Bug#1039508: systemd-boot: UEFI ZFS boot "Error preparing initrd: Bad Buffer Size"

[James L Baker]

Package: systemd-boot
Severity: important

Dear Maintainer,


   * I [fresh-] installed the latest version of Proxmox VE (8.0), which is based on Debian 12.
   * First boot after installation resulted in the error "Error preparing initrd: Bad Buffer Size" at boot, preventing system from loading.
   * I expected the system to boot normally.

I was asked by the bugzilla folks at Proxmox to report this problem to you, as it is an issue with the current systemd-boot package.

(I have omitted reportbug system information, as the reporting system is *not* the system on which the issue occurs.)

-- Original report to Proxmox bugzilla:
https://bugzilla.proxmox.com/show_bug.cgi?id=4798

Environment:
- Dell r620 (x2)
- 2x Xeon E5-2620 (each)
- 64GB RAM (each)
- BIOS 2.9.0 (dated 2020-02)
- UEFI boot
- PERC h310 SAS controller (IT mode)
- PVE installed on 2x Dell/Seagate 15k SAS drives in ZFS mirror
- Install media 8.0-2 ISO

The first boot after a new install results in an "Error preparing initrd: Bad Buffer Size" error on both mentioned hosts.  Previously, PVE v7.4 installed, booted, and ran fine on this hardware - I'd begun migration to Proxmox (v7) for virtual hosting last week, but started over once v8 was released.

This Proxmox forum thread mentions the error occurring for others:
https://forum.proxmox.com/threads/error-preparing-initrd-bad-buffer-size.129427/

And this github issue thread identifies the cause as systemd, and reports a merged patch which corrects it:
https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/25911

Is there any chance to include a more recent version of systemd (the "-boot" or "-boot-efi" packages, I assume) with the install media?  Or a recommended way to load a newer package version during install, prior to first boot?

A possible workaround is to install 7.4 then immediately upgrade to 8; I have not yet attempted this.

More context:
https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/227431#issuecomment-1556474041

-- End original report

Obviously, the report text is specific to Proxmox, but the issue lies with the current implemenation of systemd-boot.
Please consider implementing the patch at https://github.com/systemd/systemd/commit/f70f992273a7add1ec98a894ffadb1f1e43c0c31

Thank you.