Why is the login prompt not appearing in the console after rebooting the system?

Solution Verified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Issue

  • After rebooting the system the login prompt does not appear in the console. The system is stuck at a black screen with a blinking cursor. However, the server responds to ping and after pressing CTRL+ALT+F2 the login prompt is displayed.

Resolution

  • Make sure the getty@tty1.service is enabled.
# systemctl enable --now getty@tty1.service

Root Cause

  • In Linux systems the getty@tty1.service is a systemd service unit that manages a terminal session on the first virtual console (tty1). It is responsible for displaying the login prompt and handling user logins on that console. The getty@tty1.service plays a crucial role in providing access to the system's text-based console interface, which is essential for various system administration tasks and user interactions.

Diagnostic Steps

  • Enable the getty@tty1.service service.

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