User Manager for UID 501.
See 'systemctl status [email protected]' for details.
]3008;end=905c33edfc2c40828a2bf4e04a967951\]3008;end=51d362cad02a4c1995503653f7e437f2\]3008;end=2a5df414404341e9bd39afa995946158\]3008;end=15e9f9715e6747bd85c2439e2bebbbb5\

Here are the journalctl logs:

Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Getty on tty1 was skipped because of an unmet condition check (ConditionPathExists=/dev/tty0).
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Reached target Login Prompts.
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Reached target Multi-User System.
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Reached target Graphical Interface.
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Starting User Manager for UID 501...
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 (systemd)[179]: pam_warn(systemd-user:setcred): function=[pam_sm_setcred] flags=0x8002 service=[systemd-user] terminal=[/dev/hvc0] user=[hazegard] ruser=[<unknown>] rhost=[<unkn>
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 (systemd)[179]: pam_unix(systemd-user:session): session opened for user hazegard(uid=501) by (uid=0)
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 (systemd)[179]: pam_systemd(systemd-user:session): Failed to acquire PID reference on ourselves: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[179]: Trying to run as user instance, but $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR is not set.
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 (sd-pam)[196]: pam_unix(systemd-user:session): session closed for user hazegard
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 (sd-pam)[196]: pam_warn(systemd-user:setcred): function=[pam_sm_setcred] flags=0x8004 service=[systemd-user] terminal=[/dev/hvc0] user=[hazegard] ruser=[<unknown>] rhost=[<unkno>
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: [email protected]: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: [email protected]: Failed to kill control group /user.slice/user-501.slice/[email protected], ignoring: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: [email protected]: Failed to kill control group /user.slice/user-501.slice/[email protected], ignoring: Function not implemented
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: [email protected]: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Failed to start User Manager for UID 501.
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Startup finished in 2.256s.
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 (agetty)[177]: console-getty.service: Failed to set up standard input: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 (agetty)[177]: console-getty.service: Failed at step STDIN spawning /sbin/agetty: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:35 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Deactivated successfully.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 1.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Started Console Getty.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 (agetty)[271]: console-getty.service: Failed to set up standard input: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 (agetty)[271]: console-getty.service: Failed at step STDIN spawning /sbin/agetty: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Deactivated successfully.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 2.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Started Console Getty.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 (agetty)[381]: console-getty.service: Failed to set up standard input: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 (agetty)[381]: console-getty.service: Failed at step STDIN spawning /sbin/agetty: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Deactivated successfully.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 3.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Started Console Getty.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 (agetty)[446]: console-getty.service: Failed to set up standard input: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 (agetty)[446]: console-getty.service: Failed at step STDIN spawning /sbin/agetty: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Deactivated successfully.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 4.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Started Console Getty.
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 (agetty)[451]: console-getty.service: Failed to set up standard input: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 (agetty)[451]: console-getty.service: Failed at step STDIN spawning /sbin/agetty: No such file or directory
Sep 30 20:25:36 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Deactivated successfully.
Sep 30 20:25:37 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 5.
Sep 30 20:25:37 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Sep 30 20:25:37 Archamd2 systemd[1]: console-getty.service: Failed with result 'start-limit-hit'.
Sep 30 20:25:37 Archamd2 systemd[1]: Failed to start Console Getty.

To Reproduce

No response

Expected behavior

No response

Diagnostic report (REQUIRED)

OrbStack info: Version: 2.0.2 Commit: a20954031971271940a878a699851ba5bd98a94f (v2.0.2)

System info: macOS: 15.6.1 (24G90) CPU: arm64, 12 cores CPU model: Apple M3 Pro Model: Mac15,7 Memory: 36 GiB

Full report: https://orbstack.dev/_admin/diag/orbstack-diagreport_2025-09-30T18-26-46.685810Z.zip

Screenshots and additional context (optional)

No response

Sep 30 '25 18:09 Hazegard

Try to change ProtectControlGroups=yes to ProtectControlGroups=no in /usr/lib/systemd/system/systemd-logind.service.

Oct 02 '25 21:10 slinorb

Thanks for the input. I tried applying the changes, but I encountered the same issues with other systemd services (e.g., networkd, udevd).

I reverted to systemd 257, and it works again.

But the issue still occurs for newly created machines.

Oct 08 '25 20:10 Hazegard

Hi @Hazegard, could you explain how can i revert my linux vm arch linux systemd since i can't even get a shell to run any commands.

Oct 09 '25 17:10 ashishbinu

Here is what I did:

On an ARM Arch Linux VM, install the arch-install-scripts package.
Still within the ARM VM, navigate to the Orbstack folder containing the target VM files (e.g., /Users/$USER/OrbStack/[MY_VM]).
Run sudo arch-chroot . inside that directory.
If the required package versions (257.9-1) aren’t cached, download them from the Arch Linux Archive: https://archive.archlinux.org/packages/s/ I only needed to downgrade the following packages:
- systemd
- systemd-libs
- systemd-sysvcompat
Downgrade the packages using:

pacman -U systemd-257.9-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst \
          systemd-libs-257.9-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst \
          systemd-sysvcompat-257.9-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

Oct 09 '25 18:10 Hazegard

Thanks @Hazegard ! it worked. Chrooted from Ubuntu ARM VM since I couldn’t create a new Arch ARM VM.

Oct 09 '25 19:10 ashishbinu

I am running into the same issue, but the above fix doesn't work for me. There is no x86 arch folder in /Users/$USER/OrbStack.

Hopefully the broader issue can get fixed soon! Would be super nice to be able to run x86 machines :)

Nov 11 '25 19:11 tebuevd