Kernel does not support a non-PAE CPU install KVM guest on Ubuntu 13.10 – Fix

I just started to install an Ubuntu 13.10 KVM guest – however the build process failed. The command that I was using was:

vmbuilder kvm ubuntu -v --suite=saucy --libvirt=qemu:///system --arch=amd64  --cpus=1 --mem=2048 --swapsize=2048 --rootsize=220040 --flavour=virtual --hostname=mydomain --ip=1.2.3.4 --mask=1.2.3.4 --net=1.2.3.4 --bcast=1.2.3.4 --gw=1.2.3.4 --dns='8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4' --bridge=br0 --mirror=http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu --components='main,universe' --addpkg=openssh-server --addpkg=acpid --addpkg=acpi-support --user=myuser --pass=mypassword --dest=/mnt/kvm/server/

However, I got this error message:

....
This kernel does not support a non-PAE CPU.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.8.0-32-generic_3.8.0-32.47_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.8.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-32-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.8.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-32-generic
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.8.0-32-generic_3.8.0-32.47_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Basically, you just need ensure the the linux-image-generic package (i.e. a kernel which supports non-PAE CPU’s) is installed by setting the addpkg flag like so:

--addpkg=linux-image-generic 

I hope this helps someone.

7 thoughts to “Kernel does not support a non-PAE CPU install KVM guest on Ubuntu 13.10 – Fix”

  1. I have just tried this on Ubuntu 14.04. You still get the same error: This kernel does not support a non-PAE CPU. So you still need to add: –addpkg=linux-image-generic

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