BBB - logins lost after Ubuntu update

I've just flashed my BBB with

BBB-eMMC-flasher-ubuntu-14.04-console-armhf-2014-07-06-2gb.img

I was able to login using both ssh and the debug port (but not at the same time).
Then

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

The update ended with

 Device driver support needs thus be built-in linux image!
depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/3.15.3-armv7-lpae-x5: No such file or directory
depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /tmp/mkinitramfs_g9Zcr8/lib/modules/3.15.3-armv7-lpae-x5/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /tmp/mkinitramfs_g9Zcr8/lib/modules/3.15.3-armv7-lpae-x5/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
root@arm:/mnt# reboot

After updating I no longer could login. ssh was rejected, and the debug port did not display a login prompt.

I flashed again and things worked.

apt-get update
apt-get install nfs-common nfs-kernel-server

Access was lost again. Where do I look? By the time I have access again, the evidence is lost.

I find working with headless devices rather frustrating. The next step will probably be to find a micro-hdmi cable that works.

I would connect serially through J1, perform the installs you wish to do using the main console. I also don't get why you'd flash 14.04 and then perform an apt upgrade. Update yes, but not upgrade.

What version of BBB hardware do you have? Because the MMC was half the size in older boards. I actually run from microSD on those. If the media goes bad, you can change it. Not too easy to change the MMC.

Why not upgrade? I find that between the time an image is made by the maintainers and the time I download it there are new versions for a number of packages.

ubuntu@arm:/proc$ cat partitions
major minor  #blocks  name

 179        0    1875968 mmcblk0
 179        1      98304 mmcblk0p1
 179        2    1776640 mmcblk0p2
 179       16       1024 mmcblk0boot1
 179        8       1024 mmcblk0boot0
ubuntu@arm:/proc$ df
Filesystem     1K-blocks   Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/mmcblk0p2   1715936 397636   1229468  25% /
none                   4      0         4   0% /sys/fs/cgroup
udev              252512      4    252508   1% /dev
tmpfs              50852    232     50620   1% /run
none                5120      0      5120   0% /run/lock
none              254248      0    254248   0% /run/shm
none              102400      0    102400   0% /run/user
ubuntu@arm:/proc$

It appears that I have the 2GB model, of which only 1/4 is used so I would think memory is not an issue.

Upgrade isn't working for you right now, that's a very good reason to not upgrade.

They release interim versions versus upgrades. And ARM architectures may not be 100% supported for all drivers immediately. One never knows. Either case, you can install 14.04 and it works, but you get it from some place where they've build Ubuntu specifically for the BBB right? Because 14.04.1 is released, as is 14.10, but you're not starting with 14.10 probably because it is a testing version; however that is available if you want cutting edge.

I'm actually a defender of Ubunutu desktop; and there's a thread entitled "Why does everyone hate Ubuntu?" in the forums which has been very active for months, because people want to have their say about it. I don't use Ubuntu on hobby or embedded boards, I use Angstrom or Debian. And they just started supporting Ubuntu on the BBB.

Thanks. I'll try Angstrom again. But note that in my original post I tried twice. The second time did not upgrade. just update.

Yeah, but you did try to install nfs-common and nfs-kernel-server.

Sounds like you're trying to configure a Beagle to be a server. Not my first choice, it's an embedded hobby board and honestly you're going to run into flash file system problems if you write and re-write the MMC with tons of files, that's a very bad idea IMHO.

As noted in the original post, I did install nfs-common and nfs-kernel-server, after which login was lost.

The plan was for a USB connected hard drive to store WORM data.

Originally Posted by CollieJim As noted in the original post, I did install nfs-common and nfs-kernel-server, after which login was lost. The plan was for a USB connected hard drive to store WORM data.

Strongly suggest you get a USB hard drive which does not require power via the USB.